Baked polenta is a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed as a main course or a side dish. It's made with cornmeal, water, and salt, and can be baked, grilled, or fried. In this article, we will share three different recipes for baked polenta, each with its own unique flavor profile.
The first recipe is for a classic baked polenta with wild mushroom and tomato sauce. This dish is hearty and flavorful, and the combination of mushrooms, tomatoes, and herbs creates a rich and savory sauce.
The second recipe is for a baked polenta with roasted vegetables. This dish is light and healthy, and the roasted vegetables add a pop of color and flavor.
The third recipe is for a baked polenta with cheese and herbs. This dish is creamy and cheesy, and the herbs add a touch of freshness.
No matter which recipe you choose, you're sure to enjoy this delicious and versatile dish. So gather your ingredients and let's get started!
POLENTA BITES WITH WILD MUSHROOMS AND FONTINA
Store-bought tubes of polenta are the ultimate appetizer shortcut: just slice and toast in the oven, top with sautéed wild mushrooms and a sprinkling of grated Fontina, then bake again until melty and irresistible. A pinch of crushed red pepper flakes and a splash of Sherry vinegar punch up the flavor of the mushrooms.
Provided by Anna Stockwell
Categories New Year's Eve Hors D'Oeuvre Cocktail Party Hominy/Cornmeal/Masa Mushroom Fontina Vegetarian Wheat/Gluten-Free Appetizer
Yield Makes 30
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 450°F. Brush both sides of polenta slices very lightly with oil and arrange on 2 rimmed baking sheets. Roast polenta until lightly golden brown and warmed through, about 25 minutes.
- Meanwhile, melt butter with remaining 2 Tbsp. oil in large, deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms and cook, stirring often, until tender and browned, about 12 minutes. Add shallots, vinegar, salt, black pepper, and red pepper and cook, stirring, until tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in parsley.
- Divide mushroom mixture between baking sheets with polenta. Top with cheese. Continue to roast until cheese is melted, about 5 minutes.
- Arrange polenta bites on a platter and serve.
- Do Ahead
- Mushroom mixture can be made 1 day ahead. Transfer to an airtight container and chill.
BAKED POLENTA WITH TOMATO SAUCE AND RICOTTA
I turn to polenta when I am in need of some good, old-fashioned comfort food. I suspect it's because there is not much difference between polenta and the grits I was raised on in North Florida. This simple dish relies once again on my favorite tomato sauce and not much else other than freshly cooked polenta made better than ever with a little added ricotta.
Provided by Art Smith
Categories HarperCollins Hominy/Cornmeal/Masa Tomato Vegetarian Parmesan Basil Ricotta Healthy Dinner
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- To prepare the tomato sauce:
- Preheat the oven to 425°F. Place the tomatoes, yellow onion, and garlic in a baking pan. Bake for 45 minutes or until the garlic is soft and the skin is peeling away from the tomatoes. Remove from the oven and cool to room temperature. Remove the skin from the tomatoes and put in a saucepan. Squeeze the garlic out of the bulb and into the tomatoes. Remove the skin from the onion. Coarsely chop the onion and add to the tomatoes.
- Add the olive oil to the tomatoes and puree with a handheld immersion blender until smooth. You may need to add up to 1/3 cup water if there is not enough liquid. Season with salt. Warm the tomato sauce just prior to use.
- To prepare the polenta:
- Preheat the oven to 400°F. In a medium saucepan, bring 3 cups of water to a simmer and stream in the polenta. Whisk together until there are no lumps. Cover with a lid and continue to cook over low heat for 20 minutes, stirring every 3 minutes. Be careful when you go to stir the polenta-it tends to spit out pieces of the cornmeal, which is very hot. Remove the polenta from the heat and stir in the olive oil and basil. Drop in teaspoon-size pieces of the ricotta cheese. Pour the polenta into an 8-inch square baking pan and spread evenly. Sprinkle with the Parmesan cheese and let sit for 1 hour or until the polenta has firmed up. Bake the polenta in the oven for 15 minutes or until heated through. Cut the polenta into 8 equal pieces.
- To serve:
- Place 1/2 cup warm tomato sauce in 4 shallow bowls and top with two pieces of the polenta. Sprinkle with the chopped basil.
