Popeta E Polenta

Many of my blood relatives were born in Italy including my mother Isabella who was born in Trieste. All of the women in the family were amazing cooks. As an American, I'm not really sure if that is an Italian thing, a Latin thing, or a Catholic thing. Having tasted many of the family dishes, I focused my attention mainly on lasagna to be my signature dish; However, I am not going to share that recipe for this challenge because I think that my lasagna is as Americanized as modern pizza. I'd rather talk about "Popeta E Polenta" as the cultural dish which is a bridge to my family's history. Most people have had burger patties and mashed potatoes, but not everyone is familiar with the Italian version known as "Popeta E Polenta". I believe of all the Italian dishes that I was raised on, "Popeta E Polenta" is the dish that carries on our generational history and tradition most accurately.

My mother became an American citizen through naturalization in the 60's after our family left Italy to make a new life in New York City. They were a large family living on one man's salary, and poor. My mother's mother (my grandmother) had learned many ways to make a little pantry of food go a long way. She didn't have the money or resources to cook up lots of fancy gourmet dishes with lots of spices and seasonings. So when they could afford some fresh ground beef and corn meal, it was time for the family to enjoy the very satisfying dish of "Popeta E Polenta" - which in my opinion is much tastier than the simple meal of plain burger patties and mashed potatoes.

The dish contains two parts and much love and patience is required for preparation. The flavors are enjoyed by tongues that appreciate caramalized onions on beef, and cheesy corn tastes. The textures include two opposites: breaded fried meat and soft buttery corn meal. While I believe that this simple and sometimes considered "gourmet" meal has been passed down through Italian generations, these days it is not found at common Italian restaurants or served up in a microwavable container like a Stouffer's lasagna. Whenever my mother or one of my Aunts would cook "Popeta E Polenta" I'd get excited and look forward to sitting down at the dinner table. As the years passed, most of the women in the kitchen moved on to other recipes, as this one was easy to them and they wanted to try more complicated recipes. So if anyone in the family brought up "Popeta E Polenta" we'd all start joking about it calling it the "Poor Man's Gourmet".

I have made the Popeta and my version is almost as good as my mother's; However I have not made the Polenta, (though I know how) because I was too lazy or cheap to do the required whisking and gather all of the required ingredients that make the pairing of Popeta and Polenta so delicious. I would usually take the easier way with simple plain mashed potatoes alongside the Popeta. Don't be like me. Follow the below recipes for a wonderful tasting of Old Italy and Old Little Italy.

Popetta (patties)

Ingredients:

5 lbs of ground beef (makes about 12 patties)

1 Vidalia Onion (sliced) and 1 White Onion (diced)

Minced Garlic (to taste)

One Tomatoe (diced)

8 oz of Shredded Mozzarella Cheese

6 large eggs (2 for meat mix; 4 for breading)

15 oz of Italian Seasoned Breadcrumbs

1 cup of Vegetable Oil

4 tbs of Butter

4 tbs flour

1 cup water

................

Polenta

Ingredients:

4 oz butter

4 cups water

1 tsp salt

1 cup polenta (corn meal)

1/4 cup of parmesan cheese

1/4 cup of ricotta cheese

Directions:

Prepare the Popetta and Sugo de Carne (Gravy) First.

1. In a large mixing bowl, combine ground beef, diced white onion, minced garlic, two eggs, diced tomatoe, mozzarella cheese, and 4 ounces of the breadcrumbs. Mash together well until equally blended.

2. Create round burger patties and set on plate. (About 12 patties)

3. Beat the remaining 4 eggs in a large bowl.

4. Pour the remaining breadcrumbs unto a plate and dip each patty

into the breadcrumbs until each patty is fully coated, then set aside.

5. Pour the vegetable oil into a frying pan and heat on medium.

6. Set breaded patties into the heated oil and fry on both sides.

7. Remove from oil when beef's center is at desired range (rare, medium well), then set patties on degreasing rack or dish lined with paper towels.

8. If much of the vegetable oil remains in the pan, dump most of it out.

9. Put the 4 tablespoons of butter into the frying pan with the sliced Vidalia Onion and let the slices saute in the medium heat.

10. When the Vidalia slices look caramalized, remove them from the pan and set them on top of the patties cooling.

11. Add the 4 tablespoons of flour and the 4 cups of water to the remaining sizzling onion butter juice in the frying pan to make the "Sugo de Carne" gravy.

12. Stir the gravy until mixture is at preferred thickness and texture, then remove from heat.

Now for the second part: The Polenta!

1. Gather the Polenta Ingredients.

2. Bring 4 cups of water to boil in large pot.

3. Pour the polenta into the boiling water slowly, whisking constantly so there are no lumps.

4. Simmer on low, keep whisking until the polenta thickens. Cover the pot and cook for 30 minutes, whisking every 5 minutes as you seek a creamy and tender texture.

5. Turn the heat off. Stir in 2 tablespoons of butter until it melts in; Then mix in the cheeses until they melt in. Then let stand for 5 minutes to thicken.

6. Add more butter to the top of the polenta if you love butter.

Ok, so now you have both parts of "Popeta E Polenta" and you are ready to put it all together for a beautiful and tasty presentation.

The Sugo de Carne can be put in a Gravy dispenser or poured right on top of the Polenta. The Popetas with Caramalized Onions on top are ready for serving. The dish will be presented with both the "Popeta E Polenta".

It takes a lot of patience and love to put this all together in the right way. I believe that patience and love is a family trait and tradition in the blood of the Italians from Italy and the Italians who shared their gourmet recipes in American restaurants.

But hey, if you don't want to do all this, you can always order a pizza!

Bon Appetite!