{"id":260803,"date":"2026-01-26T16:13:24","date_gmt":"2026-01-26T23:13:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/?p=260803"},"modified":"2026-01-26T18:10:17","modified_gmt":"2026-01-27T01:10:17","slug":"make-polenta-tots-the-star-of-your-super-bowl-party","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/2026\/01\/26\/make-polenta-tots-the-star-of-your-super-bowl-party\/","title":{"rendered":"Make polenta tots the star of your Super Bowl party"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-secondary-background-color has-background\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p><em>Wide Open Table is a bi-monthly Montana Free Press column on all things food and cooking. Sign up for this newsletter here.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\t<div\n\t\tclass=\"wp-block-newspack-newsletters-subscribe newspack-newsletters-subscribe \"\n\t\tdata-success-message=\"Thank you for signing up!\"\n\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t<form id=\"newspack-subscribe-1\" data-newspack-recaptcha=\"newspack_newsletter_signup\">\n\t\t\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"newspack_newsletters_subscribe\" value=\"1\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"lists[]\" value=\"9\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"newspack-newsletters-email-input\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<input\n\t\t\t\t\t\tid=\"newspack-newsletters-subscribe-block-input-72413-email\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\ttype=\"email\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tname=\"npe\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tautocomplete=\"email\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tplaceholder=\"Email Address\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tvalue=\"\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"submit-button has-background-color has-primary-background-color\"type=\"submit\" style=\"background-color: #aa986a;\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"submit\">Sign up<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/form>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"newspack-newsletters-subscribe__response\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"newspack-newsletters-subscribe__icon\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"newspack-newsletters-subscribe__message\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Chicken wings. Nachos. Chili. Chips and dip. Meatballs. Sliders.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These are all foods you\u2019re likely to find at watch parties for the big game on Feb. 8. Allow me to call a culinary trick play that\u2019s sure to score by adding polenta tots to the menu.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Polenta is a coarsely ground cornmeal that became popular in northern Italy once corn made it over from the Americas. More often than not, it has a beautiful golden yellow color. As carbs go, polenta doesn\u2019t rank as high as potatoes, bread, or even rice. You can find it in nicer restaurants with Italian leanings.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"4284\" height=\"5712\" src=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/IMG_2534.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-260794\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Polenta\u2019s close cousin in the southern United States is grits, which is derived from different corn varietals and is often ground a bit finer than polenta. It\u2019s usually paler white in color.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can now find polenta in most larger Montana grocery stores. It will say \u201cpolenta,\u201d and should not be mistaken for regular cornmeal or grits. It\u2019s often in the same aisle as flour or dry grains, or with whole grains in the health food section.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But why would anyone want to make a \u201ctot\u201d out of it? First of all, I am a big fan of tater tots, either the OG version familiar from a million school lunches or the make-at-home frozen variety. Homemade tater tots from scratch, alas, are just too much finicky work to be worth it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Enter polenta. This recipe is a breeze for all kitchen-skill levels. With just a few ingredients, a stint in the fridge, and a 30- to 40-minute bake in the oven, polenta becomes a crispy-creamy finger food guaranteed to wow your friends and family. My version includes a drizzle of garlic butter, Parmesan, and parsley over the top, which dresses it up for any occasion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This recipe serves 4-6 people \u2014 not exactly party-size. But you can easily double or triple it, as long as you use a larger pan or multiple pans to firm up the polenta before baking. And while I\u2019m a big fan of this garlic-and-Parm-topped version, there are plenty of ways to enjoy these tots. Pair them with your favorite marinara or dip, for instance, or top with <a href=\"http:\/\/google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/2025\/01\/27\/a-game-day-chili-recipe-that-scores-year-round\/&amp;sa=D&amp;source=docs&amp;ust=1769459610018908&amp;usg=AOvVaw2FLBoGIXneU0qnAocWpNmf\">chili<\/a> and cheese.