polenta

 
Pronunciation: /pəˈlɛntə/

noun

[mass noun]
  • maize flour as used in Italian cookery; cornmeal: maize is used, more coarsely ground, in Italy’s versatile polenta
  • a paste or dough made from polenta, which is boiled and typically then fried or baked: roasted pork accompanied by grilled polenta

Origin:

late 16th century: Italian, from Latin, 'pearl barley' (a sense of polenta in Old English)