**Baked Polenta Slices with Tomatoes and Yellow Squash: A Savory Vegetarian Delight**
Indulge in the rustic charm and vibrant flavors of baked polenta slices topped with a medley of juicy tomatoes, tender yellow squash, and a burst of fresh herbs. This delectable vegetarian dish is a symphony of textures, with the creamy polenta providing a smooth canvas for the sweet-tart tomatoes, slightly firm squash, and aromatic herbs. Presented as individual slices, these polenta creations make for an eye-catching and flavorful addition to any brunch, lunch, or dinner spread.
**Additional Recipe Options:**
* **Polenta Slices with Roasted Vegetables:** Elevate your polenta slices with a colorful array of roasted vegetables. Simply toss your favorite vegetables, such as bell peppers, zucchini, and broccoli, with olive oil, salt, and pepper, and roast until tender. Arrange the roasted vegetables over the polenta slices and top with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese.
* **Polenta Slices with Mushroom Ragout:** Dive into the savory depths of a rich mushroom ragout served atop polenta slices. Sauté mushrooms in butter until golden brown, then simmer in a flavorful broth with herbs and spices. Pour the mushroom ragout over the polenta slices and garnish with chopped parsley.
* **Polenta Slices with Creamy Pesto Sauce:** Treat your taste buds to a vibrant and aromatic creamy pesto sauce. Combine fresh basil, pine nuts, Parmesan cheese, olive oil, and a touch of lemon juice in a food processor until smooth. Spread the pesto sauce over the polenta slices and top with a sprinkle of grated Parmesan cheese.
BAKED POLENTA
Provided by Giada De Laurentiis
Categories side-dish
Time 35m
Yield 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 4
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Grease an 11 by 17-inch baking sheet pan with oil. Line pan with waxed paper. The oil will secure the waxed paper onto the pan.
- In a large pot bring to a boil 2 quarts of salted water. Stir in extra-virgin olive oil. When water has reached a boil, reduce heat to medium high and slowly add the polenta, whisking constantly for 3 minutes. When polenta is thick and smooth, pour it into the prepared pan. Spread the polenta evenly.
- Bake in oven for 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool in pan. Note: the polenta will not brown or change in color. When cool enough to handle, cut into any shape you desire. I like to cut out 2-inch circles.
CHEESY BAKED BUTTERNUT SQUASH POLENTA
Butternut squash melts into the polenta as it cooks for this creamy make-ahead dish. Once transferred to a baking dish, pressing chunks of creamy Fontina cheese into the polenta ensures that once baked it will be full of gooey pockets of cheese throughout.
Provided by Anna Stockwell
Categories Squash Milk/Cream Nutmeg Cheese Parmesan Butter Olive Oil Sage Fontina Thanksgiving Side Bake Wheat/Gluten-Free Vegetarian
Yield 10-12 servings
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Combine 1 Tbsp. salt and 6 cups water in a large pot and bring to a boil. Gradually whisk in polenta, then cook over medium-high heat, whisking constantly, until polenta just begins to thicken, about 5 minutes. Stir in squash, reduce heat to medium-low, and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until polenta is thick and no longer gritty, and squash mashes easily when pressed with the back of a spoon, 30-40 minutes.
- Mix in milk and nutmeg, increase heat to medium-high, and cook, stirring constantly and smashing squash with the back of spoon, until squash is dissolved into the polenta, 10-15 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in Parmesan and 1/4 cup butter until melted. Let cool slightly.
- Meanwhile, heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high until shimmering. Add sage and cook, stirring, just until leaves are lightly crisped and darker in color, about 1 minute. Using a slotted spoon, transfer sage to a paper towel-lined plate to drain.
- Grease a shallow 3-qt. baking dish with butter, then transfer polenta mixture to baking dish. Scatter Fontina cheese over and press down lightly with spoon to submerge. Top with crisped sage. Let cool to room temperature, then cover and chill overnight and up to 2 days.
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Uncover dish and bake casserole until bubbly and lightly browned on top, 30-35 minutes. Let sit 10 minutes before serving.
VEGGIE-TOPPED POLENTA SLICES
This amazing side dish recipe came from a stroke of genius when I didn't have many ingredients on hand. -Jenn Tidwell, Fair Oaks, California
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Side Dishes
Time 40m
Yield 4 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- In a large nonstick skillet, cook polenta in 1 tablespoon oil over medium heat for 9-11 minutes on each side or until golden brown., Meanwhile, in another large skillet, saute zucchini in remaining oil until tender. Add shallots and garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Add the broth, pepper and salt. Bring to a boil; cook until liquid is almost evaporated., Stir in the tomatoes, basil and parsley; heat through. Serve with polenta; sprinkle with cheese.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 222 calories, Fat 9g fat (2g saturated fat), Cholesterol 8mg cholesterol, Sodium 558mg sodium, Carbohydrate 28g carbohydrate (5g sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 7g protein. Diabetic Exchanges
CHEESY BAKED POLENTA IN TOMATO SAUCE
This recipe is quite forgiving in that there's plenty of wiggle room to play. Use whatever herbs and cheeses you have on hand, for example, adjust the spice levels as preferred, and opt for fresh tomatoes if they're in season, or chopped canned tomatoes instead of whole. You can also veganize the dish entirely by using a nondairy milk and vegan cheese, adding some nutritional yeast if you like. This hearty main needs nothing more than some lightly cooked greens to eat alongside.
