This simple cornmeal budino with blueberry sauce is perfect for al fresco dining. It is elegant enough for a dinner party and simple enough for just because.
A nice dinner is even better when it ends with a little something sweet. This easy cornmeal budino is an Italian style pudding that is perfect for a warm evening.
It is a great make recipe that will give you that little something special without being too much.
The blueberry marmellata sauce tops it off nicely, but you could use any fruit or dessert sauce you’d like. It will bring that wow factor to the meal without going over the top.
I was introduced to the concept of a cornmeal pudding when I saw a recipe for a polenta budino over at The Frugal Hausfrau. It was perfect! I always love trying a new dessert, no news there.
But even better, I could tweak her recipe to make it with ingredients I have on hand. I don’t know about you, but not having to run to the store to put something together gets it major bonus points in my book.
Plus the whole thing comes together in a few minutes on the stove top. You make it ahead and then put it in the refrigerator until it is time to serve.
No oven needed. No last minute sweating over the hot stove. That is my favorite way to entertain in the summer. So, I knew I had to make it!
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What It Tastes Like
Budino is more or less a cornmeal pudding. If you like a texture in your pudding like tapioca or rice pudding, you are half way there. Of course the texture of cornmeal is different than those.
My husband described it as a being like a sweet and creamy malt-o-meal. It is just sweet and creamy enough to make it a dessert rather than a porridge.
The blueberry marmellata is basically a quick blueberry sauce. Served cold it is thick and syrupy, perfect for topping your pudding. The two come together to make a really great dessert.
It would be the perfect ending to a big Italian meal any time of year. It would also be an elegant dessert to finish an al fresco dining experience.
Just a little something sweet and not to heavy. Just that little something to tie the meal up with a nice little creamy blueberry bow and send you off to sweet dream land.
More Great Pudding Recipes
If you like to end a meal with something cool, creamy and sweet you may like hot chocolate mix pudding. It is a great way to use hot chocolate mix left in your pantry from the winter as a chilled summer dessert.
If you don’t have hot chocolate mix, you can still make homemade chocolate pudding. Or make dirt pudding jars for a fun layered treat.
For a cozier treat, try making baked rice pudding from leftover rice. Or start with raw rice and make creamy rice pudding in the instant pot.
Easy Cornmeal Budino with Blueberry Marmellata
Equipment
Ingredients
Budino
- ½ cup polenta or cornmeal
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup light brown sugar packed
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 Tablespoon butter
- 1 egg
- ¼ cup heavy cream or whole milk
Marmellata
- 2 cups blueberries
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 pinch salt
Instructions
Budino
- In a large saucepan, bring two cups of water to a boil. Gradually add polenta or cornmeal while vigorously whisking. Continue to whisk until smooth.½ cup polenta
- Reduce heat to low and continue to cook and whisk until thickened, this should just take a few minutes.
- Stir in sugar, brown sugar and salt. Keep cooking over low heat and stirring frequently until the mixture thickens again and the cornmeal is softened. This only took me about 15 minutes, but polenta may take as much as 25.⅓ cup granulated sugar, ¼ cup light brown sugar, 1 pinch salt
- Remove from heat and whisk in butter.1 Tablespoon butter
- In a small bowl, mix together egg and milk. Vigorously beat egg mixture into hot cornmeal mixture. Spoon into a bowl. Press plastic wrap directly onto the surface of the pudding and refrigerate until ready to serve.1 egg, ¼ cup heavy cream or whole milk
Marmellata
- Bring 1½ cups of the blueberries, sugar, lemon juice, and salt to a boil over medium heat stirring frequently. Immediately drop heat to low and continue to cook, simmer and stir until berries are popped and the mixture is thickened. This should take about 10 minutes.¾ cup granulated sugar, 1 Tablespoon lemon juice, 1 pinch salt
- Stir in the remaining ½ cup of blueberries. Remove from heat, cover and chill.
Serving
- To serve, stir budino to loosen it. Spoon into serving dishes. Top with blueberry marmellata and serve.
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I want one now! This looks divine. Thanks so much for sharing your recipe with us at Funtastic Friday.
I would love to share! Thank you!