This recipe is from Good and Cheap.
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Three elements make up this lovely, versatile dish. Creamy polenta, silky, sautéd greens and a crispy fried egg. The greens can be whatever you wish, and with all the spring greens out, why not try something new? Almost any green is wonderful sautéd with garlic, a little chili and salty anchovies. If you want more crunch you can cook the greens on a higher heat and blacken the edges a bit.
Spicy, Crunchy, Creamy Polenta
Creamy polenta, silky, sautéd greens topped with a crispy fried egg.
Servings 2
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup polenta or cornmeal
- 2 cups water
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 4 cups fresh spinach roughly chopped (or 1 cup frozen)
- 3 cloves garlic finely chopped
- 1 anchovy finely chopped (optional)
- 1/2 tsp chile flakes
- 2 eggs
- parmesan or romano freshly grated
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
- Bring the water and salt to a boil in a medium-sized pot, then turn the heat down to low and slowly pour in the polenta while stirring briskly with a wooden spoon. Stirring while pouring is crucial to keep the polenta creamy and smooth—no lumps! Once the cornmeal becomes smooth and thick, place a lid on the pot with the spoon still in it so that steam can escape.
- Let the polenta cook while you prepare the rest of the meal, checking in occasionally to give it a stir. The total cooking time should be about 25 to 30 minutes, but if you're in a rush, you can eat it after 15, it just won't be as delicious.
- Meanwhile, chop the spinach, garlic, and anchovy if you're using it. Set them aside. Add a bit of olive oil or butter to a pan on medium heat. Let the pan heat up until it sizzles when you flick it with water. Add the garlic, anchovy, and chile flakes. Let them cook until you can smell them, about 1 minute. Add the spinach and toss it around with a spoon or tongs, or just swirl the pan to coat the spinach with the garlic mixture. Let everything cook for 3 to 5 minutes, until the spinach is wilted. Remove the pan from the heat and move its contents to a bowl to wait for the polenta and eggs.
- When the polenta is about 2 minutes from done, start with the eggs. Wipe the pan quickly with a cloth, then put it back on medium heat. Splash a bit more olive oil in the pan and wait for it to get hot. Crack the two eggs into the pan and cover with a lid. This will steam them, making sunny-side-up eggs with fully cooked whites.
- Scoop the polenta into a pair of bowls. Add some Romano and lots of salt and pepper. Layer about half the vegetables over the polenta.
- Once the whites of the eggs are cooked, remove the eggs from the pan with a spatula and lay them over the polenta and vegetables. Top with the rest of the vegetables and further sprinklings of cheese.