I have a big foodie love thing going on with these naturally gluten-free Polenta Fries. They are amaaaaazing and once you try them and you’ll agree.
They are crispy on the outside and creamy inside which make the fries instantly satisfying.
Polenta Fries In A Quick Minute*
- They are super simple to make – start with store-bought polenta and life is super easy.
- They make a frugal yet tasty snack.Â
- You can triple or quadruple the recipe to feed a crowd. #winningealready.
- They are super adaptable – see some suggestions below
- They are suitable for gluten-free and vegan diets.
You have 2 options when making these polenta fries. You can start with a couple of blocks of store-bought polenta. Heck, anything to make life easier. But if you prefer you can cook the polenta from scratch, which means you can add flavors that you like. See how to whip up polenta from scratch
You can also make a spiced Jamaican Cornmeal Porridge from polenta for a sweeter version to of fries to be served with a sweet dip.
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Crispy Polenta Fries are a great snack for both kids and adults alike. They are satisfyingly crispy and so so dippable. Plus they earn major bonus points for being a healthier option than regular fries. Making these air fried polenta fries gets the kiddoes to happily eat their meal and even beg for more. Yeap.
Polenta Fries Recipe Tools
KITCHEN TOOLS, UTENSILS & APPLIANCESÂ NEEDED
This post contains affiliate links. For more information, check out my disclosure.
- Air Fryer.
- Tongs.
- Saucepan.
- Whisk.
- Bowls with covers.
- Store leftover food in these bowls.
- Flavorings**
- Try this spice kit for different flavors on your food.
- Sea Salt Flakes <= amazing salt that makes your food taste good.
Ready to learn just how easy it is to make flavorful Polenta Fries in air fryer? Then gather up your ingredients and let me show you…..
How To Make Air Fryer Polenta Fries
- Preheat air fryer to 380F / 190C.
- Place Polenta Fries in a single layer inside the air fryer basket.
- Cook for 8-10 mins per side until golden and crispy.
- Remove Air Fryer Polenta Fries from the air fryer and serve.
How To Make Baked Polenta Fries
No air fryer? No worries! You can make oven baked Polenta Fries instead.
- Preheat the oven to 400F /200C / gas 6.
- Lightly oil lined baking sheet and place polenta fries on the tray.
- Bake at 400 FÂ mins for 25-30 minutes, turning over once halfway through or until crisp and golden.
Air Fryer Polenta Fries Tips
- Thick cut – make sure the fries are cut thick so that they are easier to handle.
- Air fryer temperatures can vary depending on the make and model. I recommend starting out with less cook time, checking for doneness, and then adding more time as needed.
- Vary the seasoning to suit your taste. Sprinkle on some chopped rosemary or thyme. Or if you like a little heat, then add some chilli flakes.
- Use some tongs to carefully turn and remove the air fried polenta from the air fryer basket so that they do not break.
- Serve your air fried Polenta fries with a side of ketchup for dipping.
- If you dont have leftover polenta or store-bought polenta then scroll down below to see how to cook your own.
How To Make Polenta On The Stove Top
- Add the coconut milk, water and spices into a heavy bottomed saucepan and slowly bring to the boil.
- Then slowly add in the polenta whisking all the while till it thickens.
- Reduce the heat to low and stir for a few minutes with a wooden spoon.
- Then cover and stir every 8 or so mins until the polenta is cooked. The whole cooking process takes about 45 mins. The Polenta is cooked when it is very thick and falls away from the side of the pan.
- When the polenta is cooked, switch off the heat and pour into a silicone tray to the thickness you desire and allow to cool .
How Long to Cook Polenta Fries In Air Fryer
Because the temperature of air fryers can vary depending on the make and model, this recipe includes a range of cook times. It is important to keep in mind that the bigger and thicker your fries are, the more cook time will be needed.
This recipe recommends a cooking time of between 14 and 16 minutes. Aim for 14 minutes the first time you make your fries check them for doneness, and then adjust your total cook time from there.
What To Serve With Air Fried Polenta Fries
Parmesan Crusted Air Fryer Chicken Tenders.
More Polenta Recipes
Grilled Scallops and Herb Oil Polenta.
Savoury courgette and cheese muffins from A Mummy Too.
Baked garlic  Polenta Fries from Hungry Healthy Happy.
Is There A Difference Between Polenta And Cornmeal?
