Polenta Fries

Crispy polenta fries are heaven! In 20 minutes or less, you can eat what tastes like french fries but is made from polenta! This polenta fries recipe is my new favorite: Crispy on the outside and soft and delicate on the inside!

I went through the store yesterday and found a polenta cylinder in the grocery store's Italian section. Although I'm not a fan of creamy polenta, I recently ordered grilled polenta in a restaurant, which was wonderful. So, I decided to make polenta fries today. This polenta fries recipe tastes like french fries!

Jump to:

• What is Polenta?
• What are Polenta Fries?
• Polenta Fries Ingredients
• Polenta Fries Ingredient Substitutions
• How to Make the Fries
• What to Serve with Polenta Fries
• Recipe FAQs
• Tips
• 📖 Recipe
• 💬 Reviews

Initially, I planned to grill the polenta and create an entree, but the temperature outside was 115 degrees, and I couldn't ask my husband to go outside and be the grill master.

Since I'm new to cooking with polenta, I unwrapped the round cylinder and was surprised by its firm and sticky exterior.

What is Polenta?

Polenta is a northern Italian dish made from coarsely ground corn. Freshly cooked polenta is soft and creamy, similar to grits or porridge. And it's gluten-free! Many people enjoy polenta as a substitute for rice or pasta for dinner or as a breakfast alternative to cereal or oatmeal.

When polenta cools, it solidifies enough to be sliced. Then choose to grill, air fry, bake, or saute. I couldn't help but think of how I could use polenta in future recipes. Next time, I plan to cut it into cubes and add them to my grilled vegetable kabobs.

Instead of lasagna noodles, I could layer polenta in butternut squash lasagna. And, of course, I plan to grill it this summer with vegetables and a fabulous chimichurri sauce.

So, don't be surprised if you see polenta a lot in the next few months.

What are Polenta Fries?

Since polenta is made of ground cornmeal, water, salt, and pepper, they are potato-free fries. When baked into fries, the polenta gets crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, making it the perfect potato alternative for homemade fries.

And you can make them cheesy by adding vegan Parmesan cheese! Or give them a Mexican flare by seasoning them with Tajin Seasoning. Give them an Italian style by seasoning them with an Italian seasoning blend and dipping them in marinara sauce. The possibilities are endless!

Polenta Fries Ingredients

Although you can make your own polenta, I took a shortcut and bought a tube of premade organic polenta a Trader Joe's.

• Organic polenta: I love Trader Joe's for all their vegan-friendly food. But organic polenta is readily available in grocery stores in the pasta section. Also, look for premade polenta in a solid tube.
• Garlic Salt: I love garlic salt. It's a lovely combination of garlic and sea salt.
• Cumin: Rich and hearty, earthy and warm, with an edge of citrus, cumin adds instant depth to any dish. 
• Pepper: I prefer fresh ground pepper for a stronger peppery taste.
• Parsley: Parsley adds a fresh taste to fries and looks fabulous when plating food.
• Sriracha Ketchup: I add a little Sriracha to my ketchup for a little kick, but if you don't like spicy food, skip the Sriracha and choose your favorite way to dip your fries.

Polenta Fries Ingredient Substitutions

• Make your polenta from scratch, chill it, and cut it into fries.
• I like different spice blends like rosemary, lemon pepper, basil, and Italian seasoning.
• But you can change the taste of your polenta fries with any seasoning combination; make them Mexican flavored by sprinkling with chili powder or chipotle powder.
• Add any fresh herbs to enhance the flavor of the seasonings chosen.
• Instead of ketchup, try dipping polenta fries in vegan yum yum sauce, vegan southwest dressing, or vegan ranch dressing.

How to Make the Fries

1. First, choose the size of fries you like. I love steak fries, so I cut the polenta tube lengthwise in half.
2. Then, I cut both sections into equal-sized strips.
3. Then cut those in half to make steak fries.
4. Because polenta is sticky and wet, it is the perfect canvas for seasonings and herbs to stick to the fries without using any oil.
5. Choose your spice combination and sprinkle away, or place the polenta fries in a large bowl and gently toss them in your favorite seasoning blend.
6. Next, choose if you want to bake or air fry. I air-fried mine because I'm in love with my air fryer. And it takes half the time.

Baking

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
2. Place polenta fries on a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
3. Season fries, or add pre-seasoned fries, leaving space between each fry.
4. Bake for 30 minutes until golden brown.
5. Remove from the oven and sprinkle with parsley if desired.
6. Serve with Sriracha ketchup or your favorite vegan dipping sauce.

Air Frying

1. Preheat the air-fryer to 350 degrees.
2. Place the seasoned polenta fries in an air fryer basket, in a single layer, or on an air fryer pan in a single layer.
3. Air fry for 15 minutes until golden brown.
4. Remove from the air fryer and serve with Sriracha ketchup or your favorite vegan dip.

What to Serve with Polenta Fries

Although I could eat these crispy fries as a meal, I served them with a tofu burger and a mango salad. But to make them a meal, I suggest topping them with vegan chili, vegan nacho cheese, and a bunch of veggies to make polenta nachos.

And, if you have any extras, they warm up well in a microwave to munch on the next day for lunch.

Recipe FAQs

Tips

• Although I made steak fries, which are thicker than regular french fries, you can make them as thin or thick as you desire. However, if you make the fries thinner, you also need to reduce the cooking time in half. The same is true for making them larger; you must add additional time.
• Most people suggest drying the polenta before cutting and seasoning. However, because I cook without oil, I liked the stickiness and used it to make the seasoning stick to the fries naturally.
• If you have a basket air fryer, remember that the first batch takes longer to cook than the subsequent batches.
• Preheat the oven to 325 if batch cooking the fries in an air fryer to keep the cooked ones warm.

If you love french fries, this crispy polenta fries recipe will be your favorite new way to enjoy fries! In 15 minutes, you will be enjoying crunchy polenta fries!

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