Cheddar Butternut Squash Polenta
Sharp melted cheddar cheese and creamy homemade butternut squash puree make an incredible fall pairing in this rich and creamy butternut squash polenta.
Servings 6 servings
Calories 384kcal
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
- 1/2 cup finely-diced yellow onion
- 2 cups butternut squash, diced into 1/4-inch cubes
- 2 medium cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon minced fresh rosemary
- 1 cup vegetable or chicken broth
- 6 cups water
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1-1/2 cups (240g) finely-ground yellow cornmeal
- 1 cup shredded sharp or mild cheddar cheese
- Additional shredded cheddar and fresh rosemary for topping
Instructions
- Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion and butternut squash and saute 3-4 minutes until onion is translucent. Add garlic and rosemary and cook 1 additional minute until fragrant.
- Pour broth into pan and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to low, cover pot, and allow to cook 5-10 minutes, stirring occasionally until butternut squash is tender.
- Transfer butternut squash to a blender or food processor and blend on high speed until squash is smooth and creamy. Set aside.
- In same saucepan, bring water to a boil over high heat and salt well. Reduce heat to low and slowly whisk in cornmeal until smooth, whisking constantly to avoid lumps.
- Allow polenta cook over low heat, stirring frequently to prevent sticking, until polenta is thickened and tender, about 5-10 minutes of cooking.
- Remove polenta from heat and fold in remaining butter, mashed butternut squash, and cheddar until melted. Season polenta with salt and pepper to taste and serve warm with additional cheddar and rosemary on top. Enjoy!
Notes
Storing Instructions
Store polenta in refrigerator up to 6 days.
Nutrition
Serving: 8 oz polenta | Calories: 384kcal | Carbohydrates: 51g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 34mg | Sodium: 297mg | Potassium: 397mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 5418IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 174mg | Iron: 2mg