Recipes

corn polenta wild foods pbs

Creamy Corn Polenta

Prep 45 minutes
Serves 6-8
This recipe is vegetarian.

This dish beautifully reflects the agricultural heritage of the Americas. Creamy flint corn polenta creates the perfect canvas for roasted and tempura-fried squash, earthy wild mushrooms, and the smoky heat of salsa macha. It’s comforting, elegant, and deeply seasonal.

Ingredients

  • Flint corn polenta
  • Butter
  • Cream or milk
  • Salt and pepper
  • Delicata squash
  • Acorn squash
  • Tempura batter
  • Wild mushrooms
  • Olive oil
  • Salsa macha
  • Fresh herbs for garnish

Instructions

  1. Prepare the flint corn polenta according to package instructions or traditional preparation, stirring regularly until creamy and smooth. Finish with butter and cream.
  2. Slice delicata and acorn squash into thin crescents. Some can be sautéed while others are dipped into tempura batter and fried until crisp and golden.
  3. Sauté wild mushrooms in olive oil over medium-high heat until browned and slightly crispy on the edges.
  4. Spoon creamy polenta into shallow bowls and top with squash and mushrooms.
  5. Finish with a drizzle of salsa macha and fresh herbs.