Sage Polenta

• Recipe by Shelley Lindgren

Although Shelley doesn’t often cook with butter—olive oil is her usual choice—she finishes her creamy polenta with sage-infused melted butter to add a luxurious, rich herb flavor.

Ingredients

1. 1 quart water
2. Salt
3. 1 cup coarse yellow polenta (not instant)
4. 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
5. 4 sage leaves
6. 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
7. Freshly ground pepper

Directions

1. In a large saucepan, bring the water to a boil. Add salt to the water, then slowly whisk in the polenta. Cover the saucepan and cook over moderate heat, whisking often, until the polenta is very thick and creamy, about 45 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, cook the butter over moderate heat until starting to brown, about 3 minutes. Add the sage leaves to the saucepan and fry until crisp, about 1 minute. Discard the sage leaves and set the butter aside.
3. Stir the sage butter and grated cheese into the polenta. Season with salt and pepper and serve hot.

Make Ahead

The cooked polenta can stand, covered, for 1 hour. Reheat, whisking vigorously, and stir in the sage butter and cheese before serving.