There are certain ingredients that just seem scary to use and polenta is definitely one of them. Whenever I see it on cookery programmes I always say I am going to make some but to be honest I have had a box of it sitting in my cupboard for a while and just haven’t got round to using it. I was cleaning out the cupboard the other day and found it so thought I would give it a go and see what I could make. I had some spinach that I needed to use up too so figured I could somehow make something tasty for Little Lady using both ingredients.

Polenta is actually ‘cornmeal’ so is gluten free and really yummy once made and, contrary to what I thought, is really easy and quick to make. It doesn’t have much taste on its own but when its added to other things makes a really yummy side dish or, in this case, perfect finger food for kids. You can either cook it so it ends up like very loose mashed potato or it has this ability to set once cooled which is great for finger food. Little Lady loved these “fingers” but have a guess who wouldn’t even put them near his mouth!!

60g uncooked polenta

60g grated cheese (Little Lady prefers very strong cheese)

300ml water

Handful of uncooked spinach OR 3 cubes of frozen spinach

Half a clove of garlic – well diced

1/4 small onion – well sliced and diced

Boil the water in a saucepan then add the polenta. Simmer the water and keep stirring until the polenta has thickened then leave to cook for a further 5 minutes. Meanwhile cook the spinach until its soft – I use the microwave but it can be cooked in a pan. Once cooked make sure you have wrung all the water out of the spinach and then chop it finely. Add it to the polenta and then add the grated cheese, onion and garlic and stir the mixture until its all mixed well.

Grease a loaf tin really well then pour the polenta mixture into it and even it out.

Leave until the polenta is completely cool and firm and springy to the touch. Then turn it out onto a board.

Cut it into finger shapes. If you want it eaten straight away then place as many fingers as you need under a grill turning each finger every minute or so until the fingers end up slightly browned and crispy.

Alternatively you can fry the fingers but I really prefer not to fry if I don’t have to. Any un-grilled/fried fingers can be wrapped in clingfilm then frozen. Just take them out a few hours before meal / snack time and grill / fry as above to serve.

Enjoy!!