Creamy Polenta with Bacon and Sage

Name: Creamy Polenta with Bacon and Sage
Ingredients: 2 ounces thickly sliced bacon, cut into ½-inch pieces; 1 teaspoon chopped fresh sage leaves, plus more whole leaves for garnish; 4 cups milk; 0.75 cup plus 2 tablespoons quick-cooking polenta; 3 tablespoons unsalted butter; 0.5 teaspoon coarse salt, or more to taste; 0.25 teaspoon freshly ground pepper, or more to taste; 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil (optional)

4.4

(7)

2 Reviews

By

Martha Stewart Editors

Updated on May 16, 2017

Servings:

4

Water or stock can be substituted for any or all of the milk. The more milk you use, the creamier the polenta will be.

Ingredients

2 ounces thickly sliced bacon, cut into ½-inch pieces
1 teaspoon chopped fresh sage leaves, plus more whole leaves for garnish
4 cups milk
¾ cup plus 2 tablespoons quick-cooking polenta
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
½ teaspoon coarse salt, or more to taste
¼ teaspoon freshly ground pepper, or more to taste
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil (optional)

Directions

Place a medium saucepan over low heat. Add the bacon, and cook until crisp and golden, about 8 minutes. Remove bacon from saucepan; transfer to a paper-towel-lined plate. Set aside.
Add chopped sage to saucepan, and cook in the bacon fat until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add milk, and bring to a boil.
Add the polenta in a steady stream, whisking constantly until it is smooth and creamy, about 6 minutes. Whisk in the butter, and season with the salt and pepper. Transfer to a serving bowl, and crumble the reserved bacon on top. Heat the olive oil, in a small saute pan over medium heat. Add the whole sage leaves, and fry until crisp, about 30 seconds. Remove from the skillet, and scatter over the polenta.