Creamy Soulful Polenta with Parmesan and Chive

By AislePrompt Editorial · ·

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

A comforting bowl of creamy polenta enriched with Parmesan cheese and fresh chives, perfect as a soulful side or base for dishes. This Italian-inspired quick recipe (vegetarian), ready in about 30 minutes, pairs water, fine cornmeal (polenta), salt for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 230 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 5 min Cook: 25 min Serves 4 Italian cuisine 230 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: In a medium saucepan, bring 4 cups water and 1 tsp salt to a rolling boil over medium-high heat.
  2. Step 2: Gradually whisk in 1 cup fine cornmeal in a steady stream to avoid lumps. Reduce heat to low and cook, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, for 20-25 minutes until thickened and creamy.
  3. Step 3: Remove from heat and stir in 3 tbsp unsalted butter, 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, 2 tbsp chopped fresh chives, and 1/4 tsp black pepper. Mix until butter and cheese melt fully and the polenta is smooth and luscious.
  4. Step 4: Serve warm immediately as a base for roasted vegetables or meats, garnished with extra chives if desired.

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