Straight from my new ECookbook, French Comfort Food: Recipes of Savoie and the French Alps, is my Pumpkin Sage Polenta recipe. Get more great recipes from my book, which you can purchase on my websites: www.american-in-france.com and www.frenchcomfortfood.com this week. This is my personal (and favorite) version of a very Savoie dish: polenta. Polenta is traditionally an Italian dish but, given the Italian influence in the area, it is also a staple of the French Alpine region. This version is not particularly common to Savoie but it is by far the most delicious polenta I’ve ever eaten. You cannot buy canned pumpkin in France so I bring a couple of cans back with me every time I go to the U.S. I just don’t have the time to make the pumpkin puree from real pumpkin but if you have the time, give it a try.
Ingredients for 8 persons:
2 ½ cups of milk (lowfat or whole)
¾ cup of canned pumpkin
2 cups of water
1 cup of grated fresh Parmesan cheese
3 tablespoons of crème fraiche
1 ¼ cups boxed polenta
1 tablespoon of chopped fresh sage (I keep a pot of this growing on my window sill year round. It survives even through the French Alps’ winters.)
Salt and pepper
Bring the milk and water to a boil in a large saucepan. Add the pumpkin and salt. Stir rapidly. Reduce the heat to low and whisk in the polenta. Cook for a minute or two until it thickens, constantly stirring. Remove from the heat and add ¾ cup of Parmesan cheese, the crème fraiche, salt, pepper, and sage. Stir until the cheese and crème fraiche melt, placing over low heat, if needed. Just before serving, top with the last of the parmesan cheese.
For conversions from U.S. measurements to the Metric System, see: http://www.convert-me.com/en/convert/cooking
August 7th, 2010 at 3:54 am
You can buy frozen pumpkin puree at Picard, but I’m not sure how good it is.
We’ve been eating polenta every night this week. It’s so delicious!
August 7th, 2010 at 3:59 am
Hi, Jennie, so where is there a Picard in Chambery? Cynthia
August 14th, 2010 at 6:53 am
There are two that I know of. Both are near the Carrefours at Chamnord and in Bassens. It’s in the mall at Chamnord, but at the other end, opposite of Carrefour. In Bassens (well, technically I think it’s St. Alban-Leysse), it’s across from Decathlon. And they sell bagels!! I just bought 3 packages today.
August 14th, 2010 at 7:08 am
Jennie, Im indepted to you for life. I’ll check it out for sure! Bagels!!! Cynthia
August 19th, 2010 at 5:13 am
If you’re in France and can’t travel to find the pumpkin…the pumpkin can travel to you! It’s one of the staples carried by My American Market (www.myamericanmarket.com) I’ve ordered a few things from them and have been happy with their service. (Funny how “ordinary” food becomes a delicacy when you can’t just pick it up at the local supermarche!)
August 19th, 2010 at 5:41 am
Thanks, Mickey, I had forgotten about that service since I still get back to the US often enough to fill up an empty suitcase before heading home. But I’m sure I’ll eventually use her services. Thanks for the reminder. Cynthia