Don't you just love a big salad?! I'm not as big a fan of cold salads during the chilly winter months, but with the warm weather I'm enjoying eating as many healthy greens as I can. A new favorite salad addition: polenta croutons.
Have you tried polenta yet? I love the subtle, sweet corn flavor that it brings to any salad. I've tried four different methods for making polenta croutons, and I'm happy to share my favorite two with you.
Polenta Croutons, serves two.
9 ounces precooked polenta (half of the standard cylinder size you can buy at most grocery stores)
1-2 tablespoons brown butter or olive oil
2 teaspoons cornstarch (for the panfried method only)
salt + pepper
To panfry polenta croutons, cut the polenta up into small triangles. Place in a ziplock bag, add the cornstarch, and give the bag a good shake so all the polenta gets coated. Heat 1-2 tablespoons brown butter (or regular, salted butter) over medium heat in a nonstick pan. Fry the polenta on both sides for a few minutes each until crispy. Sprinkle with a little salt and pepper before adding to your favorite salad.
To bake polenta, cut into small triangles. Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper or a baking mat. Toss the polenta in a large bowl with 1-2 tablespoons olive oil. Bake at 400°F for 12-15 minutes until crispy. Sprinkle with a little salt and pepper before adding to your favorite salad.
Try one of these methods this week and see what you think. The addition of crispy polenta croutons can make any salad just that much more filling. Enjoy! xo. Emma
Credits // Author: Emma Chapman. Photograpy: Sarah Rhodes. Photos edited with Sunday and Arlo (B&W) from the Folk Collection.
I’m not a vegetable eater, so I’m always trying to find something that makes a salad worth eating. I’m adding these to my egg and bacon salad next time.
I love polenta…I love it so much. I love polenta even more when it is crispy, so this is my kind of recipe! I’ve been making a lot of salads lately and haven’t been able to have anything crunchy due to the allergy diet I am on. This is the perfect solution! Thank you so much for sharing, I would have never come up with this!
xox,
That Comfort Girl
I love polenta croutons in a salad! I often throw in a bit if grilled halloumi too… Yum!
Faye | freckles-and-all.com
I love croutons in almost EVERY THING savory that I feed my face with! I can’t believe we can make croutons from polenta!!!! Gosh this is soooo creative! Need to start my work on these beauties stat!
I love Polenta! The consistency and everything about it! This is a good addition I can’t wait to try 🙂
www.dancingthroughsunday.typepad.com
Nordstroms Cafe has a shrimp salad with polenta croutons (crispy on the outside, soft on the inside) .. omg .. so good. Now I’ll have to try this at home!
Monica.
I’m a big fan of summertime salads and I’m an even bigger fan of big hunks of croutons in them. Polenta seems like a really neat addition and a different kind of crispy crouton! Can’t wait to try this out!
xoxo
Taylor
what a great and healthy idea!!
xxoo,
nikki
www.dreaminneon.blogspot.com
Mmmmmm yum!!
AWESOME! I just bought some polenta at the store- this is super exciting- and healthy! :0) Great way to spice up your summer salads! – Kathryne
Clever idea. I rarely use polenta so this can mix things up a bit. :] // http://www.itscarmen.com ☼
Brilliant idea, must have some on top of my salad ASAP!
Genius, I tell you, genius! Never would’ve thought to use polenta for croutons.
I love this idea…what kind of salad dressing did you pair with it? Not all salads need a dressing, but just curious what flavor combinations you might have tried that didn’t overpower the polenta.
I love polenta and never thought of making croutons from it! I need to try this.
Low in carbs, high in Vit A and C, you really can’t beat this as a “crouton.” I’m stealing this idea for my next salad! Thanks for sharing
Shan from http://www.strippedchic.com
What a fun idea for croutons!
Creative!
Janine Maral from http://www.janinemaral.com/
Polenta in a salad would be delish! Xo, S
Yummm, what a good idea! I do love salads AND polenta! My problem is that eating a lot of raw leafy greens really hurts my stomach lately! What a terrible curse for a veggie lover :'( Ah well…
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