Soft Parmesan Polenta

Name: Soft Parmesan Polenta
Prep time: 35 min
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: 200 g polenta (cornmeal); 800 ml onion-free stock; 40 g parmesan, finely grated; 30 g butter; 1 tbsp garlic-infused oil

By Robin Tasker · Serves 4 · 35 min

Pouch load

1.2/10

Likely gentler

Flavour

7.0

Bold

BlandBam

Nutrition

Reasonable

Light on (tap to add):

protein +

Eggs Salmon Chicken breast

Plant variety +

Carrot Pumpkin Zucchini Spinach

Potassium +

Banana (firm)Potato (peeled)Pumpkin Carrot

Three lenses: how gentle on the gut, how nourishing, how tasty — because gentle isn't the same as healthy. How the scores work →

Side Vegetarian Low-FODMAP Gluten-free Egg-free Nut-free Fish-free Shellfish-free

Creamy, soft polenta cooked in onion-free stock and beaten with parmesan and garlic butter. A gentle, comforting base under almost any soft-cooked topping.

Soft polenta is one of those quietly brilliant pouch foods — smooth, creamy, low-residue and naturally gluten-free. Cooked in stock and finished with parmesan and a little garlic butter, it tastes like a treat rather than an invalid's dinner.

I serve it like a savoury porridge, with shredded chicken or glazed carrots spooned on top.

Ingredients

Serves

200 g polenta (cornmeal)
800 ml onion-free stock
40 g parmesan, finely grated
30 g butter
1 tbsp garlic-infused oil

Method

Bring the stock to a gentle simmer in a heavy pot.
Pour in the polenta in a steady stream, whisking as you go so it doesn't clump.
Turn the heat low and cook, stirring often, for 25–30 minutes (or follow your packet timing), until soft, thick and creamy. Add a splash more stock or water if it gets too stiff.
Beat in the parmesan, butter and garlic-infused oil until glossy and smooth. Season with a little salt and serve straight away, while soft.

Gentler swaps

Stock & garlic: onion-free stock and garlic-infused oil carry the savoury depth without onion and garlic.

Gluten-free: polenta is naturally gluten-free, which makes this a handy gentle base if you're avoiding wheat.

For the family

Cook once — your gentle version, plus how to pep it up for everyone else.

Make one pot of soft polenta. For the family, stir extra parmesan and a little cracked pepper or grated garlic through theirs, or let it set, slice it and pan-fry it crisp — yours stays soft and gentle.

Scores are modelled estimates, not medical advice. Everyone's gut is different, and tolerance changes over time. Reintroduce foods one at a time, and follow your own medical team's advice.