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-polenta-tots-recipe\" style=\"padding-bottom:0px\"><strong>POLENTA TOTS RECIPE<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"padding-top:0px\">Serves 4-6<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Tots:<br>1 cup polenta<br>2 cups of whole or 2% milk<br>1 1\/2 cups of water<br>2 tbsp butter<br>3\/4 tsp kosher salt<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Topping:<br>2 ounces Parmesan cheese<br>3 tbsp butter<br>1-2 cloves of garlic<br>1 tbsp chopped fresh Italian parsley<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"991\" height=\"1411\" src=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/IMG_2568.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-260796\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>In a large saucepan on medium heat, add the milk, water and salt. As it comes to a simmer, whisk in the polenta. Drop the heat to low and whisk every minute or so for about 20 minutes. Remove from the heat and add the butter. Whisk until the butter is melted and incorporated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Line a 9\u201d x 9\u201d baking dish with cling wrap. You want to run some wrap across the dish in both directions so you can completely wrap the polenta in it. Once the polenta cools a bit from its hot-lava state, pour it into the cling-wrap-lined dish. Give the dish a few shakes to nudge the polenta into the corners and let it level out. Pull the cling wrap over the top so all the polenta is encased.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The polenta needs to set up in the fridge for at least three hours, but you can also do this prep a day in advance and allow it to set overnight.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1645\" height=\"2193\" src=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/IMG_2561.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-260797\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Once it\u2019s set, remove the polenta from the cling wrap and place it on a cutting board. Gently soak up any moisture on the exterior with a paper towel. Now the polenta should be easy to cut into 1\u201d by 1\u201d by 2\u201d rectangles with a sharp knife. You\u2019ll get cleaner cuts if you occasionally wipe your knife with a paper towel as you go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Preheat your oven to 450 degrees on the convection setting. Double-line a large baking tray with parchment paper. Place the tots on the tray with one inch between them on all sides to ensure the heat can circulate. Sprinkle the tops with a bit of kosher salt, and then bake for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes, remove the tray from the oven, turn each tot 180 degrees, and then bake for another 15-20 minutes, until lightly golden brown.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"3024\" height=\"4032\" src=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/IMG_2567.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-260798\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Now make the drizzle. Put three tablespoons of butter and 1-2 cloves of minced fresh garlic in a small saut\u00e9 pan on medium-low heat. Once the butter is melted, you only need to cook the garlic for a few minutes, just long enough to flavor the butter. Pulse two ounces of Parmesan in a food processor until fine. Finely chop one tablespoon of fresh Italian parsley.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When the tots are finished baking, add them to a large mixing bowl. Slowly drizzle with the garlic butter and toss gently with a spoon. Add the Parmesan and parsley and gently toss again. Serve immediately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-light-gray-background-color has-background\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\t<div\n\t\tclass=\"wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles  wpnbha ts-2 \"\n\t\tstyle=\"\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t<div data-posts data-current-post-id=\"240619\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"article-section-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>LATEST STORIES<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<article data-post-id=\"262736\"\n\t\tclass=\"tag-montana-insights category-montana-insights type-post post-has-image\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/2026\/03\/03\/75-of-voters-want-montana-to-have-at-least-as-much-federal-land-as-it-does-now\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">75% of voters want Montana to have at least as much federal land as it does now<\/a><\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Federal land transfer has been a party of the GOP party platform at both the state and national level, but a recent MTFP-Eagleton poll indicates that a majority of Republican voters oppose reducing the amount of land in federal ownership.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"byline\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"author-prefix\">by<\/span> <span class=\"author vcard\"><a class=\"url fn n\" href=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/author\/aeggert\/\">Amanda Eggert<\/a><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span><!-- .author-name -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-03-03T14:34:54-07:00\">03.03.2026<\/time><time class=\"updated\" datetime=\"2026-03-03T14:35:02-07:00\">03.03.2026<\/time>\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-meta -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-wrapper -->\n\t<\/article>\n\n\t\t\n\t<article data-post-id=\"262727\"\n\t\tclass=\"tag-westerndev category-politics type-post post-has-image\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/2026\/03\/03\/christi-jacobsen-zinke-western-house\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen joins contest for Zinke\u2019s western U.S. House District seat<\/a><\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Jacobsen made her announcement on Facebook with a campaign video portraying her as both a political outsider and the favorite of Donald Trump.