Food Merchants Brand Organic Basil Garlic Polenta is a versatile alternative to pasta, bread or rice, and is especially suited for meat dishes that have plenty of sauce. In Northern Italy, polenta is as popular as pasta is in the south. Traditionally, the first cooking step required stirring for 40-45 minutes in a copper kettle over a hot fire. Food Merchants Brand Organic Basil Garlic Polenta eliminates this tedious chore, while preserving polenta's ancient Italian heritage.