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Fiesta, Mains, Recipes

Friends Who Fete: How To Throw An Italian Polenta Party

February 9, 2017
Fiesta: How To Throw An Italian Polenta Party
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Hands holding wine glasses and cheersing over a wooden slab full of polenta and beef.

Sometime between the holiday’s fading glow and spring’s first warm breezes lies a long, frigid stretch of nights when we huddled in our homes, hunker down from the cold and wind, and heat up leftovers for dinner. There is no better time than now to gather some friends together and throw a party full of cozy comfort food, delicious cocktails, and loads of laughter—An Italian Polenta Party!

Two women sitting at a table laughing and spooning food on to their plates.

When Aida of Salt & Wind suggested the idea to myself and Meg from This Mess Is Ours we answered with an enthusiastic, YES! I mean, I am never one to turn down an opportunity to cook and gather together with my friends, especially over creamy mountains of soft polenta and Aida’s sensational creamy pesto.

Two women sitting at a table clinking their wine glasses together in a cheers.

Throwing an Italian Polenta Party is a really fun way to entertain. All you have to do is invite some fun-loving friends, make a few appetizers, a simple cocktail, and then pour out the polenta onto a board in the middle of the table and let everyone dig in!

Here’s All You Need To Know To Throw Your Own Polenta Party

A person holding a plate of polenta with salad on the side and tomato sauce on the polenta.

We all gathered on a late Saturday afternoon and Meg mixed up some sparkling Apple Basil and Prosecco Spritzer cocktails while Meredith finished her sweet herb and floral wreaths to line every plate. Aida arranged Fontina and Prosciutto Puff Pastry Squares and Mushroom Ragout Agrodolce Bites on a marbled wood board along with balsamic roasted apples, several types of cheese, and charcuterie. It was all just the beginning to the main event about to come: The Polenta!!

Italian Polenta Party Menu

A woman in a black shirt and grey sweater scooping salad out of a large bowl.

Here is the rundown of the entire menu. We did one meat topping and one vegetarian topping to go with the polenta but you could always just pick one. It is all the little extras however that make it super fun, so try to have at least three or four different sauces or garnishes that your friends can add to their polenta. Included are the recipes to make these but you could easily make one or two and buy a couple more high-quality versions from the store. Or make the sauces and have toasted pine nuts and grated Parmesan or Pecorino on hand for generous sprinkling.

A woman with white nail polish holding a cocktail with an apple slice and a basil leaf in it.

Drinks

Apple Basil and Prosecco Spritzer cocktails | This Mess Is Ours

A long tray of appetizers sitting on a brown tiled ledge with candles around it.

Appetizers

Fontina and Prosciutto Puff Pastry Squares | Salt & Wind

Mushroom Ragout Agrodolce Bites | Salt & Wind

Nuts, Cheese, Sliced Charcuterie, Balsamic Roasted Apples, Crackers, and Fruit

A large white bowl full of salad sitting on a table with a gray tablecloth and gold serving spoons inside of it.

The Polenta Board + A Salad

Escarole, Charred Mandarins, Toasted Almond Salad with Rosemary Balsamic Vinaigrette | Salt & Wind

Basic Creamy Polenta | Salt & Wind

Beer Braised Beef Barbacoa| ¡Hola! Jalapeño

Braised Chickpeas with Porcini and Tuscan Kale | This Mess Is Ours

Creamy Basil Pesto | Salt & Wind

Slow-Roasted Tomatoes | Salt & Wind

Red Pepper Romesco Sauce | Salt & Wind

Blood Orange Tart with Vanilla Mascarpone, sliced blood oranges, and rosemary on top.

Something Sweet

Blood Orange Tart with Vanilla Mascarpone | ¡Hola! Jalapeño

Serving the Polenta

A long wooden tray with polenta on it and different toppings on the polenta sitting on a table.

For our party of 8 people Aida quadrupled this recipe and we had plenty of leftovers to take home (gratefully). The polenta is really nice because you can start it and then let it basically cook on its own, giving it a stir every now and again until it is ready.

To serve the polenta you’ll need a very large food-safe board. Meg had a gorgeous reclaimed wood board that ran the length of the table from Pasadenaville which worked perfectly as everyone had some polenta right in front of them at the table. A large wood cutting board or tray would also work. Just find your biggest food-safe board and pour the polenta out onto the it. Top half of the polenta with the barbacoa and half with the braised chickpeas and place it in the middle of the table for everyone to help themselves. Serve all the sauces and garnishes in small dishes scattered about the table so your friends can add what they please. Aida also made a dairy-free version of the polenta with chicken broth and olive oil instead of the butter, milk, and cheese.