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
POLENTA WITH TOMATO AND WILD MUSHROOM SAUCE
Provided by Marian Burros
Categories dinner, main course
Time 35m
Yield 2 servings
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Cover mushrooms with hot water and set aside.
- Crush the plum tomatoes between the fingers and place in pot, without the juice, along with the thyme, oregano and pepper. Cook over medium high heat for 10 minutes, until most of liquid has been absorbed.
- Drain mushrooms and squeeze out liquid; chop coarsely and add to tomatoes. Strain leftover liquid. Add some mushroom liquid if tomato mixture has become too dry.
- Meanwhile, bring chicken stock to boil (follow directions on instant polenta package for amount of liquid needed).
- When stock has boiled, slowly add polenta, stirring constantly, until mixture is thick and liquid has been absorbed.
- Serve polenta topped with the tomato-mushroom sauce and grated cheese.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 539, UnsaturatedFat 5 grams, Carbohydrate 96 grams, Fat 9 grams, Fiber 10 grams, Protein 21 grams, SaturatedFat 3 grams, Sodium 566 milligrams, Sugar 16 grams
POLENTA WITH WILD MUSHROOMS AND MARINARA SAUCE
Years ago, I abandoned the traditional stir-until-you-get-a-blister-on-the-inside-of-your-thumb method for making polenta and became a convert to the easy oven-baked version. But then I began working with polenta freshly milled from heirloom varieties of corn, and went back to the top-of-the-stove method because the results were exceptionally creamy and fragrant. This was at the urging of Kay Rentschler, who is the creative director of the Anson Mills website and writes its recipes. She is very specific about the best way to cook the mill's products, so I followed her instructions for polenta, which are shared here. The flavor of the corn is heavenly, and once it begins to thicken, you don't have to stir continuously, so it is not tedious to make. You could serve polenta as a side, but I like to show it off and serve it as a main dish (a boon for those who now eschew pasta). It's a wonderful vehicle for any number of toppings, but my favorite is a simple tomato sauce embellished with pan-cooked mushrooms, preferably meaty, flavorful varieties like oysters or maitakes. If you want to be extravagant, throw a few chanterelles into the mix.
Provided by Martha Rose Shulman
Categories dinner, main course
Time 1h
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- To make the polenta, place it and 3 1/2 cups water in a heavy 2 1/2- or 3-quart saucepan with a lid, and stir to combine. Set over medium-high heat and bring to a simmer, stirring constantly until the fine polenta particles remain suspended and evenly distributed in the water without continuous stirring. This should take 5 to 8 minutes.
- Reduce heat to low, cover partly and cook, stirring often, until polenta is soft and holds its shape on a spoon, about 35 minutes. Whisk in salt after 20 minutes. When polenta is done, whisk in pepper, butter and Parmesan.
- While polenta is cooking, pan-cook mushrooms. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over high heat in a wide, heavy skillet or a wok. Add mushrooms and cook, tossing and stirring often, until they sear and begin to sweat, about 3 minutes.
- Reduce heat under mushrooms to medium. Add another tablespoon oil and the shallots and cook, stirring, until just tender, 3 minutes. Add garlic, thyme, and rosemary or sage. Season with salt and pepper and continue to cook over medium heat until mushrooms are soft, about 5 more minutes. Add wine and cook, stirring, until it is no longer visible in the pan. Add parsley, taste and adjust seasoning. Remove from heat.
- As soon as polenta is soft, spoon into wide bowls or onto plates. Make a depression in the middle with the back of a spoon and add a spoonful of hot tomato sauce. Top with a spoonful of mushrooms, sprinkle with Parmesan if desired, and serve.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 416, UnsaturatedFat 10 grams, Carbohydrate 48 grams, Fat 17 grams, Fiber 4 grams, Protein 15 grams, SaturatedFat 5 grams, Sodium 649 milligrams, Sugar 7 grams, TransFat 0 grams
MUSHROOM POLENTA
Creamy polenta topped with sautéed mushrooms is a classic heart-warming side dish. We've upped the umami flavor here by cooking the polenta in a mushroom broth, creating a delicious and rich version for the mushroom-lover in everyone.
