Ingredients

  • 4 12 cups water
  • 2 cups low sodium chicken broth (cans or box) or 2 cups vegetable broth or 2 cups water
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 13 cups coarse cornmeal
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 4 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 red onion, sliced
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 cup canned diced tomatoes with juice (from 15 oz can)
  • 2 tablespoons cider vinegar or 2 tablespoons wine vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 bay leaf (to be removed when serving)
  • freshly ground coarse black pepper, to taste
  • 1 small green pepper, seed and ribs removed, cut into 1/4-inch strips
  • 1 12 lbs mushrooms, sliced
  • 12 lb red cabbage, shredded (about 2 cups)
  • 1 cup chopped fresh cilantro
  • 12 cup pimento stuffed olive, sliced
  • peppercorn, whole, a few, added to sauce

Method

  • In medium saucepan, bring 4-1/2 cups of the water and 1 teaspoon of salt to boil.
  • Add the cornmeal in a slow steady stream, whisking.
  • Whisk in the butter.
  • Reduce the heat and simmer, stirring frquently with a wooden spoon, until the polenta is very thick, about 20 minutes.
  • Cover to keep warm.
  • Meanwhile, in a large deep frying pan, heat 2-3 tablesepoons of the oil over moderately low heat.
  • Add the onion, green pepper, & mushrooms, and cook, stirring occasionally, until translucent, about 8 minutes.
  • Add the garlic and cook, stirring, for 1 minute.
  • Add the tomatoes, vinegar, oregano, bay leaf, and ground black pepper, to taste.
  • Cook, stirring frquently, for about 5 minutes.
  • If you need more oil add it now.
  • Add all the cabbage and 1 cup water or chicken broth or vegetable broth to the pan.
  • Bring to a boil.
  • Cover and reduce the heat to moderately low.
  • Simmer, stirring occasionally, for 15 minutes.
  • Add the remaining cup of chicken broth, vegetable broth or water, and 1 teaspoon salt and simmer, covered, until all vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes more.
  • Taste for seasoning at this point, if needed, add the remaining teaspoon of salt.
  • REMOVE BAY LEAF.
  • Stir in cilantro, olives and peppercorns, and serve over polenta.
  • Best not served right away however, if you have no choice, then allow to marinate up 2 hours at room temperature or until overnight.
  • Serve with a nice leafy green salad and some nice bisuits and a nice bottle of wine made from tempranillo grapes from Spain.