# What to do with a tube of polenta? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 19, 2017, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-tube-of-polenta/796761 "2017-09-19T20:55:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2017, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-tube-of-polenta/796761/21 "2017-09-20T05:07:57Z")
Is it the same as grits? Because sometimes I eat those sweet, like oatmeal. ---
**Author:** ![Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brown_eyed_girl/32/3574_2.png) [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brown_Eyed_Girl)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2017, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-tube-of-polenta/796761/22 "2017-09-20T05:58:04Z")
I haven’t made it for years, but I’d make a hash out of it. Start with garlic and onions sauteed in olive oil, add polenta in small pieces. Once softened I’d add various shades of bell pepper. Last throw in a few eggs and scramble. Season with fresh ground pepper. Breakfast or dinner. Didn’t matter. Need to make that again. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2017, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-tube-of-polenta/796761/23 "2017-09-20T15:43:43Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > Is it the same as grits? Because sometimes I eat those sweet, like oatmeal. Similar, but not exactly the same. Grits are made from ground hominy, which is nixtamalized corn. [Wiki cite](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nixtamalization) Polenta is simply dried corn ground fine, then prepared by endless stirring the mixture to create a creamy texture. Polenta is more of a process than an ingredient. Like the difference between steamed rice and risotto. You can make virtually the same thing only a bit more rustic with cornmeal, not stir yourself into a lather and it’s cornmeal mush. It will lack the creamy texture but so what? So yeah, similar enough that they can be used almost interchangeably. **Brown Eyed Girl** , I’m going to try your recipe. Sounds very nice! ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2017, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-tube-of-polenta/796761/24 "2017-09-20T16:02:16Z")
Interesting. I assumed the creamy texture came from all the butter and Parmesan you chuck into the pot just before serving. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2017, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-tube-of-polenta/796761/25 "2017-09-20T16:12:37Z")
> [@Ukulele\_Ike](#): > > Interesting. I assumed the creamy texture came from all the butter and Parmesan you chuck into the pot just before serving. LOL, well, there’s that, but all things being equal – meaning you could chuck the same things into cornmeal mush – the defining characteristic of the polenta would be its creaminess due to all the stirring. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2017, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-tube-of-polenta/796761/26 "2017-09-20T16:22:18Z")
Do your [Arte Johnson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arte_Johnson) impression. Sidle up to a cute lady and whisper in her ear, “I’ve got a big tube of polenta at home, wanna come see it?” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![kittenblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ba8739/32.png) [@kittenblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kittenblue)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2017, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-tube-of-polenta/796761/27 "2017-09-21T14:38:35Z")
I slice it thin, fry it in a pan with some butter until the edges get crispy, then top it with a spoonful of caramelized onions and some crumbled gorgonzola. Put lid on pan for a minute or so until cheese starts to melt, then slide onto a plate and eat. While moaning with pleasure. Unless your caramelized onions aren’t as good as mine. Then just eat. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2017, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-tube-of-polenta/796761/28 "2017-09-21T16:54:33Z")
We love it mixed with chili. ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2017, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-tube-of-polenta/796761/29 "2017-09-21T18:14:29Z")
Add me to those who throw it on the grill. ---
**Author:** ![Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brown_eyed_girl/32/3574_2.png) [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brown_Eyed_Girl)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2017, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-tube-of-polenta/796761/30 "2017-09-21T18:31:32Z")
> [@kittenblue](#): > > I slice it thin, fry it in a pan with some butter until the edges get crispy, then top it with a spoonful of caramelized onions and some crumbled gorgonzola. Put lid on pan for a minute or so until cheese starts to melt, then slide onto a plate and eat. While moaning with pleasure. Unless your caramelized onions aren’t as good as mine. Then just eat. I’m definitely going to try this. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2017, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-tube-of-polenta/796761/31 "2017-09-21T19:02:43Z")
Slice it, and bake it with spaghetti sauce and shredded mozzarella. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-a-tube-of-polenta/796761.md?page=1)