• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Chisel & Fork logo

  • Home
  • About
  • Recipes
  • DIY
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • About
  • Recipes
  • DIY
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×

    You Are Here: Home → Side Dishes

    Goat Cheese Polenta

    September 8, 2019 | Updated September 13, 2022 by Ryan 1 Comment

    3319 shares
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Polenta is the Italian version of grits and this creamy goat cheese polenta is the perfect vehicle for a variety of proteins from pork to shrimp to short ribs.

    overhead shot of goat cheese polenta in gray bowl

    Everyone has childhood memories and for me many involve food, including the California Grill at Disney World. I remember feeling a little overwhelmed by the menu when my mom suggest I get the pork tenderloin with goat cheese polenta. If you've never had polenta, as I said earlier it is basically Italian grits.

    I had never tried polenta at that point but was feeling adventurous. I remember after the first bite I turned to my mom and said this was amazing! Now I liked the pork, but it was all about the polenta. Speaking of California Grill, I just checked the menu and they still have the pork with polenta that I had 20+ years ago!

    So today I'm recreating one of those childhood memories with this goat cheese polenta. What makes polenta great is it's a great vehicle to add a ton of different proteins to, whether it's pork. shrimp, fish or short ribs! So I hope you give this goat cheese polenta a try.

    close-up of polenta in gray bowl

    What Ingredients are in this Goat Cheese Polenta?

    • Milk
    • Water
    • Kosher Salt
    • Polenta
    • Unsalted butter
    • Goat cheese
    • Parmesan cheese

    How to Make Goat Cheese Polenta

    1. Bring water, milk and salt to low boil in large saucepan.
    2. Slowly pour in polenta, whisking until there are no clumps, about 5 minutes.
    3. Reduce heat to low, cover and cook for 30 minutes. Whisk every 5 minutes with a wooden spoon as it gets thicker.
    4. Once polenta is creamy, remove from heat and whisk in butter, goat cheese and Parmesan cheese.

    process shots of how to make goat cheese polenta

    Polenta vs Grits

    There is one main difference. Polenta is made with ground yellow corn whereas grits are made from white corn. Because of that, polenta is much coarser, while grits are finer. But at the end of the day, you can substitute each for one another if push comes to shove.

    Is Polenta Gluten-Free?

    Yes. Polenta is made from corn, which does not contain gluten, the proteins responsible for negative reactions for people with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity. Gluten is found in grains like wheat, barley, and rye.

    Tips for Tasty Goat Cheese Polenta

    • Use at least 4 to 1 liquid to polenta ratio which allows for a creamy polenta. Sometimes even a 5 to 1 ratio will be needed.
    • Use a combination of milk and water for the polenta. All water makes a neutral polenta while all milk makes the polenta too rich. Using half of each gives you the perfect polenta.
    • Whisk the polenta constantly for at least 5 minutes right when you add it to the boiling liquid. This helps prevent it from sticking and burning.
    • As the goat cheese polenta is simmering, stir every 5 minutes so it doesn't burn.
    • The polenta is ready when the individual grains are tender. It should be spreadable, spoonable and creamy.
    • Don't add additional flavor until the polenta is done. Stir in the butter, goat cheese and Parmesan at this point.
    • Polenta can be stored in an airtight container for 2-3 days in the fridge. When reheating, add ¼ cup to ½ cup water to help bring back the creaminess.

    close-up of goat cheese polenta in gray bowl

    Other Side Dish Recipes

    • Goat Cheese Risotto
    • Cheddar Pierogies
    • Creamy Garlic Mashed Cauliflower
    • Potato Latkes
    • Mashed Sweet Potatoes

    If you’ve tried this Goat Cheese Polenta or any other recipe on Chisel & Fork, please let me know how it turned out in the comments below! You can also follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and YouTube to see more tasty meals and anything else I'm up to.

    overhead shot of goat cheese polenta in gray bowl
    Print Recipe
    5 from 8 votes

