Polenta

I believe everyone is familiar with corn porridge. Let me give you some detailed knowledge about this porridge.

Polenta

Corn porridge is made from corn or corn flour. Corn is a common grain that contains a variety of vitamins and minerals, and has a high content of linoleic acid. Regular consumption has many benefits for the human body. Corn porridge tastes sweet and is easy to digest, making it suitable for breakfast.

Corn porridge dish introduction

Historical allusions

In the imperial menu of the Qing Dynasty emperors, in addition to delicacies from land and sea and various fine foods, there is also a kind of coarse grain: corn porridge. In the "Miscellaneous Notes of the Qing Palace" written by De Ling, it is recorded that Empress Dowager Cixi loved to eat corn porridge. So, how did corn porridge enter the royal menu? According to legend, Emperor Kangxi once took his attendants to Changshanyu in Luanping to hunt. Seeing that the sun was about to set, Emperor Kangxi was about to go back, and suddenly found a sika deer. He hurriedly whipped his horse and chased it. At this time, the sky was getting dark, and the attendants were gone. Kangxi was so tired that he was out of breath and his stomach was growling with hunger, so he had to ride his horse back. After walking for a while, he suddenly saw a light in front of him. When he got closer, he saw that it was a farmhouse. Kangxi reined in his horse and saw from the window that a white-haired old man and his sons were about to eat. On the dining table were steaming hot, golden brown cornmeal dry food and fragrant corn porridge, as well as rabbit meat stewed with mushrooms, roasted enoki mushrooms and a large plate of cold dishes.

The aroma was so delicious that it made people hungry. Kangxi felt even hungrier. He dismounted and walked into the farmhouse. He bowed to the family and said, "I am just passing by. It is late and I am hungry. I want to have a meal with you. I will pay more money." The mountain people were straightforward and hospitable. When they heard that there were guests from afar, they immediately asked them to sit at the top seat. Kangxi said a few polite words and started eating with the family. Kangxi felt that he had never eaten such delicious food before. But his favorite was corn porridge, which was sticky, refreshing, and beautiful, like pearls. Kangxi ate three bowls in a row. The family was very happy to see that he was honest. After eating, Kangxi asked, "Who cooked such delicious food? It must be a clever daughter-in-law, right?" The old man said, "No, I have no daughters, only three sons. The eldest son went up the mountain to hunt, the second son went up the mountain to chop wood, and the third son grew vegetables and cooked at home. This meal was made by the third son." Kangxi saw that the third son was handsome and liked him very much. At this time, the emperor's attendants saw the emperor's horse outside and came in. The family realized that the visitor was the emperor, and they were terrified and kowtowed quickly. Kangxi smiled and said, "I am very happy to see your family enjoying peace and happiness!" He ordered a reward of 100 taels of silver and then rode away. A few days later, Kangxi remembered the delicious corn porridge and sent someone to find the old man's third son and asked him to make corn porridge in the imperial kitchen. From then on, corn porridge was included in the recipes of the imperial kitchen.