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"byline\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"author-prefix\">by<\/span> <span class=\"author vcard\"><a class=\"url fn n\" href=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/author\/tom-lutey\/\">Tom Lutey<\/a><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span><!-- .author-name -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-03-03T12:29:26-07:00\">03.03.2026<\/time><time class=\"updated\" datetime=\"2026-03-03T22:45:03-07:00\">03.03.2026<\/time>\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-meta -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-wrapper -->\n\t<\/article>\n\n\t\t\n\t<article data-post-id=\"262679\"\n\t\tclass=\"tag-bob-morris tag-data-centers tag-energy tag-greg-gianforte tag-montana-insights tag-northwestern-energy tag-public-service-commission tag-ryan-zinke tag-steve-daines tag-troy-downing tag-u-s-congress tag-unleashing-energy-task-force category-energy category-montana-insights type-post post-has-image\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/2026\/03\/03\/montanans-want-more-solar-natural-gas-development-are-less-interested-in-new-coal-plants\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">Montanans want more solar, natural gas development, are less interested in new coal plants<\/a><\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The poll results on Montana\u2019s energy mix come as politicians and policymakers grapple with surging electricity demand spurred by investment in artificial intelligence and the data centers that support it.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"byline\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"author-prefix\">by<\/span> <span class=\"author vcard\"><a class=\"url fn n\" href=\"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/author\/aeggert\/\">Amanda Eggert<\/a><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span><!-- .author-name -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<time class=\"entry-date published updated\" datetime=\"2026-03-03T08:00:00-07:00\">03.03.2026<\/time>\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-meta -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-wrapper -->\n\t<\/article>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Why would anyone want to make a \u201ctot\u201d out of polenta? I thought you\u2019d never ask.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1979,"featured_media":260770,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"single-feature.php","format":"standard","meta":{"everlit_article_id":"","everlit_hide_embed":false,"everlit_embed_size":"","everlit_generation_settings":[],"_everlit_article_id":"","_everlit_hide_embed":false,"_everlit_embed_size":"","_everlit_generation_settings":[],"_everlit_content_hash":"","_everlit_metadata_hash":"","newspack_ads_suppress_ads":false,"newspack_popups_has_disabled_popups":true,"newspack_sponsor_sponsorship_scope":"","newspack_sponsor_native_byline_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_native_category_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_style":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_placement":"inherit","apple_news_api_created_at":"2026-01-26T23:13:30Z","apple_news_api_id":"926caf97-07be-4d22-aa38-afd15c11b2df","apple_news_api_modified_at":"2026-01-27T01:10:21Z","apple_news_api_revision":"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABA==","apple_news_api_share_url":"https:\/\/apple.news\/Akmyvlwe-TSKqOK_RXBGy3w","apple_news_cover_media_provider":"image","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_cover_video_id":0,"apple_news_cover_video_url":"","apple_news_cover_embedwebvideo_url":"","apple_news_is_hidden":"","apple_news_is_paid":"","apple_news_is_preview":"","apple_news_is_sponsored":"","apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_metadata":"\"\"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_slug":"","apple_news_sections":[],"apple_news_suppress_video_url":false,"apple_news_use_image_component":false,"_primary_brand":0,"_newspack_byline_active":false,"_newspack_byline":"","newspack_featured_image_position":"","newspack_post_subtitle":"The big game is anyone\u2019s to win. Your appetizer game should be a lock.","newspack_article_summary_title":"Overview:","newspack_article_summary":"","newspack_hide_updated_date":false,"newspack_show_updated_date":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"_wpas_customize_per_network":false},"categories":[16556,34493],"tags":[10538,34496],"post_format":[],"brand":[],"partner":[],"series":[],"newspack_spnsrs_tax":[],"type-of-work":[],"coauthors":[34491],"class_list":["post-260803","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-culture","category-wide-open-table","tag-suppress","tag-wide-open-table","entry"],"slp_mobile_featured_image":{"id":260770,"href":"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/260770","image_path":"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/wot-2026-01-26-scaled.png","caption":""},"slp_coauthors":[{"display_name":"Jon Bennion","user_nicename":"jon-bennion","author_link":"https:\/\/montanafreepress.org\/author\/jon-bennion\/"}],"slp_primary_category":{"id":34493,"name":"Wide Open Table"},"apple_news_notices":[],"yoast_head":"<title>Make polenta tots the star of your Super Bowl party<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The big game is anyone\u2019s to win. 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