    Goat Cheese Polenta

    This creamy polenta is loaded with goat cheese and is the perfect complement to a variety of dishes.
    Prep Time5 mins
    Cook Time35 mins
    Total Time40 mins
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: Italian
    Servings: 6
    Calories: 245kcal
    Author: Ryan Beck

    Ingredients

    • 2 cups milk
    • 2 cups water
    • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
    • 1 cup polenta
    • 2 tablespoon unsalted butter
    • 4 oz goat cheese
    • ¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

    Instructions

    • Bring water, milk and salt to low boil in a large saucepan. Slowly pour in polenta, whisking constantly until there are no clumps. Whisk polenta for about 5 minutes. It should still be slightly loose.
    • At this point, reduce heat to simmer, cover and cook for 30 minutes, whisking every 5 minutes. At this point you want to mix with wooden spoon as it gets too thick to mix. The polenta is ready when creamy and individual grains are tender.
    • Turn off heat and stir in butter, goat cheese and Parmesan cheese. Season with more salt if needed. Serve in bowl with some more Parmesan cheese on top.

    Notes

    • Use at least 4 to 1 liquid to polenta ratio which allows for a creamy polenta. Sometimes even a 5 to 1 ratio will be needed.
    • Use a combination of milk and water for the polenta. All water makes a neutral polenta while all milk makes the polenta too rich. Using half of each gives you the perfect polenta.
    • Whisk the polenta constantly for at least 5 minutes right when you add it to the boiling liquid. This helps prevent it from sticking and burning.
    • As the goat cheese polenta is simmering, stir every 5 minutes so it doesn't burn.
    • The polenta is ready when the individual grains are tender. It should be spreadable, spoonable and creamy.
    • Don't add additional flavor until the polenta is done. Stir in the butter, goat cheese and Parmesan at this point.
    • Polenta can be stored in an airtight container for 2-3 days in the fridge. When reheating, add ¼ cup to ½ cup water to help bring back the creaminess.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 245kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0g | Cholesterol: 42mg | Sodium: 638mg | Potassium: 161mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 500IU | Vitamin C: 0.8mg | Calcium: 340mg | Iron: 0.9mg
    Did You Try This Recipe?I love seeing what you make so mention @ChiselandFork or tag #chiselandfork on Instagram and please give a star rating below!
    « Almond Pesto Fettuccine
    Roasted Cauliflower Soup »
    3319 shares

    Receive Top 25 Recipes

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Chris says

      November 26, 2018 at 2:59 pm

      5 stars
      Big fan of polenta as well!

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    About Chisel & Fork

    ryan standing in kitchen

    Hey there! Welcome to Chisel & Fork, a blog with tasty recipes and DIY projects. I'm Ryan and here you'll find hundreds of recipes ranging from true comfort food to vegan. Oh and if you like woodworking, you might just find your next inspiration. Read More About Chisel & Fork…

    Get Your Free Copy of My Top 25 Most Popular Recipes

    title page of ecookbook

    Healthy Recipes

    • Cinnamon Overnight Oats
      Cook Time5 Minutes
    • Buffalo Chicken Spaghetti Squash
      Cook Time1 Hours 10 Minutes
    • Peanut Butter Energy Balls
      Cook Time25 Minutes
    • Quinoa Sweet Potato Salad
      Cook Time1 Hours

    Popular Recipes

    • Baked Cheddar Mac and Cheese
      Cook Time40 Minutes
    • Cranberry Mimosa
      Cook Time5 Minutes
    • Apple Pie with Crumb Topping
      Cook Time1 Hours 40 Minutes
    • Chocolate Chip Scones
      Cook Time35 Minutes

    Featured In

    logos of places where Chisel & Fork has been featured

    Footer

    ^ back to top

    Information

    • About
    • Privacy Policy
    • Accessibility

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates
    • Recipes
    • DIY

    Contact

    • Contact
    • FAQ
    • Work With Us

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2022 Chisel & Fork

    3319 shares