The name sounds fairly exotic, but what is the difference between cornmeal and polenta. Polenta is quite simply a dish made of boiled cornmeal. The word polenta is derived from the Latin term pollen that roughly translates to mean ‘fine flour’.
Cornmeal is commonly served as a hot porridge. It may also be cooled and solidified into a loaf or individual pieces that can then be baked, fried, or grilled.
This gluten-free goodness, made from corn carries flavour really really well. Trust me I have tried it with everything. EVERYTHING. A good thing about polenta is that you can cook it in a porridge-like consistency or much firmer and use it to mop up a little bit of this and that.
My advice – cook lots and lots of it and throw it in the fridge. Then you can grill or fry this into crunchy on the outside and warm and flavourful on the inside perfection whenever. Snacks, salads, soups, polenta fries – it is all covered
Thank you for reading my Air Fried Polenta Fries recipe post. And please come visit again as I continue dreaming up recipes, traditional African recipes, African fusion recipes, Sierra Leone recipes, travel plans and much more for you. Thanks for supporting Recipes from a Pantry, UK food blog.
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How to Make Polenta Chips
Ingredients
- 4 cups (1 liter) vegetable broth (or mix of broth and drinking coconut milk)
- 1 cup (160g ) polenta
- 4 tbsp orange juice
- 60 g (2oz) grated Parmesan
- Salt
Instructions
How To Make Air Fryer Polenta Fries
- Preheat air fryer to 350F / 180C.
- Place Polenta Fries in a single layer inside the air fryer basket and lightly spray with cooking spray.
- Cook for 14-16 minutes, turning half way through until golden and crispy.
- Remove Air Fryer Polenta Fries from the air fryer and serve.
How to Fry Polenta Chips:
- Add some of the polenta chips to the pan and fry on all sides until they are golden brown.
- Remove from the pan and repeat until all the polenta chips are done. Serve immediately with some dips like a sweet chilli sauce.
How to cook polenta:
- Bring the stock to the boil in a pot. Then slowly add in the polenta whisking continuously till it thickens. Then reduce the heat to the lowest setting and stir for a few minutes with a wooden spoon. Then cover and stir every 7 or so mins until the polenta is cooked. The whole cooking process takes about 45 mins. The polenta is cooked when it is very thick and falls away from the side of the pan. When the polenta is cooked, stir in the orange juice, Parmesan and salt and switch off the heat
- Pour the polenta onto a large lined baking tray and spread out to the thickness you desire. Let it cool and firm up then cut into chips.
agatapokutycka says
01/03/2015 at 9:24 amI’ve never cooked with polenta before… I actually never had polenta to be honest
Bintu says
01/03/2015 at 9:29 amDef worth trying Agatapokutycka.
Nayna Kanabar (@citrusspiceuk) says
01/03/2015 at 11:19 amI have some polenta, but I have yet to cook with it, will try these.
Bintu says
01/03/2015 at 12:03 pmShout with any questions Nayna.
Sylvia @ Happiness is homemade says
01/03/2015 at 11:21 amI’ve never cooked with polenta before but I’m willing to try 😉 Have already bookmarked some recipes to try out and this is deffo one of them!
Bintu says
01/03/2015 at 12:04 pmLet me know how it goes Sylvia.
Sylvia @ Happiness is homemade says
01/03/2015 at 11:21 amI’ve never cooked with polenta before but I’m willing to try 😉 Have already bookmarked some recipes to try out and this is deffo one of them!
Bintu says
01/03/2015 at 12:03 pm😀
Helen @ Fuss Free Flavours says
01/03/2015 at 12:44 pmThese are lovely. I nearly always cheat and but ready made blocks of polenta which seem to Have vanished from most supermarkets.
Bintu says
02/03/2015 at 9:34 amI did not realise that you could get ready cooked blocks of polenta.
Diana says
01/03/2015 at 1:38 pmBelieve it or not but I never had polenta before!! I bought some a couple of months ago but never cooked with it haha I know that I should! 🙂
Bintu says
02/03/2015 at 9:36 am😀
Mike says
01/03/2015 at 3:44 pmPolenta chips! That is brilliant, Bintu, and I had never heard of that but it totally makes sense. OH my gosh the parmesan cheese just adds to my desire to have them! Yummy post as always 🙂
Bintu says
02/03/2015 at 9:36 amFoodie blushing here Mike.
Jen says
01/03/2015 at 6:29 pmI’ve tried only polenta once about 10 years ago and wasn’t that impressed with it. Tastes change so I must try again especially as these look easy to make.
