Have you discovered polenta yet? I just started experimenting with it in the last couple of years, and I worry that it’s an under-appreciated and undiscovered ingredient for many people. I LOVE IT!! There is an appetizer recipe in The Recipe Girl Cookbook for BLT Polenta Squares. That recipe features polenta in solid form- flavored with fresh herbs and topped with sundried tomato, creamy cheese and watercress. I could eat a million of those. The recipe I’m sharing today is also in my cookbook. But this polenta recipe turns out a very creamy and wonderful side dish: Creamy Coconut Polenta
This polenta may be eaten as a lovely side dish to chicken or beef or seafood… or you may wish to top it with something too (see the photo far down below for an idea…)
This polenta recipe is cooked slowly on the stove with coconut milk and whole milk (much like you slowly cook risotto to get it to its tender state) before topping it off with butter, kosher salt and chives.
I topped my Creamy Coconut Polenta with another recipe from The Recipe Girl Cookbook: Sweet Chili Pulled Pork. They’re a perfect match, and they’re two of my favorite recipes in the book. The best part is that they’re both easy-to-prepare, and they are family-friendly too. You’re in luck > My friend Sommer from the food blog A Spicy Perspective is featuring my recipe for Sweet Chili Pulled Pork today! So you get two recipes in one. And all of the recipes below are featured on blogs too! Since there are 195 recipes in The Recipe Girl Cookbook, you get a little hint of what’s in the book by trying out some of the recipes that are being shared.
Creamy Coconut Polenta
Ingredients
- One 13.6 ounce can coconut milk (see Tips)
- ¾ cup whole grain polenta (see Tips)
- 2 cups whole milk, warmed
- 1 tablespoon salted butter
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, bring the coconut milk to a boil. Whisk in the polenta and reduce the heat to low. Simmer for 5 minutes, stirring often.
- Add 1 cup of the milk and stir. Continue to stir and simmer for 6 to 7 more minutes. Stir in the remaining 1 cup of milk and continue to simmer, still stirring often, until the polenta is thick and creamy, 6 to 7 minutes.
- Stir in the butter, salt and pepper. Serve immediately and top with chives.
Notes
- This recipe is gluten-free adaptable: just be sure to use a brand of polenta that is known to be GF.
- Using regular coconut milk for this recipe (instead of the light version) will turn out a much more creamy polenta.
- Do not use quick-cooking polenta for this recipe as it is not cooked in the same manner.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
The Recipe Girl Cookbook may be purchased online at Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Indie Bound. It’s beginning to show up in local bookstores too, and should be everywhere very soon!
THERE’S MORE! 6 of my blogging friends are celebrating The Recipe Girl Cookbook this week too! They’re each sharing a recipe from the book + a giveaway for a KitchenAid Blender and a Recipe Girl Cookbook. Be sure to check them out! THANKS A BUNCH TO KITCHENAID FOR PARTNERING WITH RECIPEGIRL THIS WEEK and LAST FOR THE CELEBRATION!
- Monday (Breakfast): Reluctant Entertainer: Upside-Down Brown Butter Banana Coffee Cake
- Tuesday (Lunch): Weelicious: Lemon-Scented Lobster Rolls
- Wednesday (Happy Hour): Dine and Dish: Orange-Basil Mojito
- Thursday (Dinner): A Spicy Perspective: Sweet Chili Pulled Pork
- Thursday (Dinner): The Little Kitchen: Gorgonzola Smashed Potatoes
- Friday (Dessert): Tidy Mom: Apple-Cranberry Hand Pies
And here are the recipes that were featured last week!
- Monday (Breakfast): Two Peas and Their Pod – Peanut Butter and Jelly Muffins
- Tuesday (Lunch): Picky Palate– Avocado-Topped Hot Dogs with Creamy Chipotle Sauce
- Wednesday (Happy Hour): Eat, Live, Run– Sweet Smokin’ Hot Mango Chipotle Guacamole
- Thursday (Dinner): Kevin and Amanda– Cheese Ravioli with Brown Butter & Fresh Tomato Sauce
- Thursday (Dinner): FoodieCrush– Garlicky Swiss Chard and Chickpeas
- Friday (Dessert): RecipeBoy– Snickerdoodle Blondies
I have never tried polenta but that looks delicious. Thanks for all the amazing inspiration in the kitchen. 🙂
I love this 🙂 I cook with coconut milk whenever I get a chance! This looks so delicious.
Polenta is a corn product so you must be careful to buy a certified non-GMO brand. Polenta is a favorite in the south and in Latin American dishes. It looks and feels much like corn meal.
I looove coconut milk! Never thought of using it in polenta! Pinning!
I love polenta, but I only have one creamy polenta recipe that I make. This coconut version sounds great for spring, and perfect with the pulled pork!
This looks delicious & I can’t wait to try making it. I have a question though, I’ve never made polenta before, but isn’t it just cornmeal? Or is it a different form of it that I have to buy? Thanks!
Such a great idea to twist up polenta with coconut and serve it with pork. Thanks for the inspiration, Lori!
I have yet to try polenta, so this will be added to my grocery list. This looks so yummy, thanks for sharing this recipe. 🙂
Looks delicious and the last picture has pulled me in. I need to try this recipe!
Have not tried making it with coconut milk – bet it’s amazing! Thanks! 🙂