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Side Dishes

Sweet and Spicy Goat Pepper Jack Cheese Polenta Bake

Inspired by the Lowcountry of South Carolina, this comforting baked side dish combines spicy Goat Pepper Jack Cheese, hearty grits, and corn.

sweet and spicy goat pepper jack cheese plenta bake with honey
sweet and spicy goat pepper jack cheese polenta bake

the details

Prep Time: 15 Minutes
Cook Time: 1 Hour
Total Time: 1 Hour 15 Minutes
Servings: 12

ingredients

  • 3 TB salted butter, room temperature
  • 2 ½ cups water
  • 8 ¼ oz can cream style corn
  • 1 tsp coarse ground salt
  • 1 cup yellow corn polenta
  • 2 large eggs
  • 4 TB hot honey* or 4 TB honey mixed with ½ tsp cayenne pepper, divided
  • 12 oz LaClare Goat Pepper Jack Cheese, shredded and divided

directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350F.
  2. Use 1 TB butter to coat a square 8 x 8-inch baking dish; set aside.
  3. In a 3-quart saucepan, combine remaining 2 TB butter, water, corn, and salt; bring to a rapid boil. Slowly whisk in polenta, whisking constantly until smooth. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook for an additional 5 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
  4. Beat eggs in a medium-size bowl. Stir in 2 TB hot honey and 3 ¾ cups Goat Pepper Jack Cheese.
  5. Stir cheese mixture into polenta until combined.
  6. Pour into prepared baking dish and spread into an even layer. Bake in preheated oven for 1 hour or until set and firm, but still soft enough to scoop.
  7. To serve: scoop ½ cup of the bake into a small dish. Garnish each serving with a sprinkle of the remaining ¼ cup shredded cheese and a drizzle of the remaining 2 TB hot honey.

* Hot honey can be found at specialty grocery stores and online retailers.