Low FODMAP Polenta (Gluten-Free)

This low FODMAP Polenta (pronounced puh-len-tuh) is an easy and delicious low FODMAP side dish that pairs beautifully with main dishes like braised short ribs, ratatouille, pot roast, Bolognese, and more. Made with just cornmeal, ghee or butter, parmesan cheese and simple seasonings, this polenta recipe is low FODMAP, gluten-free (although if you require 100% gluten-free, check the packaging to ensure your cornmeal is ground in a gluten-free facility), and vegetarian (as long as you eat dairy). As it is a grain, cornmeal / polenta is not Paleo or Whole30 compliant.

Is Cornmeal Low FODMAP?

Cornmeal is low FODMAP in certain quantities. According to Monash University's Low FODMAP Diet App, cooked polenta (cornmeal) is low FODMAP in servings of up to 1 cup or 255 grams per serving. When it comes to low FODMAP grains, that is a lot of polenta to work with.

Sweet corn, on the other hand, is higher in FODMAP. A low FODMAP serving of fresh sweet corn is only up to ½ of a cob or 38 grams. Simply put, cornmeal is lower in FODMAPs due to the types of corn it's made from being lower in FODMAPs and higher in starch.

Is this really a side dish? It looks like breakfast!

If you're new to polenta, it may come across oddly as a side dish at first as it looks like porridge. My husband, Jeff, and I both had this initial reaction. Cornmeal can be eaten for breakfast, but this low FODMAP polenta recipe is inspired by the preparation common to Northern Italy, which is served alongside dishes that you'd typically serve with pasta, such as Bolognese. I have three recipes coming up that taste dynamite when paired with polenta: Low FODMAP Instant Pot Ratatouille, which is a French vegetable stew; Low FODMAP Instant Pot / Slow Cooker Stracotto, which is Italian pot roast; and low FODMAP Instant Pot / Slow Cooker Bolognese. You will not want to miss these amazing recipes, so subscribe to be notified once these recipes hit the blog!

What type of cornmeal should I use?

There are a variety of different types of cornmeal you can buy: ground, instant or quick cooking, and pre-cooked. We want coarsely-ground cornmeal. Instant or quick cooking cook too quickly to achieve the ideal texture for polenta, in my opinion. Sometimes polenta comes in a tube - this is the pre-cooked version, which we will not be using for this recipe. This recipe calls for uncooked, dry, ground polenta / cornmeal. I use Bob's Red Mill Organic Corn Grits also known as Polenta, but this particular one is not made in a gluten-free facility. If you require 100% gluten-free, be sure to get the gluten-free version. I bought mine on Amazon, but you might be able to find it at some health food stores or some gluten-free aisles at mainstream grocery stores.

Can I cook this in the Instant Pot?

It may shock and disappoint some people that this is not an Instant Pot recipe. While I believe it might be possible to cook polenta in the Instant Pot, it's one of those things that there is too much risk for error for me to confidently put out a recipe that I believe will work for most people. Due to the large amount of starch in cornmeal, there is high risk for the dreaded burn error (dun dun DUN!). This risk varies by the brand of cornmeal that you're using. So, this is a stovetop polenta recipe. I cannot stand getting burn errors with the Instant Pot, nor do I care to lead anyone into this black hole of doom that is the burn error.

Necessary Equipment

Nothing fancy here! The equipment I use to make this low FODMAP polenta recipe includes:

• Stovetop
• Medium sauce pan (mine is 2 quarts)
• Whisk (the longer, the better)
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Serving spoon

Low FODMAP Polenta: Ingredients & Success Tips

Water or Broth & Cornmeal

To start this low FODMAP polenta recipe, I place a medium saucepan on high heat. Then, I add 4 cups of water or low FODMAP chicken bone broth. Once the water starts boiling, I slowly add the cornmeal, salt and pepper and whisk to combine. See my notes above for more information on the type of cornmeal to use, FODMAPs, etc. I reduce the heat to low, which is "Min" on my stove - the absolute lowest setting. Then, I allow the polenta to cook, whisking frequently, for about 20 minutes, or until the polenta starts to pull away from the sides of the pan when stirred.

While the polenta is cooking, use caution as it likes to bubble up and splat you. Using a longer whisk is ideal here as creates more distance between you and the potential splatter.

Also, to prevent clumping, frequent whisking is key. Also, you might want to use a spoon instead of a whisk when the polenta thickens. I would advise you to continue using your whisk as it better prevents the polenta from clumping.

Parmesan & Ghee or Butter

This low FODMAP polenta recipe is not dairy-free. The low FODMAP diet is not a dairy-free diet, but some people are lactose intolerant and therefore restrict their consumption of the FODMAP lactose.

Once the polenta is cooked, I remove the pan from heat. Then, I add the parmesan cheese and ghee or butter and whisk to combine. While parmesan cheese hasn't yet been tested for FODMAPs, according to this article, cheese with 1 gram or less in total carbohydrates per serving falls within the low FODMAP designation set by Monash University for the FODMAP lactose. See my Low FODMAP Instant Pot Fettuccini Alfredo post for further explanation on how to pick your cheese. If you're like me and not lactose intolerant, you don't have to worry about this from a FODMAP perspective.

I use ghee (a.k.a. clarified butter) as I cook with it all the time. If you prefer regular 'ole butta, then feel free to use it. Butter doesn't contain FODMAPs; however, butter and cheese are both high in fat, which can be an additional symptom trigger for some people. Before making this recipe, check with your doctor or dietician with concerns of how your body might react.

Serving & Storing Low FODMAP Polenta

Polenta is best just after its cooked as it tends to firm up and not be as creamy once reheated. Reheated, firmer polenta is still delicious, and I don't mind eating it when it's firm. Store in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

What can I eat this low FODMAP polenta with?

This low FODMAP polenta would go wonderfully with the following low FODMAP main dishes:

• Low FODMAP Instant Pot Chicken Cacciatore
• With the meatballs and sauce in Low FODMAP Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meatballs
• With the pot roast and drippings in Low FODMAP Instant Pot Beef Pot Roast
• Low FODMAP Instant Pot Ratatouille
• Low FODMAP Instant Pot / Slow Cooker Stracotto (coming soon)
• Low FODMAP Instant Pot / Slow Cooker Bolognese (coming soon)

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