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Polenta might usually be served creamy, but that's just the tip of the iceberg. These parmesan-laced, golden-brown polenta rounds are perfect for topping with a rich meat sauce for an Italian alternative to pasta.

7 cups water
1 package (13 ounce size) instant polenta
2 teaspoons salt
3/4 cup Parmesan cheese
3 tablespoons butter, plus more for sauteing
Line a sheet tray with foil and coat with cooking spray.
Bring water and salt to a boil. Add polenta in a slow stream while whisking continuously to avoid lumps.
Turn heat to low and continue to stir with a wooden spoon until polenta thickens, 5-8 minutes (you may add more boiling water as needed to keep the polenta a smooth consistency).
Turn the heat off and add cheese and butter. Stir to combine.
Pour onto a sheet tray and spread with the back of a spoon to cover the tray evenly. Cool and refrigerate the polenta for 30 minutes or covered up to 2 days.
Remove the sheet tray from the refrigerator and use cookie cutters to stamp out shapes.
Heat 1 tbsp of butter in a saute pan over medium heat and cook the polenta shapes for 3-5 minutes on each side or until golden.
You can also grill the polenta cutouts on an outdoor grill or using a grill pan on the stove.
Serve with marinara or meat sauce for dipping (you can also serve the shapes cold).
Pamela Chester, CDKitchen Staff
Read more: Polenta Party!
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