Where to find quick cooking polenta in Berkeley/Oaklandish area?

[hohokam]

I ran across a recipe that calls for quick cooking polenta, a product which I've never sought out or seen in a store. Anyone have ideas about where I might find such a thing in or around Berkeley?

[hohokam]

Apologies for bumping a thread that I'm sure many of you consider an abomination, but I just wanted to note that last night I discovered that Verbrugge Meats in Rockridge also sells bags of quick cooking polenta (ItalBrand, 500g for $3.99).

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Verbrugge Meat-Fish Poultry
6321 College Ave, Oakland, CA

[caliroz]

I just saw a Rachael Ray show where she made quick cooking polenta. After many searches this was the first one that actually told me where I could buy it. I simply don't have the patience to stir for 40 minutes for regular polenta and don't care for the tube stuff so thank you so much! It's worth a try!

[Robert Lauriston]

It's a myth that polenta needs to be stirred constantly.

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/328327

[caliroz]

thank you! I printed that and will give it a try. Sounds delicious.

[hohokam]

Found it!

I was down at the Pasta Shop in Berkeley today when I spotted a bag reading "CUOCE IN POCHI MINUTI" and "farina di granaturco precotta". (Yay! My rudimentary understanding of Italian pays off!)

The product is Moretti brand and comes in a yellow plastic bag (actually more like a vacuum-packed brick of grains). According to the package, it cooks in 8 minutes (vs. 40 for their un-pre-cooked polentas). In the interest of science, I bought a bag while trying not to let the steep price ($4.85 for 500g) bother me too much.

I'll try to remember to post the results of upcoming experiments on the Home Cooking board.

[bnala]

even though it has a nice italian label, it's still not very good, and it's expensive. Polenta is better when it's cooked for a long time. Quick cooking polenta is to polenta what quick cooking rice is to rice.

[hohokam]

See my post above:

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/5635...

[anyhow]

Bob's Red Mill sells a stone-ground polenta that works well in baked goods, from my small number of tries. You can find it at many grocery stores: Berkeley Bowl, Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, and plenty of others.

The bags are labeled "Corn Grits, also known as Polenta". You will also like it prepared as polenta, either quick or traditional recipes.

http://www.bobsredmill.com/product.ph...

[Chuckles the Clone]

Is polenta different than grits? Because Quaker Quick Grits is available pretty much everywhere.

[wolfe]

Something to do with soaking corn in lime water, drying and grinding vs cornmeal.
http://ask.yahoo.com/20021007.html

[chefj]

You could also use the corm flour used for making Arepas in Venezuela and Colombia. . It will be labeled masarepa or masa al instante. It is a cooked and dried cornmeal and should work well. You can find it in most Latin American grocery stores and even at regular markets in Hispanic neighborhoods.

[hohokam]

Ah. Interesting. I might just give that a shot if I can find it nearby. Thanks!

[Hunicsz]

I've made cookies with finely ground cornmeal with sucess.

[maria lorraine]

Plain ole corn meal works great to make quick-cooking polenta. Takes 5 minutes.

[Glencora]

I've never heard of a quick-cooking type. In my experience, longer is better with polenta. Anyhow, I buy the regular stuff at the Monterey Market. If you find quick-cooking and it works out for you (not lumpy or raw-tasting) could you let us know?

[hohokam]

As I noted above, I'm looking to use the dried, cooked (par-cooked?) polenta as one of the dry ingredients in a cookie batter. I doubt that I would ever use it for making straight-up grits.

Eh. Maybe I'll just try subbing fine cornmeal and a little bit of regular cornmeal for the quick polenta and see how the cookies turn out.

[Glencora]

Hmmm, I googled it and came up with a Cooking Light site with several photographs of the product. Who knew? Now, I've got to stop procrastinating and get to work.

[wolfe]

Why not buy a tube of premade? I've gotten it at Andronico's and Trader Joe's.

[hohokam]

Sorry. A little while after I posted this, I knew I should have specified what I needed it for...the polenta is to be used in making cookies, so I the product I'm looking for is dry.

[wolfe]

Well it exists and apparently Rachel Ray uses it but from googling it seems had to find.
Probably considered as bad as making No-Knead Bread.
http://www.gourmetfoodstore.com/other...