Beyond Sweet and Savory

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polenta

Rhubarb polenta cake

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This rhubarb polenta cake has a delicious tartness that shines  against the moist, pleasantly crumbly, and grainy texture of polenta. 

rhubarb polenta cake with sifter

How is it that it’s June already?!!  May was an intense month for me with photography project deadlines, being on our local TV channel (I’ll share more in another post), and traveling to the Bay Area for a friend’s wedding.  Work and traveling left me mentally exhausted so I took some time off to recharge. I’m back and excited to post my first recipe for June, a rhubarb polenta cake that I have been waiting for two years to share.  Yes, you read that right! TWO years!

cut rhubarb polenta cake with sifter

Two years ago I grew rhubarb from seeds and they flourished and survived the blazing summer heat of San Diego.  Thank you garden god! We couldn’t eat them fast enough. They went into many crumbles, pies, cakes, and ice cream.  Then came baby Dillon, a period of adjustment to life with a toddler and a baby (still adjusting by the way), and a hiatus from blogging.  I didn’t want another year to go by and not share this recipe with you.

rhubarb polenta cake

This rhubarb polenta cake is a family favorite.  It’s a simple cake that heralds spring. The tartness of rhubarb shines against the moist, pleasantly crumbly, and grainy texture of polenta.  Vu is all about chocolate cakes but this particular one he loves, especially warm from the oven with vanilla ice cream. It’s such a cliche but we enjoy a lot of our baked goods with vanilla ice cream. If there’s any leftovers, I reheat it the next day for a minute in the oven and enjoy it with a cup of tea.  

a plate with slice of rhubarb polenta cake and cake pan

I do have to warn you that this rhubarb polenta cake is not for the faint of heart.  The tartness of rhubarb does scare some people. If you’re not keen on rhubarb, you can always replace half of the rhubarb with strawberries and it will be as delicious. When I bring it to work, there are two camps–people who grew up with rhubarb and have fond memories of something their grandmas and moms made and will demolish this in seconds.  But the other group doesn’t want to to eat a veggie cake. Rhubarb is a vegetable after all. If you like rhubarb and polenta, this cake is for you!

two plates of rhubarb polenta cake

If you like rhubarb, check out these recipes: strawberry rhubarb mascarpone galette, strawberry rhubarb mascarpone handpies, and orange blossom panna cotta with baked rhubarb,

If you try this recipe, please let us know how you like it! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a photo #beyondsweetandsavory on Instagram.  We truly appreciate your feedback and incorporate them to continually improve our recipes.

5 from 2 votes
rhubarb polenta cake
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Rhubarb polenta cake
Prep Time
30 mins
Cook Time
55 mins
Total Time
1 hr 25 mins
 

This rhubarb polenta cake is a simple cake that heralds spring. The tartness of rhubarb shines against the moist, pleasantly crumbly, and grainy texture of polenta.  

Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: cake, polenta, rhubarb
Servings: 8 servings
Ingredients
  • 3/4 cup all purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup polenta
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1 stick unsalted butter
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 medium egg
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • zest of one Meyer lemon
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 10 oz rhubarb, cut into batons
  • 1/4 cup sliced almonds
  • 1 tbsp turbinado sugar
  • confectioner's sugar for serving
  • vanilla ice cream for serving
Instructions

  1. In a mixing bowl, whisk together flour, polenta, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.  Set aside.

  2. Trim rhubarb into batons to fit the pan. Cut any thick stems in half along the length.

  3. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. 

  4. Grease a 9 inch round cake pan or spring form pan.

  5. In a stand mixer, fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar together until pale and fluffy.

  6. Add the egg, vanilla, and lemon zest and beat until well combined.

  7. Add half the milk and half the flour mixture and beat until well combined, scraping down the sides as needed to incorporate any chunks.

  8. Repeat with the remaining milk and flour mixture.

  9. Scrape the mixture into the prepared cake pan, smooth the top with a palette knife.

  10. Place the rhubarb batons on top.

  11. Place the cake in the oven in the middle rack and bake for 30 minutes.

  12. Remove the cake from the oven, sprinkle the sliced almonds around the edges and turbinado sugar on top.

  13. Bake in the oven for an additional 20-25 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.

  14. Remove the cake from the oven and allow to cool for 15 minutes.

  15. Dust the cake with confectioners's sugar and serve immediately with vanilla ice cream.

Recipe Notes

The cake will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two days.

Truffled polenta with mushroom ragu

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Mushroom was not a part of my culinary repertoire until we lived in Washington and our friends introduced us to most amazing varieties. Every fall they would trek to Olympic National Forest and hunt for golden chanterelles and lobster mushrooms deep in the forest, turning over salal and fern to look for these treasures on the forest floor. When the mushroom crop was good, we were gifted with pounds of chanterelles. I’m smitten with the chanterelle because of its lovely peach-like fragrant, golden color, and meaty texture. I love turning chanterelles and other mushrooms into a ragu to pair with a bowl of polenta. This dish is one of our favorite fall comfort foods especially for those nights when we want a hearty vegetarian meal.


Truffled polenta with mushroom ragu
½ lb of chanterelle mushrooms (cleaned and cut in big chunks)
½ lb of portobello mushrooms (cleaned and quartered)
1 tablespoon of olive oil
1 tablespoon of butter
2 sprigs of thyme
4 cloves of garlic, chopped
2 small shallots, chopped
½ cup of white wine
½ cup of creme fraiche
salt and pepper
½ cup of polenta
1 1/2 cups of water
1 cup of milk
¼ cup of Parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon of truffle oil

1. To make the mushroom ragu, heat oil oil and butter in a heavy-bottomed skillet over medium heat for 30 seconds.
2. Add the shallots, garlic, and thyme and let everything cook until soft and fragrant, about 3 minutes.
3. Add the mushrooms and coat them in the butter and shallot mixture. Let them cook for about 10 minutes until their juices start release and evaporate.
4. When the mixture starts to dry up a bit, add in the white wine and creme fraiche and cook for another 15 minutes.
5. Season the mushroom ragu with salt and pepper to taste.
6. For the polenta, pour water in a heavy saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to medium-low and slowly pour the polenta in the pan while gently whisking the mixture together. Stir the polenta occasionally with a wooden spoon while it’s gently simmering to prevent it from sticking to the bottom of the pan.
7. Add in the milk and continue cooking the polenta for another 30 minutes or until softened. If the mixture starts to dry out, add two tablespoons of water at a time to soften the mixture.
8. When the polenta is softened, stir in the shaved Parmesan cheese and truffle oil. Season with salt to taste.
9. Divide the polenta between four bowls and top with mushroom ragu. Garnish with chopped parsley and additional Parmesan cheese if you like.