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Categories side-dish
Time 20m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 0
Steps:
- Heat 2 tablespoons butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add 8 ounces sliced cremini mushrooms, season with salt and brown, 5 to 7 minutes. Add 1 teaspoon each butter and fresh thyme and 1 minced shallot; cook 30 seconds. Meanwhile, simmer 3 cups mushroom broth and a pinch of salt in a saucepan. Whisk in 3/4 cup quick-cooking polenta; stir until thickened, 5 minutes. Stir in 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan; season with salt and pepper. Top with the mushrooms, chopped parsley, more Parmesan and pepper.
GRILLED POLENTA WITH MUSHROOM SAUCE
The Eagle Cap wilderness is a beautiful area in the nearby Wallowa Mountains where wild mushrooms are abundant in spring. Guests enjoy the distinctive flavors of the homemade sauce infused with Marsala wine and served over grilled polenta.
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Side Dishes
Time 55m
Yield 9 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 19
Steps:
- In a large heavy saucepan, saute shallot in oil until tender. Add the basil, garlic and oregano; cook 1 minute longer. Stir in wine. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes., Add the broth, tomatoes and salt; bring to a boil. Reduce to heat to a gentle boil; slowly whisk in cornmeal. Cook and stir with a wooden spoon for 15-20 minutes or until polenta is thickened and pulls away cleanly from the side of the pan. Spread into a 9-in. square baking pan coated with cooking spray. Cool to room temperature, about 30 minutes., Meanwhile, in a large skillet, saute mushrooms and shallot in oil until tender. Add the garlic, salt and pepper; cook 1 minute longer. Add wine, stirring to loosen browned bits from pan. Gradually stir in cream. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cook and stir for 5-10 minutes or until slightly thickened., Cut polenta into nine squares. Grill, covered, over medium heat for 5-7 minutes on each side or until crisp and golden brown. Serve with mushroom sauce.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 258 calories, Fat 19g fat (7g saturated fat), Cholesterol 38mg cholesterol, Sodium 603mg sodium, Carbohydrate 17g carbohydrate (2g sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 4g protein.
OVEN-BAKED CREAMY POLENTA
This warm and creamy side dish is perfect with our Braised Chicken with Mushrooms.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Ingredients Pasta and Grains
Time 35m
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees. In an ovenproof saucepan with a lid, whisk together 3 cups water, cornmeal, salt, and pepper. Cover, and bake 30 minutes, stirring halfway through.
- Remove from oven, and add milk, butter, and marjoram; whisk briskly until smooth. Serve immediately.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 155 g, Protein 2 g
BAKED POLENTA WITH SAUSAGE AND MUSHROOM SAUCE
Surprisingly easy method for preparing polenta. No standing over the stove stirring for 30 minutes. And, the best part... it turns out perfect every single time. The sauce is fresh and complements the polenta well.
Provided by Candice
Time 55m
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
- Prepare polenta: Stir water, polenta, butter, garlic, salt, and pepper together in an 8-inch square baking dish.
- Bake in the preheated oven until most of the water has been absorbed, about 40 minutes.
- While the polenta is baking, prepare sauce: Heat oil in a large, nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add onion; cook until soft, about 3 minutes. Add mushrooms, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and cook for 7 minutes.
- Add flour and cook, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes. Pour in sausage, chicken stock, and diced tomatoes; simmer for 15 minutes.
- Remove polenta from the oven and stir in Parmesan cheese. Spoon sauce over polenta and serve.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 491.5 calories, Carbohydrate 32 g, Cholesterol 61.7 mg, Fat 30.6 g, Fiber 3.2 g, Protein 21.9 g, SaturatedFat 12.2 g, Sodium 1508.8 mg, Sugar 4.8 g
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.
Tips:
- Use fresh ingredients. This will make a big difference in the flavor of your dish.
- Don't be afraid to experiment. There are many ways to make polenta, so feel free to add your own personal touch.
- Polenta is a versatile dish. It can be served as a main course, a side dish, or even a dessert.
- Make sure to cook the polenta until it is creamy and tender. Overcooked polenta will be dry and crumbly.
- Polenta is a great way to use up leftover vegetables. Just add them to the sauce or stir them into the cooked polenta.
Conclusion:
Polenta is a delicious and versatile dish that is easy to make. With a few simple ingredients, you can create a meal that is both satisfying and flavorful. So next time you're looking for something new to try, give polenta a try. You won't be disappointed.
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