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Easy, Crispy Polenta Fries
Ingredients
2½ cups cornmeal
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp smoked paprika
1/2 tsp dried oregano
extra virgin olive oil for drizzling
salt for sprinkling
*follow package directions for firm polenta
*you can use water instead of vegetable broth and skip the spices, but this adds more flavor
Recipe
1. In a large pot, add 6 cups of vegetable broth and place it over high heat.2. Add 1 teaspoon each of salt, onion powder, garlic powder, smoked paprika, and dried oregano to the pot.
3. Cover the pot and bring the vegetable broth to a boil. Once it's boiling, reduce the heat to low.
4. Slowly add 2 1/2 cups of cornmeal to the simmering liquid while whisking continuously to avoid clumps. Stir until all the cornmeal is incorporated.
5. Lower the heat to a gentle simmer and continue stirring for 10-15 minutes until the polenta thickens.
6. Remove the pot from heat and transfer the polenta to a 9x12 inch baking tray lined with parchment paper. Spread it as evenly as possible, keeping in mind that it's okay if it doesn't reach the tray's edges or the edges of the polenta aren't perfectly smooth.
7. Refrigerate the polenta for a minimum of 2 hours or overnight to allow it to firm up.
8. Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C).
9. Prepare a larger tray by lining it with parchment paper and brushing the parchment paper with olive oil.
10. Take the chilled polenta out of the fridge and cut off the imperfect edges. Cut the polenta into fry shapes.
11. Transfer the polenta fries to the prepared tray, leaving some space between each fry.
12. Brush the tops of the polenta fries with olive oil.
13. Bake for approximately 45 minutes (cooking time may vary depending on the size of your fries), or until they turn golden brown, flipping them halfway through.
14. The polenta fries may not feel completely crispy in the oven, but they will continue to crisp up as they cool down after being removed from the oven.
15. Sprinkle the hot fries with a touch of salt.
16. Serve your homemade polenta fries immediately, alongside your favorite dipping sauce. See the YouTube video for a delicious tomato sauce that pairs perfectly with these fries.