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Polenta frita
Fried polenta sticks
Polenta frita: São Paulo bar snack of firm polenta sticks fried until crisp
Italian immigrants brought polenta to São Paulo, and the city's bars and cantinas turned the leftovers into one of its best snacks: thick sticks of set polenta, deep-fried until the outside is crunchy and bubbled and the inside stays soft and creamy. They arrive in paper-lined baskets in Bixiga cantinas and corner botecos alike, sprinkled with salt, to be eaten with a cold drink; some places dust them with grated cheese, which makes them no longer vegan. Kids love them as a side with tomato sauce. They fall apart in the oil when the polenta is too soft, so cook it until very thick and let it set completely in the fridge. Chef's tip: dry the cut sticks on kitchen paper and fry in small batches, so the oil temperature stays high and the crust forms at once.
- Total time
- 45 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 6
Ingredients
- 5 cups water
- 2 tsp salt
- 1 tbsp olive oilplus extra for the tray
- 10 ½ oz fine polenta or cornmeal (fubá)
- ½ tsp dried oregano (optional)
- 4 ¼ cups neutral oil for deep-frying
- 1 tsp coarse saltto finish
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What you'll need
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Method
0/6 doneStep 2: Pour in 10 ½ oz fine polenta or cornmeal (fubá) in a stream, whisking constantly, then add ½ tsp dried oregano if using. Lower the heat and cook for 15 minutes, stirring often with a wooden spoon, until very thick and pulling away from the sides.
15 minStep 3: Spread it 2 cm thick in an oiled baking tin and smooth the top. Cool, then chill for at least 2 hours, until completely firm.
Step 4: Turn out and cut into sticks about 2 x 2 x 8 cm. Pat them dry on kitchen paper.
Step 5: Heat 4 ¼ cups neutral oil for deep-frying in a deep pan to 375°F, or until a cube of bread browns in 20 seconds. Fry the sticks 6–8 at a time for 4–5 minutes, until golden and crisp. Don't move them for the first minute.
15 minStep 6: Drain on kitchen paper, sprinkle with 1 tsp coarse salt and serve hot.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 330 kcal
- Protein
- 4 g
- Carbs
- 39 g
- Fat
- 17 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does polenta frita take?
- About 45 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 35 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 6 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
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