Rec. Polenta Baked with Vegetables

marsha-tbay

Well-known member
From Home Cooking reprinted from Learning to Cook

1 large red ripe tomato

1 green bell pepper

1 bunch fresh spinch, or 1/2 box (10oz box) frozen spinach, thawed

1 med size yellow onion

1 c polenta, not instant

3-1/4 c lukewarm water

1-1/4 tsp salt

1/4 c olive oil

1/3 c grated Parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 350

Cut the stem off the tomato and chop the tomato into bite-size pieces. Cut the stem off the bell pepper and cut the pepper in half lengthwise (store one half for another use). Remove the veins and seeds and chop the pepper.

If using fresh spinach, remove any large, tough stems and wash the leaves. Take about half of the spinach, pile it on a cutting board and using a large knife, chop into pieces the size of large postage stamps. Press the leaves firmly into a measuring cup and measure out 1-1/2 c of chopped spinach. Wrap and store any extra spinach for another use. If using frozen spinach, be sure it is defrosted and squeeze out any excess water with your hands.

Peel and cut the onion in half lengthwise from steop-top down. Store one half for another use. Chop the remaining half of the onion.

Put the polenta, water, salt and olive oil in an 8" square baking dish and stir with a fork until blended. There's no need to grease the pan. Add the tomato, pepper, spinach and onion to the polenta and stir to evenly distribute the vegetables.

Put the baking pan on the center rack of the oven and bake for 30 minutes, then check to see if the liquid is boiling around the edges of the baking pan. If so, leave the temperature as is. If not, increase the oven heat to 400. Bake for another 15 minutes or until the water has all been absorbed - that your signal that the polenta is done.

Remove the pan from the oven and put it on a heatproof counter. Sprinkle Parmsan cheese evenly over the top and let sit for 5 minutes.

Cut the polenta into squares and serve warm.

 
What an interesting way to cook polenta!

Can't say I've even thought of trying it....but now I will!
One of our favorite summer dinners is grilled polenta and grilled veggies.
If I made the polenta this way, I could grill the 2 together!

 
Another REC for baked (no-stir!) polenta

Except when I'm hungering for feeling like an energetic Italian mamma (or, in my case, papa), I always bake polenta these days. During the one stir near the end, you can add whatever you like.

Always use 1 cup polenta (real, not instant).

For very soft polenta, use 6 cups liquid.
For soft, use 5 cups liquid.
For firm, use 4.
For very firm (perfect for grilling or frying), use 3.

For your liquid, use any amount of water and/or milk.

Preheat oven to 350.

In a nonstick skillet, stir together with a fork the polenta, liquid, 1 tablespoon butter or olive oil, and 1 teaspoon salt.

Bake for 40 minutes. Stir briefly with a fork (and add any cooked veg or sausage or cheese). Bake 10 minutes more. Let sit for 5 minutes unless you are serving very soft or soft polenta.

Serves 3 to 6.

 
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