Last updated on April 8th, 2019
Last Saturday was one long celebration of Lucas’s birthday (though his actual birthday is today!). We meant to get up early to spend the full day at food festivals, but in true Sarah-Lucas form, we slept in (shocker). We’re the kind of people who set three alarms – 7:00, 7:12, 7:20. And still press snooze. (Also, who are we kidding? The first alarm is definitely after 8am *cough9amcough*). We moseyed our way to Bite, where we met up with Carla to stuff our faces with food from some of the best chefs in the country doing awesome things like 3D printing sugar cubes and making tacos on solar-powered stoves.
These Mexican street corn grilled polenta bites are a riff on those tacos. Only they can be eaten in one bite – all the more perfect for your summer cookout. Plus, I teamed up with Pacific Foods to use their new organic polenta line, making this appetizer come together in a jiffy. Cute factor + easy prep? Win-win.
Having eaten enough at the festival to hibernate for a month, we went straight to a Sufjan Stevens concert without dinner. Have you been to a Sufjan Stevens concert? It’s like 2 parts concert, 1 part comedy show, 1 part weird acid trip, and 5 parts weed. The funky skunk smell was so pervasive that it stopped phasing us (aka we stopped snickering about it) 15 minutes in – and it was indoors at the Fox Theatre!
He started the first half of the show without saying a word, letting the meditative music do the talking. He transitioned to the softest saddest banjo you ever heard, telling half-truth stories about his childhood. Then at one point I’m pretty sure the band decided to ditch the idea of music altogether in an attempt to rattle the room/building/block as loud as possible. As if all the pots and pans fell from the top shelf of your cabinets onto the cement floor. All at once.
But for 5 minutes straight.
I could feel my bowels vibrate.
So anyway – how about these polenta bites? They’re killer. Buttery corn polenta cakes topped with sweet corn. Dollop some tangy creamy sauce over top, add a bit of heat, and sprinkle on some queso fresco for good measure. Nothing says American summer barbecue like a buttery ear of sweet corn, and these one-bite wonders are a corn-splosion (go with it), but without the requisite toothpicks and floss. Win-win-win.
Pacific Food‘s pre-cooked organic polenta (now available at Whole Foods nationwide) makes the perfect party-bite canvas – just slice, grill, and they’re ready to go. If you’re feeling feisty, try the jalapeno cheddar polenta as the base for these Mexican street corn grilled polenta bites. Or try topping them with this Roasted Red Pepper, Feta, and Thyme Spread. Whatever you do, invite me to the barbecue.
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Mexican Street Corn Grilled Polenta Bites
Ingredients
Instructions
Disclosure: Thanks to Pacific Foods for sponsoring this post! Please rest-assured that all opinions expressed here are 100% my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that keep me in the kitchen.
Alanna -
June 10, 2015 at 11:35 pmMexican street corn! This is so freaking genius. CAN I BE YOU??
Sarah Menanix -
June 10, 2015 at 11:37 pmFreaky Friday style or like The Parent Trap? Lindsay Lohan makes both sound fun!
Alanna -
June 10, 2015 at 11:38 pmI was thinking more Single White Female. Cool?
DessertForTwo -
June 11, 2015 at 2:52 amGorgeous! I love polenta–it’s been too long since I’ve made it last!
Veronica -
June 11, 2015 at 4:13 amGenius! Love polenta and the first I had it was at a restaurant in Houston, Texas! A beautiful grilled salmon was placed on top of a bed of polenta that was out of this world! I love your idea of making this an appetizer! Happy Birthday to My Son!
betty | le jus d'orange -
June 11, 2015 at 6:49 amUm, this is stunning and sounds AMAZING. I haven’t had much polenta – I can’t even remember the last time I had it or how. I’m so hungry now…
heather @french press -
June 11, 2015 at 8:31 amwe can’t get enough corn in the summer, and this sounds like such a fun new way to eat it
Sarah @ Making Thyme for Health -
June 11, 2015 at 8:42 amI’m a major corn lover so these have my name written all over them! I love that they come together so easy too!
And Lucas’s early birthday celebration sounds like it was quite the experience! I probably would have got a contact high, haha!
suki -
June 11, 2015 at 9:46 amI love this alternative to Mexican street corn. Less messy, that’s for sure! :) Happy birthday to Lucas – Ryan is a Gemini also.
Eva -
June 11, 2015 at 9:52 amI love polenta and this is a great idea !
Eva -
June 11, 2015 at 9:54 amI think I’m goint to cook this very soon ! Looks amazing !
Ashley @ A Lady Goes West -
June 11, 2015 at 7:54 pmSarah! Hi! How are you? Oh, how I love me some street food — and bite-sized with polenta? Delish! How nice you went to eat with Carla. East Bay bloggers unite! My mouth is now watering for Mexican!
Kiran @ KiranTarun.com -
June 11, 2015 at 7:54 pmI’ve never had polenta before, time to change that! These look incredible :)
todd wagner -
June 11, 2015 at 11:25 pmIt’s all about the 7:12am alarm. So underrated. As opposed to these polenta bites – they’re rated jussssst right. As in, delicious.
Christine -
June 12, 2015 at 3:55 amSounds like he’s had a fantastic birthday! And he’s a lucky guy to have all your posts to eat! These sound sooooo delicious, Sarah!
Sarah | Broma Bakery -
June 12, 2015 at 6:43 amHahahaha, the Sufjan concert. I want to go now just to experience the weirdness. And happy birthday to Lucas!
Lauren Gaskill | Making Life Sweet -
June 12, 2015 at 7:44 amIf I had to describe a Sufjan concert, I think you hit it spot on! Totally loving these polenta bites! SO delicious and fresh!