Make It Mexican! A Few Mexican Food Recipes That Would Go Great With Polenta

A black ceramic crock filled with shredded meat, sliced scallions, and sauce with a fork stuck in the meat.

Slow Cooker Carne Adobada

A rainbow tablecloth with a bowl of carnitas on top of it. A small bowl of pickled jalapenos and carrots are next to the carnitas.

Crispy Instant Pot Pork Carnitas

Copper pan of black beans sitting on a wooden table with a cutting board behind it with vegetables on it.

The Best Ever Canned Black Beans

The Place Settings

Table set with a plate, a pink napkin, and a wreath sitting on the plate. Fork and serving set.

Our very talented friend Meredith created delicate mini wreaths made from fresh (and totally edible) herbs, olive leaves, and straw flowers. They look rustic and pretty on the plates and Louisa turned them into a darling little tiara after the party was over. Get all the details on how to make them here.

Shop The Party

Two women sitting at a table. One is holding a bowl of salad and the other one is serving it.

Here are a few party essentials we can’t live without:

W/R/F Lab ceramics

Pasadenaville Polenta Board

Pink Shibori Napkins

Linen Napkins

Vintage Roly Poly Cocktail Glasses

Cheese Knives

Denim Cloth Table Covering

All Produce: Melissa’s Produce

Woman in a black and white skirt and black sweater holding a pot of beans with greens in them.

What About The After Party Clean Up

Not to worry, I’ve got your back there too! Check out my 6 Kitchen Cleaning Hacks for easy clean up.


A humongous thanks goes to Salt & Wind and This Mess Is Ours for all the photos.

Did you love this post? I want to know! Leave me a comment and snap a photo for Instagram. Tag @holajalapeno so I can see your beautiful creation! Your feedback is super important to me. If you run into trouble shoot me a message on Instagram and I’ll walk you through it.

Also, don’t forget to sign up for my weekly newsletter, lots of good stuff there too!

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Kate Ramos
Kate Ramos

 

13 Comments

  • Avatar
    Reply Kristin February 23, 2019 at 1:23 pm

    This is fantastic! I didn’t realize a polenta party is a thing. Is there no concern about the polenta getting cold or do you just make your plates quickly and dig in?

    • Avatar
      Reply Kate Ramos February 25, 2019 at 6:39 am

      Hi Kristin!

      The polenta disappears so fast that it didn’t have time to get cold but if you are worried about it, you could pour out just what you think you’d eat and keep the rest of the polenta warm on the stove for seconds. Let me know if you give it a try, it is so much fun!

  • Avatar
    Reply Darin White October 29, 2019 at 10:53 am

    Looks amazing! I love making polenta boards, charcuterie boards and other functional art pieces for customers. I need to take the time to put on a party as well.

    • Avatar
      Reply Kate Ramos October 30, 2019 at 6:24 am

      That’s so cool Darin! I love these boards for entertaining, you should totally throw a party!

  • Avatar
    Reply Enriqueta E Lemoine March 13, 2020 at 6:28 am

    This is such a fantastic idea Kate. You’re so creative. I’m in love with your blog.

  • Avatar
    Reply Fabiola Acosta March 13, 2020 at 6:39 am

    Wow ! I love making charcuterie and cheesee boards. I didn’t know about Polenta Party. I loved all the photos and recipes! Thanks for sharing

    • Kate Ramos
      Reply Kate Ramos March 15, 2020 at 10:49 am

      Oh, thank you so much Fabiola! It’s a really fun idea for parties. (I’m a huge fan of charcuterie and cheese boards too). 🙂

  • Avatar
    Reply Yasmari Bello March 13, 2020 at 7:30 am

    We love in my family eat “polentas” thanks for your recipe.

    • Kate Ramos
      Reply Kate Ramos March 15, 2020 at 10:48 am

      We do too! This is such a fun way to gather with friends. 🙂

  • Avatar
    Reply Anabella Mirowski (Aeroconcierge) March 13, 2020 at 7:35 am

    Que maravillosa esta experiencia de una fiesta de polenta para compartir entre amigos. Me encantó la presentación en esa tabla larguísima, que llega a todos y los detalles! Hermosas las mini coronas en cada puesto.

    • Kate Ramos
      Reply Kate Ramos March 15, 2020 at 10:47 am

      ¡Muchísimas Gracias Anabella!

  • Avatar
    Reply Veronica March 13, 2020 at 11:13 am

    Que fotos fantásticas y que manera de pasarla bien! Enamorada de este Italian Polenta Party! Quiero algo así con mis amigas pronto.

    • Kate Ramos
      Reply Kate Ramos March 15, 2020 at 10:46 am

      ¡Si! ¡Esperemos que después de que todo este coronavirus explote, podamos volver a festejar!

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