Provided by Yotam Ottolenghi
Categories dinner, casseroles, main course
Time 1h30m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 17
Steps:
- Cut out a piece of parchment paper about 16-by-12 inches/40-by-30 centimeters in size and lay onto a clean work surface.
- Prepare the polenta: Add the milk, garlic, 1 1/2 tablespoons oil, 1 teaspoon salt and a good grind of pepper to a medium saucepan. Bring to a bare simmer, stirring occasionally, over medium-high heat. Turn the heat to medium-low and slowly pour in the polenta, whisking continuously, until completely incorporated and there are no lumps. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring all the while with a spatula. When cooked, the mixture should pull away from the sides of the pan and be quite thick.
- Add the Parmesan, stirring for another 30 seconds to melt. Remove from the heat and transfer the mixture to the parchment paper. Use your hands to quickly shape the polenta into a large cylindrical shape, about 13-inches/32-centimeters long. Use the parchment paper to help you tighten the cylinder and then gently roll the whole thing in the paper, tightening as you go, then twisting in opposite directions at both ends. Refrigerate to set for about 1 hour, or longer if time allows.
- Meanwhile, make the sauce: Add the olive oil to a large, ovenproof cast-iron pan that is roughly 11-inches/28-centimeters wide, and heat over medium-high. Once hot, add the onions and cook, stirring occasionally, for 6 minutes, or until softened and lightly colored.
- Stir in the garlic, red-pepper flakes and oregano, and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the tomatoes and their juices, sugar, a scant 1/2 cup/100 milliliters water, 3/4 teaspoon salt and a good grind of pepper. Bring to a simmer over medium-high. Turn the heat down to medium and cook, stirring occasionally, for 20 minutes or until the sauce has thickened slightly. Set aside until needed.
- Heat oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit/230 degrees Celsius.
- Gently unwrap the chilled polenta and transfer to a cutting board. Trim about 1 inch/2 to 3 centimeters off the ends and then cut the polenta into 24 (1-centimeter-thick) slices.
- Top the tomato sauce evenly with the sliced fontina, then fan out the polenta slices, overlapping slightly, so that they're spiraled to cover the top, leaving a 1-centimeter gap from the edge of the pan. Drizzle the polenta with the remaining 2 tablespoons oil and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until polenta is golden in places and the sauce is bubbling. Remove from oven and let sit for 10 minutes to settle.
- While the polenta cools, in a small bowl combine all the topping ingredients. Sprinkle a handful of the topping over the polenta and serve the remaining in a bowl alongside. Serve warm.
BAKED POLENTA WITH A TOMATO SAUCE
This is a very tasty, filling meal. It can be used as a side dish or as a main course. For those following Weight Watchers, the whole recipe provides 16.5 points, assuming you use low fat cheese. Prep time includes time for the polenta to set.
Provided by Shuzbud
Categories Low Protein
Time 2h40m
Yield 4-6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Heat the oven to 350°F or 180°C.
- Pour 3 cups of cold water into a saucepan and turn the heat up to high.
- Add 1 cup polenta/ cornmeal gradually, stirring until it is all mixed in.
- Stir in the paprika and nutmeg.
- Heat until boiling, then simmer for 2 minutes, stirring constantly. NB: The polenta may spit if not stirred so be careful!
- When the polenta has thickened at the end of the 2 minutes, remove from the heat. Line a loaf pan with cling film/ saran wrap and pour the polenta in
- Allow to cool, then refrigerate for 2 hours until solid.
- Heat the olive oil in a non-stick skillet and cook the onion and garlic, stirring, for 3 minutes until soft.
- Add the chopped tomatoes and fresh basil. Season with salt and pepper to taste then simmer for 10 minutes.
- Meanwhile, turn the polenta onto a chopping board and remove the cling film. Cut it into about 18 squares. Slices can also be used if they fit your baking tray better.
- Pour a third of the tomato sauce into a baking tray, top with half the polenta squares. Repeat the layers ending with sauce (alternatively I use a large shallow baking tray so I use a single layer of polenta squares with tomato sauce underneath and poured over the top).
