These are the perfect polenta bowls for a cool winter night. Warming, delicious polenta topped with sauteed chard, bacon bits, and spicy peppers. YUM.
Ingredients
1cupcoarse polenta corn grits
3-4cupswater
1cupheavy cream
1teaspoonkosher salt
1teaspoonblack pepper
1cupgrated cheddar cheese
6strips bacon, chopped
2red fresno chilis
1large bunch chard
Fresh scallions
Instructions
For polenta, bring 3 cups of water to a low simmer in a medium pot. Slowly pour in ground corn and whisk constantly. Turn heat down to low and simmer until corn starts to thicken, 3-4 minutes. Then add cream, salt, and pepper and continue to cook on low until polenta is soft. If it seems dry and is sticking or cracking, add more water in ½ cup increments. Keep polenta warm over very low heat.
Meanwhile, in a large skillet add chopped bacon over low heat and cook until bacon is crispy, maybe 10 minutes. Remove bacon with a slotted spoon and let drain on a paper towel. Drain off all but 2-3 tablespoons of bacon grease.
Add sliced chili pepper and chopped chard (cut off any very thick stems) to the skillet and toss to combine. Cook for a few minutes until chard cooks down an bit. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Right before serving, stir cheddar cheese into polenta and divide between bowls. Top with chard mixture and reserved crispy bacon. Garnish with scallions also.