Dreamy Creamy Goat Cheese Polenta is a rich and smooth and a great alternative to mashed potatoes. It pairs well with red meat, such as Short Ribs and Stew.
Whether you use your Stove Top or your Instant Pot, Ninja Foodi or Pressure Cooker this Dreamy Creamy Goat Cheese Polenta is super easy to make and only takes a few minutes using either method. Polenta pairs really well as a base for my Pressure Cooker Red Wine Braised Short Ribs or, if you leave out the Goat Cheese, is the crunchy topper to my Baked Tamale Pie (recipe coming soon).
This recipe is super simple and you can flavor it up, however you like. Years ago, in my college days, a friend of mine gave me his recipe for Baked Tamale Pie, with a Cornmeal Topper. It is so good and I’ve been making it ever since.
Don’t forget to check out my Air Fryer Goat Cheese Polenta Bites! You are going to want to make extra Polenta, just to make these Bites. They are so good cooked in the Air Fryer, at a fraction of the calories of deep frying.
Add fresh water and salt to a Stainless Steel 3 Quart Saucepan and bring to a slow boil. Slowly pour in the cornmeal, whisking as you go to avoid clumping.
Turn heat to low and continue mixing until Polenta has become creamy and the texture is very smooth. If you prefer a thicker consistency, add a bit more cornmeal and mix in to combine. If your Polenta is too thick, add some water, a little at a time, until you have achieved the consistency you like.
Stir in the butter and mix to combine. The cornmeal will continue to thicken, as it becomes Polenta.
Add in the Goat Cheese and stir until completely melted and creamy. Plate and top with my Pressure Cooker Red Wine Braised Short Ribs {Goyisha Flanken} recipe.
If using this recipe for your Cornmeal Topper in my Baked Tamale Pie recipe (you can see the Tamale Pie in the background) do not add in the Goat Cheese!
If you are planning to shape into disks and pan fry, continue cooking the Polenta until very thick. Shape into balls and place in a greased skillet. Flatten balls and fry on each side until golden brown. Otherwise, add to the top of your Tamale Pie and bake as directed.
If using for my Pressure Cooker Red Wine Braised Short Ribs, add a big scoop to the center of your dinner plate and top with the Short Ribs.
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Pressure Cooker Method
To your Pressure Cooker cooking pot, add cornmeal, salt and water and you are ready to lock on the lid.
If you want to prepare these Dreamy Creamy Goat Cheese Polenta using the Pot in Pot method, add all the ingredients to your Small 1.5 Quart “Pot in Pot” Mixing Bowl add water to the cooking pot and place a Stainless Steel Trivet.
{Make sure you look at the recipe card/ingredient ration at the bottom of this post, as amounts differ for these two methods.}
Because of cooking this Dreamy Creamy Goat Cheese Polenta directly in the cooking pot, you will need a bit more water. You will need enough so that pressure will be reached, without scorching or overheating the Pressure Cooker.
Therefore, after pressure is released, you will need to use the Sauté, Browning or Meat function on your Pressure Cooker and cook down the Polenta before adding the Goat Cheese.
If the thought of Goat Cheese bothers you, add in Feta or Cojita, instead..
Whisk in the Goat Cheese, until thoroughly incorporated. Add a big scoop to a plate and top with my Pressure Cooker Red Wine Braised Short Ribs {Goyisha Flanken}.
This Dreamy Creamy Goat Cheese Polenta tastes really good on its own too. Pour some into a bowl and grab a spoon!
Kitchen Equipment and Essentials
- Stainless Steel 3 Quart Saucepan
- Instant Pot, Ninja Foodi or Pressure Cooker
- Amco Advanced Performance 18/10 Stainless Steel Measuring Spoons
- Simply Gourmet (Dry) Stainless Steel Measuring Cups
- Anchor Hocking Glass (Liquid) Measuring Cups
- Rösle Stainless Steel Flat Whisk– a MUST have, probably my most used utensil
- Rösle Silicone Flat Whisk
- Cilio Olivewood Spatula
- Porcelain & Bamboo Salt Box with Spoon
- For Pot in Pot – Stainless Steel Trivet and Small 1.5 Quart “Pot in Pot” Mixing Bowl
- For Stove Top – Stainless Steel 3 Quart Saucepan
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Here is the handy printable recipe:
Ingredients
Pressure Cooker Method
Recommended Products
Instructions
Stove Top
- Add water to a Medium Saucepan and bring water to a boil. Add in cornmeal and salt and stir until creamy and thick, about 10 minutes.
- Stir in butter and Goat Cheese, if using.
Pressure Cooker
- Add water, cornmeal, salt and butter to Pressure Cooker cooking pot.
- Lock on lid and close Pressure Valve. Cook at High Pressure for 5 minutes. When Beep sounds, allow a full Natural Pressure Release.
- Select Sauté, Browning or Meat on your Pressure Cooker and while stirring, cook down to desired thickness. Add in Goat Cheese and stir until melted.
Pressure Cooker "Pot in Pot" Method
- *Add one cup water to Pressure Cooker cooking pot and place a Trivet.
- Add 3.5 cups fresh water, cornmeal, salt and butter to Pot in Pot Bowl. Place Bowl on top of Trivet. Cook at High Pressure for 8 minutes. When Beep sounds, allow a full Natural Pressure Release.
- Add in Goat Cheese and stir until melted.
Linda L. says
Hi — This is in the pot as we speak — I’m doing pot in pot and I noticed that, while most people could figure it out, you’re not instructing to add 4 cups water to the pot in pot bowl.
Thanks
Mary oberembt says
The steps in the printable recipe does not include adding the water in the pressure cooker version as indicated in the steps above.
KellyB says
Dreamy seems appropriate for this!! Cannot wait to try!