Recipe for polenta fries in the oven

Polenta fries can be spotted more and more often on menus at various restaurants. Crispy fries made from polenta corn porridge, served as an alternative to the classic potato fries. And although the ones you can get at restaurants are exquisite, nothing beats the homemade version. In this recipe, they are made in the oven rather than in the deep fryer. This way they get the perfect consistency and taste, crunchy and crispy but in no way dry. 

TIP: Also try this recipe: polenta pan with tomatoes, polenta and eggs or a one-pot pie with a polenta lid or a dish with chicken and polenta.

What is polenta?

Polenta originates from Italy and is a type of cornmeal that is a bit coarser. It is therefore also called corn grits. Polenta corn grits are most often cooked into a porridge that is used as a side dish in Italian cuisine. A bit like we eat mashed potatoes in the Nordic countries, and in Italy the porridge is served with stews, a classic bolognese or just with vegetables and eggs. Polenta porridge is creamy, quite hearty, and wonderfully filling. And it's a cheap meal, because polenta corn grits are incredibly cheap, and a small amount of grits makes a large portion of porridge. It's a fantastic SU food that fills, tastes and nourishes with good whole grains. When polenta cools, the porridge solidifies, becoming firm and jelly-like. This makes it possible to cut the polenta porridge into slices or fritters that can be deep-fried, roasted in a pan or in the oven. 

TIP: Try cutting polenta into triangles and making grilled polenta or low small polenta diamonds for creamy pumpkin sauce or a crispy polenta pizza base.

Polenta corn grits fritters

Polenta can be made in many different ways, but there is nothing like polenta fritters. The good polenta fritters can be made with all kinds of spices and different flavor additions. For example, try adding finely chopped thyme, rosemary, basil, sun-dried tomatoes or garlic. You can also choose to add grated parmesan to the porridge, which gives a fantastic flavor. However, if you want to make vegan polenta fritters, the cheese is not a must. You can omit the parmesan or replace them with yeast flakes, which is a vegan alternative from the health food that adds cheese flavor. 

TIP: Also try using polenta in a delicious lemon cake with almonds.