- Bake in the oven for 20 minutes.
- Remove from the oven, sprinkle the cheese over the top and return to the oven for 5 minutes until the cheese has melted.
BAKED POLENTA WITH FRESH TOMATOES AND PARMESAN
This recipe is a perfect way to highlight and use fresh summer tomatoes. It makes a great side dish for grilled chicken or pork chops.
Provided by rjohl
Categories Side Dish Grain Side Dish Recipes Polenta Recipes
Time 40m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). Grease an 8x8 inch baking dish.
- Place the water, milk, and butter in a saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Add the polenta and stir with a wooden spoon until thickened, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in 1 cup Parmesan cheese and 2 chopped basil leaves; season with salt and pepper to taste. Transfer the polenta to the prepared baking dish and arrange the remaining chilled pieces of butter over the top.
- Bake the polenta in the preheated oven until bubbly and beginning to brown, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from the oven.
- Decoratively arrange the slices of tomato over the top of the polenta, spread the remaining basil leaves over the tomatoes, and sprinkle with 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese.
- Return to the oven and bake until the tomatoes are warm and the Parmesan cheese is bubbly, 5 to 10 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 427.6 calories, Carbohydrate 37.5 g, Cholesterol 56.5 mg, Fat 21.1 g, Fiber 3.4 g, Protein 22.4 g, SaturatedFat 11.9 g, Sodium 1013 mg, Sugar 6.8 g
FRESH TOMATO AND SQUASH GALETTE
A galette is a rustic pie with folded edges that give it an informal look. This savory galette, using summer fresh vegetables and a purchased pie crust, is a delightfully different side dish that makes good use of zucchini, yellow squash, tomatoes, and onion. If you don't have Gruyere cheese, substitute Swiss.
Provided by Bibi
Categories Savory Pies
Time 1h35m
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Line a sheet pan with parchment paper.
- Allow the dough to come to room temperature, about 20 minutes.
- Meanwhile, place sliced tomatoes in a single layer on a paper towel-lined plate, and place zucchini and yellow squash slices on plates as well, also in a single layer. Sprinkle vegetables lightly with salt, about 1/4 teaspoon for each vegetable. Allow to stand for 20 minutes.
- Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir in flour and cook, stirring, until all the flour is incorporated into the butter, about 3 minutes. Season with 1/4 teaspoon herbes de Provence, black pepper, and any remaining salt. Slowly add milk, stirring constantly to avoid lumps.
- Continue to cook and stir until mixture has thickened and bubbles break open (some cooks call this stage "making bullseyes"), 5 to 8 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in 1/2 of the shredded Gruyere. Allow sauce to cool slightly.
- If using purchased pie dough, open the pouch and place dough onto the prepared sheet pan. Slowly unroll the dough, pinching together to close any tears. Sprinkle bread crumbs over the dough.
- Blot tomatoes and squash with paper towels.
- Ladle sauce over the dough, leaving about a 1 1/2-inch border without sauce. Starting on the outside edge of the sauce, alternate slices of yellow squash, onion, zucchini, and tomato, repeating until all the sauce is covered by the vegetables. Sprinkle remaining herbes de Provence over the vegetables, and gently fold the crust over the outside edge of the vegetables.
- Brush beaten egg onto the folded pie dough.
- Place galette in preheated oven and bake until the crust is brown and the vegetables are tender, 25 to 30 minutes.
- Sprinkle remaining shredded cheese on top of the warm galette and bake until cheese is melted, 3 to 5 more minutes.
- Allow to cool for 5 minutes. Garnish with fresh herbs and serve.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 302.4 calories, Carbohydrate 20.6 g, Cholesterol 60.1 mg, Fat 19.8 g, Fiber 2.3 g, Protein 10.9 g, SaturatedFat 8.1 g, Sodium 579.8 mg
Tips:
- Use fresh, ripe tomatoes and yellow squash. This will ensure the best flavor and texture. Avoid vegetables that are bruised or have blemishes.
- Cut the tomatoes and squash into uniform slices. This will help them cook evenly.
- Season the polenta with salt and pepper before baking. This will help to enhance the flavor.
- Use a baking dish that is large enough to accommodate the polenta slices in a single layer. This will help to prevent them from sticking together.
- Bake the polenta slices until they are golden brown and crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. This will usually take about 20 minutes.
- Serve the polenta slices immediately with your favorite toppings. Some popular options include grated Parmesan cheese, crumbled feta cheese, or a dollop of pesto.
Conclusion:
Baked polenta slices with tomatoes and yellow squash is a delicious and easy-to-make vegetarian dish. It's perfect for a quick and easy weeknight meal or a special occasion brunch. The polenta is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, while the tomatoes and squash add a pop of sweetness and color. This dish is sure to be a hit with everyone who tries it!
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