Instant Pot Polenta

Instant Pot Polenta! A delicious healthy side dish that is quick and easy to make in your pressure cooker! Vegan adaptable and totally gluten-free!

Hey friends, here’s another very convenient use for that Instant Pot of yours! Instant Pot Polenta. This recipe requires very little hands on time, can be made vegan and is perfect for busy weeknight dinners. I think of this as a “building block” recipe, one that has a myriad of uses.

For example, while the polenta is cooking away in your pressure cooker, you could be roasting salmon, or pan-searing wild mushrooms, or roasting root vegetables. You could be making this Sheet Pan Ratatouille  to serve overtop. The possibilities are endless here – and really your only job here is to comb through your fridge and decide what you want to serve with it! Keep it super simple if you like, perhaps braising some spinach and poaching and egg. You get the idea.

Here above,  it’s topped with farmers market wild mushrooms, garlic and sage. So simple, so easy!

And here below it’s topped with simple roasted root veggies, then drizzled with Gremolata.

You could also make this simple Sheet Pan Ratatouille to serve overtop.

And if you prefer a more hearty “meaty” meal, scroll down for more ideas from our catering business.

So think of the Instant Pot Polenta as your “base” or foundation, then layer it however you like!

Sometimes, I’ll blister some cherry tomatoes with a little garlic and olive oil in a skillet and call it good.

Or like I said before, wilt some greens, like kale or spinach, and top the whole thing with a poached egg.

MMMMMMMMM.

Often in our catering business we would serve this with slow-braised lamb shanks, elk osso bucco,  or slow-braised beef short ribs – all good pairings if you’d like something meatier.

I also really like this with simple roasted salmon and veggies.

And this sheet pan recipe would go really nicely.

The nice part- many of these options can be made vegan! And I know you will come up with many more ways to use the polenta, once you see how easy it is to make in the Instant Pot.

I can’t wait to see and hear about them! ( Tag them on instagram #feastingathome, so I can seeeeeee! Or comment below.)

Happy delicious week!

xoxoxoxo

Instant Pot Polenta

Instant Pot Polenta! A delicious healthy side dish that is quick and easy to make in your pressure cooker! Vegan adaptable and totally gluten-free! Use this as a delicious healthy base for your own creations!

• Author: Sylvia Fountaine
• Prep Time: 5
• Cook Time: 20
• Total Time: 25 minutes
• Yield: 3 ½ cups
• Category: instant pot, side dish, vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free
• Method: pressure cooker
• Cuisine: Italian

Ingredients

• 4 cups water or veggie broth
• 1 ½ teaspoons salt
• fresh cracked pepper to taste
• 1 teaspoon granulated garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon granulated onion power
• 1 teaspoon dried herbs ( Rosemary, herbs du Provence, Italian herb blend)  or 1 tablespoon fresh herbs
• 1 cup polenta ( corn meal)

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Add your choice of:

• 2-3 tablespoons olive oil or butter
• optional cheese- you could swirl in ¼-½ cup of cheddar, goat cheese, sour cream, thick greek yogurt, smoked mozzarella, or whatever meltable cheese you have on hand. Start conservatively, add more to taste.

Instructions

Set instant Pot to “Saute” function. Add the water (or the broth) and salt, spices & herbs and bring to a simmer, about 5 minutes.

Once the water is simmering, slowly pour in the polenta, a little at a time, while whisking vigorously as you pour to prevent any lumps. Once incorporated, set instant pot to 8 minutes, on high pressure.

Manually release, covering the steam spout with a kitchen towel.

Give a good stir. Add the olive oil (or butter). You could stop here and keep this vegan.

Or swirl in your choice of cheese for extra richness, starting conservatively. Add more to taste.

I like adding sour cream, so I’ll usually add a dollop ( ¼ cup) which also gives it a subtle tanginess.

Keep it on the warm function until ready to stir, stirring occasionally. If polenta sits too long, and feels too firm, you can always “loosen” it by whisking in hot water.  Taste and adjust salt.

Notes

Serve this with:

 Wild Mushrooms, Garlic and Sage 

Sheet pan ratatouille 

or  Simple roasted Root Vegetables with Gremolata

or Spring Veggies 

Keywords: instant pot polenta recipe, polenta in the pressure cooker, easy polenta recipe, instant pot polenta, pressure cooker polenta, vegan side dish, gluten free side dish,