Komatsuna with Creamy Polenta

 

Ingredients:

• 2 large bunches Komatsuna
• 3 cloves garlic, peeled & sliced
• 2 Tb. olive oil (or coconut oil, butter, or bacon fat)
• ½ tsp. kosher salt
• ½ c. walnuts (toasted or not)
• 1 c. chicken stock
• 1 c. whole milk
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 c. yellow cornmeal
• ½ c. Gruyere, shredded
• 2 Tb. unsalted butter
• ½ tsp. kosher salt
• ¼ tsp. freshly ground black pepper

Preparation:

1. Wash Komatsuna and trim stem ends. Wash stems thoroughly to remove sand. Cut into 2” pieces; set aside until ready to use.
2. Fill a large saucepan with water and 1 tsp. salt and bring to a boil. Prepare a bowl filled with ice water; set aside.
3. While waiting for the water to boil, start the Polenta: combine broth, milk, and bay leaf in a medium saucepan; bring to boil then turn off heat, cover and let sit for 10 minutes.
4. Once the water boils, drop in Komatsuna pieces to blanch for about 2 minutes, then remove with a slotted spoon and drop into the ice water to stop the cooking process. Remove pieces with a slotted spoon and pat dry with a paper towel or a salad spinner.
5. In a saute pan, heat olive oil with the garlic over medium heat. When garlic gets nicely browned, remove from pan.
6. Add Komatsuna to oil and sprinkle with kosher salt. Increase heat to medium/high to saute the greens for about 6-8 minutes. Turn off heat and leave uncovered while you prepare polenta.
7. Remove bay leaf from milk. Bring back to boil, then reduce to medium heat and slowly sprinkle in cornmeal, whisking vigorously at each pour. Keep whisking until the cornmeal has absorbed the liquid and it’s smooth.
8. Remove from heat and stir in cheese, butter, salt, and pepper.
9. Transfer polenta to serving dishes, top with Komatsuna, walnuts, and a few grinds of fresh black pepper (to taste).

https://www.mydeliciousblog.com/komatsuna-with-creamy-polenta/