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Pan-fried Polenta with Corn, Kale and Goat Cheese

Crisp pan-fried polenta is paired with sweet corn, tender kale, juicy tomato, and creamy goat cheese, with garlic, Parmesan, and black pepper adding depth. It makes a colorful vegetarian main course or satisfying brunch dish, especially when you want something hearty yet fresh.

  • Prep1 hr
  • Cook20 mins
  • Serves2
  • DifficultyMedium
Pan-fried Polenta with Corn, Kale and Goat Cheese

easyChef Pro health score

Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Pan-fried Polenta with Corn, Kale and Goat Cheese, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.

47 Health Score
Glycemic ImpactFair
51 / 100
Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
Nutritional DensityPoor
10 / 100
Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
Energy DensityGood
93 / 100
Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
NOVA Processed Culinary Ingredients
2 / 4
Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.

How it scores for each health goal

The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.

32
Heart Health
46
Metabolic
56
Digestive
27
Inflammatory
38
Performance
55
General Wellness
  1. 1

    In a medium saucepan, heat the butter over medium heat. Add the garlic and stir constantly for 1 minute; don't let the garlic brown. Add the water and bring it to a boil.

  2. 2

    While the water heats, whisk the cornmeal, salt, and water together in a bowl to make a smooth mixture.

  3. 3

    When the water in the saucepan comes to a boil, pour the mixture into it. Whisk constantly for 3 minutes to prevent lumps from forming. Turn the heat to low. Cook for 40 minutes, stirring with a wooden spoon every 10 minutes. Stir in the corn kernels and cook the polenta for 5 minutes more. Stir in the pepper and Parmesan cheese. Pour the polenta into a lightly oiled 8x8-inch pan and smooth the top with a spatula. Chill the polenta in the refrigerator for 1 hour.

  4. 4

    While the polenta cools, cut away the stems and center stalks from the kale. Cut the leaves into 3-inch pieces.

  5. 5

    Cut the chilled polenta into large triangles. Heat the olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. When the oil begins to smoke, carefully add the polenta triangles. Fry the polenta until golden brown on the underside, then turn the triangles over and cook until golden brown on the other side. Arrange the polenta on a baking sheet.

  6. 6

    Preheat the broiler in your oven.

  7. 7

    Place the kale and water in the skillet used to fry the polenta. Cover the skillet and cook the kale over medium-high heat for 4 minutes.

  8. 8

    Place the tomato slices on top of the polenta triangles. Sprinkle the goat cheese over the tomato slices. Broil the polenta until the cheese melts and the tomatoes begin to cook.

  9. 9

    Arrange the kale on a serving platter. Place the hot polenta triangles on top of the kale and serve immediately.

About This Recipe

Pan fried Polenta with Corn, Kale and Goat Cheese is made with 14 ingredients and serves 2. It takes about 1 hr 20 mins and is rated medium. Key ingredients include Black Pepper, Butter, Corn, and Cornmeal. Each serving provides about 829.4 kcal, and is a good source of protein.

Recipe Questions

What is Pan-fried Polenta with Corn, Kale and Goat Cheese made of?
The main ingredients are Black Pepper, Butter, Corn, Cornmeal, Fresh Chives. The full list of 14 is above.
How long does it take to make Pan-fried Polenta with Corn, Kale and Goat Cheese?
About 1 hr 20 mins in total: 1 hr to prepare and 20 mins to cook.
How many calories are in one serving?
One serving provides about 829.4 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
Is Pan-fried Polenta with Corn, Kale and Goat Cheese easy to make?
This recipe is rated medium, with 14 ingredients and 9 steps.
Is Pan-fried Polenta with Corn, Kale and Goat Cheese healthy?
Pan-fried Polenta with Corn, Kale and Goat Cheese has an easyChef Pro health score of 47/100. Per serving, it provides 829.4 calories and 25.72 g of protein, or 51% of the Daily Value. It is a good source of dietary fiber, calcium, iron, vitamin A and vitamin C. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 577.16 mg (25% of the Daily Value), saturated fat at 12.96 g (65% of the Daily Value) and added sugars at 21.54 g (43% of the Daily Value). It contains Milk, Gluten, Corn, Tomatoes and Garlic, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.

How easyChef Pro scores recipes and products

easyChef Pro analyzes up to 41 nutrients using data sourced from USDA and other verified food databases. Its scoring method uses the nutrients relevant to nutrition quality, calorie density, processing level, and your selected health goal. Recipes and food products get a health score from 0 to 100, calculated using consistent rules instead of being estimated by AI. The same nutrition data, serving size and health goal will produce the same result.

The calculation evaluates nutrients, calorie density, processing level, and how well the food supports your selected health goal. Protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals and other beneficial nutrients can strengthen the score. High amounts of sodium, saturated fat, added sugar and other nutrients may lower it.

Your health goal also matters. easyChef Pro evaluates recipes and products across six health areas and adjusts their importance for your selected goal. This means the same food may be a better fit for one health goal than another.

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