Pang -
June 12, 2015 at 12:13 pmHappy belated birthday Lucas :)
Love this mexican polenta bites, lady!!! Looks so yummy I need all of them right now.
As for 5-part- weed-the concert, I would have loved to go there when I was in college.. hahaha
Katalina @ Peas & Peonies -
June 12, 2015 at 7:29 pmwhat and incredible way to serve polenta, love the summery touch on this, I am a die hard corn fan so I can’t wait to recreate this.
Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom -
June 13, 2015 at 3:06 amSarah,
Now, that’s the way to spend a birthday!! Happy belated to Lucas! and ok LOVE these grilled corn polenta bites!!! Pacific Foods has a new organic polenta line??!!! totally looking for this the next time I’m at Whole Foods!!! and I seriously cannot wait to meet you in Madison!!! Hooray!!!
Nicole ~ cooking for keeps -
June 15, 2015 at 1:09 pmThese are PURDY! Love me some crispy polenta, especially if it’s going to taste like Mexican street corn….
Tessa | Salted Plains -
June 15, 2015 at 2:31 pmOk, so you couldn’t have described the Sufjan concert better! Haha. We saw him in KC a few weeks ago. And, I will take all of these polenta bites!!
ellie | fit for the soul -
June 15, 2015 at 4:45 pmOmgness these are luscious!!! I’ve been meaning to make something with polenta, but..I’m afraid you’ve outdone yourself again. This also needs to be on a wedding hors d’ouvres menu, and happy birthday to Lucas!!!!! <3 Have a sweet start of the week, chica~
mira -
June 15, 2015 at 7:25 pmGlad you had a great day Sarah! Love Mexican street corn and these bites look so delicious! Gorgeous pictures :)
Lisa / Good on Paper -
June 15, 2015 at 7:57 pmyummy yummy!! This is brilliant! I love Mexican Street Corn and Polenta. You’re so inspiring Sarah! looking forward to our little reunion :) And happy birthday to your Lucas! :)
Lynn | The Road to Honey -
June 16, 2015 at 8:35 amHmmm…seems I have already snuck my 6 mile jog in before your first alarm even goes off. And my poor hubs. . . he is not a morning person but gets yanked out of bed at the crack of dawn. . .even on his precious weekends. Well. . .it sounds like you & Lucas had an interesting day long birthday celebration. . .but the best part that came out of the whole festive day is these little yummies. Street corn on a polenta morsel. . .I’m in. :-)
Joy | The Joyful Foodie -
June 16, 2015 at 9:30 amWhat the yum. I just spent the last few days in Austin getting overloaded with meat and corn, and these *still* sound awesome right now.
I’m sad I missed out on Bite! Just down the street from me, too. :( Maybe next year.
Trish - Mom On Timeout -
June 17, 2015 at 9:36 amThis is happening. STAT. Dang does that polenta look gooood! You are quite brilliant, ya know? And happy birthday to Lucas!
erin {yummy supper} -
June 17, 2015 at 10:50 amYes please. I need these for lunch pronto!
xoxo
E
Jessica @ Sweetest Menu -
June 17, 2015 at 7:51 pmThese Mexican bites look AMAZING! Ah I just want to eat one so much. Your photography is stunning as always.
Champage For Every Day -
June 18, 2015 at 5:41 amUmmmm…..m going crazy to prepare it. Thanks for the recipe :) Mexican street corn with polenta bringing out a delicious item to have and I can assume how wonderful the birthday has been spent and your presentations are very impressive.
Marissa -
June 19, 2015 at 3:29 pmWhat a festive appetizer or snack! We eat our weight in Mexican Street Corn during the summer. Love that we have a new twist on it to try. Thanks, Sarah!
Cathleen @ A Taste Of Madness -
June 20, 2015 at 5:01 amHappy birthday to Lucas!!
And these polenta bites look so good! Why have I never tried polenta before??
Aysegul -
June 20, 2015 at 8:27 amWhat a great appetizer idea. Not to mention super simple to make. Love it!
PS: YAY to sleeping in!
Karen @ The Food Charlatan -
June 24, 2015 at 1:10 pmEric always makes fun of me because I never delete any of the alarm times on my phone, I just add new ones. So if you look at my phone you will see times for 6:45, 7:00, 7:05, 7:10, 7:25, 7:45….and on and on. You are not the only ones. :) I’m still jealous of the Sufjan concert, even if you got contact high.
Kelly - A Side of Sweet -
June 25, 2015 at 1:32 pmThese look unreal! tell Lucas happy very belated birthday for me! It sounds like you guys did a great job celebrating. Will have to check out Bite!
Izzy @ She Likes Food -
June 30, 2015 at 7:06 pmI’m the same way! I don’t think I’ve ever gotten up the first time the alarm went off, it is just impossible!
These are the cutest little appetizers ever! I’ve been grilling all the corn lately, it is pretty much the only way to go in the summer :)
Carla (@charliesue) -
July 1, 2015 at 3:47 pmGonna need to put these little bites all in my mouth at once. BiteSV style. Eat until you can eat no more! Literally!!
Lynn -
December 1, 2017 at 6:06 amIs there a way to cook the polenta in bulk like in the oven? I want to make for a party with 65 guests and do not want to spend the entire time grilling polenta.
Thanks
Sarah Menanix -
December 3, 2017 at 2:13 pmHi! I think you could absolutely cook them in the oven – you’re really just heating the polenta, so maybe I’d cook them in the oven for a few minutes, then flip and broil for 1-2 minutes to get some color. Good luck!