10-Min Healthy Breakfast: Blueberry Almond Morning Polenta
I get giddy whenever I spy breakfast polenta on a brunch menu. It seems so glamorous, so luxurious… so Italian! But, the truth is, polenta takes all of 10 minutes to make. It’s even quicker and easier (and, dare I say, more delicious) than its down-home American counterpart, oatmeal.
Polenta isn’t quite as nutritious as oatmeal, so I riffed off of a breakfast polenta recipe from Martha Stewart to include blueberries and almonds, making a nutrient-rich start to the day. In short order, the ChowBaby and ChowPapa were gobbling down bowls like there was no tomorrow. All while I imagined myself sitting in an outdoor cafe somewhere in Rome, my favorite city of all time.
PS: This is a great, easy dish to make if you’re having people over for brunch (especially people with little ones).
PSS: This recipe has been chosen by editors Amanda Hesser (of the NY Times) and Merrill Stubbs as a wildcard winner to be featured in the upcoming Food52 cookbook!
Blueberry Almond Morning Polenta
(can be adapted for kids 10+ mos)
4 c organic milk
3/4 c organic quick cook polenta
1/2 c organic almond meal (skip for kids under 12 mos)
4 tbsp (1/2 stick) organic butter
1/3 c organic honey (substitute agave syrup for kids under 12 mos)
1 c organic blueberries
1/2 tsp organic vanilla
organic cardamom, to taste (up to 1/4 tsp)
organic sour cream or creme fraiche, optional
1. Bring milk to a boil in a medium saucepan over high heat.
2. Reduce heat to low and add polenta, whisking constantly until smooth. Add almond meal and continue whisking until the polenta thickens to a creamy consistency. Add butter, continuing to whisk until it melts completely.
3. Turn heat off and whisk in honey, blueberries, vanilla and cardamom. Serve with a dollop of sour cream or creme fraiche and an extra sprinkle of blueberries.
7 Responses to “10-Min Healthy Breakfast: Blueberry Almond Morning Polenta”
September 21st, 2009 saat: 4:57 pm
Stacie – this looks GREAT. Is almond meal something I can find at the national health food chain in town in the bulk aisle?
September 21st, 2009 saat: 5:05 pm
I found it at my local Trader Joe’s — in the baking isle. If you can’t find it in store, it’s nothing more than almonds processed into a powder! You can easily make it on your own in your food processor. It might even be nice left a little bit chunky!
Let me know if you make it and what you think. It really was ridonkulously good! I think I have to make it again tomorrow morning!
September 21st, 2009 saat: 6:22 pm
Mmmm, when are u having me over for a bowl?
September 25th, 2009 saat: 8:02 am
[...] I came up with a new quick and nutritious way to start the day (a recipe soon-to-be featured on Foodista!): Blueberry Almond Morning Polenta [...]
September 29th, 2009 saat: 9:41 am
I found the Bob’s Red Mill brand at the store and it was a BIG hit with the grown ups. Miss Half Pint had already decided she wanted waffle. (more for me
October 2nd, 2009 saat: 3:21 pm
I’m so glad that I spotted this recipe! I recently watched Tyler Florence make a chestnut polenta, that I’m anxious to try. I had never heard of breakfast polenta, and I LOVE polenta! I will definitely have to make this, instead of my Irish Steel-cut oats– which I love. This kind of reminds me of cream of wheat. Yummy!
January 4th, 2010 saat: 8:05 am
[...] THANKS for a great year. Cheers! Best ChowMama Main Dishes for Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner 10-Minute Blueberry Almond Morning Polenta (10+ mos) *selected by Amanda Hesser & Merrill Stubbs to be in the food52 cookbook! This is a [...]
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