Polenta

Polenta (Italian pronunciation: [poˈlɛnta], Northern Italian pronunciation [poˈlenta]) is a dish of boiled cornmeal rather popular in Northern Italian, Austrian, French, Croatian and Swiss cuisine. It may be consumed hot as a porridge or allowed to cool and solidify into a loaf, which is then baked, fried, or grilled.

Etymology

Latin polenta covered any hulled and crushed grain, especially barley-meal, and is derived from Latin pollen 'fine flour', which shares a root with pulvis 'dust'.

Description

As it is known today, polenta derives from earlier forms of grain mush (known as puls or pulmentum in Latin or more commonly as gruel or porridge), commonly eaten since Roman times. Before the introduction of corn (maize) from the New World in the 16th century, polenta was made with such starchy ingredients as farro, chestnut flour, millet, spelt, and chickpeas.

Polenta has a creamy texture due to the gelatinization of starch in the grain. However, its consistency may not be completely homogeneous if a coarse grind or hard grain such as flint corn is used.

Da Polenta family

The Da Polenta ([da poˈlenta]), or Polentani ([polenˈtaːni]), were an old noble Italian family whose name derives from the Castle of Polenta near Bertinoro in Romagna.

The founder of the house is said to have been Guido, surnamed l'Antico or the Elder, who wielded great authority in Ravenna in the 13th century. His grandson Guido Novello upheld the power of the house and was also capitano del popolo at Bologna; he was overthrown in 1322. His chief claim to renown lies in the fact that in 1321 he gave hospitality to the poet Dante, who immortalized the tragic history of Guido the Elder's daughter Francesca da Rimini, unhappily married to Giovanni Malatesta, lord of Rimini, in an episode of The Inferno.

Guido's kinsman Ostasio I was lord of Cervia and Ravenna from 1322 to 1329. After being recognized as a vassal of the Holy See, he again became independent and went over to the house of Este, whom he served faithfully in their struggles with the Church until his death in 1346. His son Bernardino, who succeeded him as lord of Ravenna in 1346, was deposed in 1347 by his brothers, Pandolfo and Lamberto II, but was reinstated a few months later and ruled until his death in 1359; he was famous for his profligacy and cruelty.

Polenta (moth)

Polenta was a genus of moths of the Noctuidae family, it is now considered a synonym of Plagiomimicus, although most species are now in Lineostriastiria.

Former species

  • Polenta biundulalis (Zeller, 1872)
  • Polenta hachita (Barnes, 1904)
  • Polenta hutsoni (J.B. Smith, 1907)
  • Polenta olivalis (Barnes & McDunnough, 1916)
  • Polenta sexseriata (Grote, 1881)
  • Polenta tepperi (Morrison, 1875)
  • References

  • Natural History Museum Lepidoptera genus database
  • Polenta at funet
  • Podcasts:

    PLAYLIST TIME:

    Le Bleu

    by: Blondie

    Le bleu
    (Chris Stein – Gilles Riberolles)
    ---speculated lyrics---
    Amène-toi, Johnny !
    Emmène-moi, Johnny !
    Tous ces goûts de passé
    Ces délices fanés, m’envahissent
    Tu le sais !
    Je suis un animal avec du bleu à l’âme
    Je suis un animal avec du bleu à l’âme
    Et nos cœurs face à face envoûtés
    L’innocence recommence
    Emmène-moi dans la danse, Johnny !
    J’ai oublié mon cœur
    Dans un aéroport
    Est-ce que tu m’aimes encore ?
    C’est toujours la même
    Vieille rengaine
    Mais moi, je t’aime
    Je suis un animal avec du bleu à l’âme
    Je suis un animal avec du bleu à l’âme
    Est-ce que tu le sais, Johnny ?
    Envie de toi
    Amène-toi, Johnny !
    Emmène-moi, Johnny !
    Tous ces goûts de passé
    Ces délices fanés, m’envahissent
    Tu le sais
    Je suis un animal avec du bleu à l’âme
    Je suis un animal avec du bleu à l’âme
    Et nos cœurs face à face envoûtés
    L’innocence recommence
    Emmène-moi dans la danse, Johnny !
    J’ai du fard aux paupières
    J’ai du rouge à lèvres
    Mais j’ai le bleu en moi
    Emmène-moi dans la danse, Johnny !
    Je suis un animal avec du bleu à l’âme
    Je suis un animal avec du bleu à l’âme
    J’ai oublié mon coeur
    Dans une gare ou un port
    Est-ce que tu le sais, Johnny ?




    Latest News for: polenta

    Edit

    Hearty party: Alice Zaslavsky’s fennel stew with polenta dumplings recipe

    The Guardian 20 Mar 2025
    I’ve flipped polenta on its head, too, turning it into free-form dumplings that add body and texture to the stew from above, rather than remaining hidden underneath.
    Edit

    Pittsfield: Snowmobile club serving polenta dinner

    The Berkshire Eagle 14 Mar 2025
    Berkshire Snow Seekers Snowmobile Club Inc. is holding a polenta dinner fundraiser on Sunday, March 30, at the Polish Falcons Club ....
    Edit

    Rukmini Iyer’s quick and easy recipe for leeks with white beans, polenta and hazelnuts | ...

    The Guardian 03 Mar 2025
    The leeks essentially look after themselves, while the polenta takes just ...
    Edit

    Rukmini Iyer’s quick and easy recipe for leeks with white beans, polenta and hazelnuts

    The Observer 03 Mar 2025
    The leeks essentially look after themselves, while the polenta takes just minutes to pull together, making this an easy and filling weeknight win.Melted leeks with white beans, polenta and hazelnuts.
    • 1
    ×