Bintu says
02/03/2015 at 9:36 amI fell like I should invite you over and cook some for you Jen.
Akaleistar says
02/03/2015 at 1:31 amThe chips look really good!
Bintu says
02/03/2015 at 9:35 amThanks A.
Becca @ Amuse Your Bouche says
02/03/2015 at 9:23 amI would NEVER have thought of adding orange juice to polenta!! Sounds like it would add a great flavour. I love polenta chips!
Bintu says
02/03/2015 at 9:35 amIt does Becca. And on particularly orangey days I double the amount I add in. if you like you could
Camilla says
02/03/2015 at 10:34 amWow, these polenta chips look soo good, one to put on the to make list for sure:-)
Bintu says
02/03/2015 at 12:03 pmPlease let me know how you get on Camilla.
Tina Jui | The Worktop says
02/03/2015 at 10:45 amI love polenta so much and this recipe sounds do delicious!
Bintu says
02/03/2015 at 12:05 pmThanks Tina.
Claire @foodiequine says
02/03/2015 at 12:02 pmCan I confess that I’m a wee bit scared of Polenta? Even moreso when I read your recipe and did a complete double take at the orange juice bit! I can’t see past Polenta Chips on a menu when I’m out so I really should try this. Why the orange juice? I’m intrigued!
Bintu says
02/03/2015 at 12:04 pmOrange juice is a super easy way to add flavour to grains etc. it really works Claire.
Rashmi says
02/03/2015 at 12:13 pmThese look super delicious!!
Bintu says
02/03/2015 at 5:26 pm😀
Craig - The Usual Saucepans says
02/03/2015 at 1:06 pmOh wow! Those look delicious. Definitely one to try – who doesn’t need some exciting chunky chips in their life?
Bintu says
02/03/2015 at 5:27 pmExciting chunky polenta fries are definitely needed by us all.
Laura@howtocookgoodfood says
02/03/2015 at 1:53 pmI love polenta but must admit I buy the quick cook Valsugana variety, it is so yummy. I like to eat it char grilled but think that polenta chips sound like a brilliant way to get my kids to enjoy it. Especially with a yummy dip!
Bintu says
02/03/2015 at 5:24 pmLaura chargrilled polenta sounds like a lot of fun
Sonia says
02/03/2015 at 4:51 pmOh I love these, I had them at Jamie Oliver’s restaurant a few years back, never thought of making them myself!
Bintu says
02/03/2015 at 5:25 pmYou can try them Sonia, and I am seeing that you can buy the polenta ready cooked and just fry it yourself.
Nikki Fraser says
02/03/2015 at 8:52 pmthese look so very yummy I can understand why your in love with them at minute.
Heidi Roberts says
02/03/2015 at 8:54 pmPolenta is a very unknown food item but can be so versatile – love using it.
Jemma @ Celery and Cupcakes says
02/03/2015 at 10:53 pmGreat tutorial Bintu. I love polenta chips, but never got round to making my own.
Karen says
03/03/2015 at 9:03 amA favourite recipe of mine too Bintu, and I often make them for my veggie friends when they come over! Karen
Bintu says
04/03/2015 at 11:46 amSo easy and moreish right?
Lou @ Eat Your Veg says
03/03/2015 at 9:49 amI adore polenta too, but rarely ever get around to cooking with it nor have I made polenta chips yet. So on my To Make list now though! Loving your orange juice addition.
Bintu says
04/03/2015 at 11:45 am😀
Elsa | the whinery says
03/03/2015 at 8:08 pmOh wow… I can’t wait to try this. This looks super easy, and I KNOW polenta, so I’m pretty sure these ships are super delicious!
Bintu says
04/03/2015 at 11:44 amI bet your take on these is going to be fab Elsa.
Emily Leary says
04/03/2015 at 9:03 amThese sound great. I had some very bland ones in a restaurant recently – I think orange juice could be the key! Will be trying these.
Bintu says
04/03/2015 at 11:45 amI hope you like them Emily.
Margot @ Coffee & Vanilla says
05/03/2015 at 11:38 amI have tried to make use of polenta twice but it never worked… I don’t think I was doing it right, thank you for sharing this.
Anne says
09/01/2016 at 11:02 amI am glad I am not alone with an over stocked pantry!!
The ‘chips’ look delicious – I will definitely be trying out!