Creamy polenta with melted Italian cheeses — Grana Padano, Fontina and Montasio PDO — is one of Northern Italy's most beloved comfort foods. Popular in Lombardy, Piedmont and Veneto, it transforms simple cornmeal into a rich, comforting dish that's perfect for winter evenings. The sweetness of the warm polenta combines with the creaminess of the PDO cheeses to create a soft, stringy texture.
Ingredients (serves 4)
400 g bramata cornmeal
1.5 litres of water
10 g coarse salt
100 g cubed Fontina PDO
80 g of grated Grana Padano PDO
60 g Taleggio PDO, cubed (or Bitto PDO for a more intense flavour)
50 g butter
Black pepper to taste
Method Bring the water to the boil with the salt. Sprinkle in the cornmeal, stirring with a whisk to prevent lumps. Cook over a low heat for 40–45 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes: the polenta is ready when it comes away from the sides of the pan.
Remove from the heat and add the butter, stirring until it has melted. Add the diced Fontina and Taleggio: the residual heat will melt them slowly. Stir vigorously to combine everything. Finally, add the grated Grana Padano and stir again: the polenta should be creamy, soft and slightly stringy.
Serve immediately in warm soup bowls. Finish with freshly ground black pepper and, if you like, a few shavings of Grana Padano. Excellent on its own or served with sautéed mushrooms, roasted sausage or winter vegetables.
Regional variations
Polenta concia from Valle d'Aosta: Fontina PDO and mountain butter
Polenta Taragna: corn + buckwheat with Bitto PDO
Polenta and Gorgonzola: for those who love intense flavours
Baked polenta: slices of polenta topped with cheese and baked at 200°C
Tips
instant polenta is quicker but less rustic
use fresh PDO cheeses for a perfect melt
cut leftover polenta into slices and grill the next day
Why Italian PDO cheeses Fontina PDO, Taleggio PDO and Grana Padano PDO guarantee quality, origin and traditional methods. Fontina adds creaminess, Taleggio aromatic softness, and Grana Padano savouriness and depth. Together they create a rich and harmonious polenta.
Explore our selection of Italian artisan cheeses.
