Elise launched Simply Recipes in 2003 as a way to keep track of her family's recipes, and along the way grew it into one of the most popular cooking websites in the world. I can’t wait for them to try it! Preheat the oven to 350°. It’s a very quick side dish to prepare and you can easily alter the flavors to your liking. The polenta is the bottom layer and we used a 2 quart dish. Slowly whisk in the polenta. Bev’s recipe has Italian sausage in it so I decided to switch things up and create a vegetarian version of her recipe. It’s so good! I tried making the Monday-night version of this recipe tonight. I made this the other night and added some cooked hamburger. Thanks for sharing . Baked Polenta Pie is similar to lasagna, but instead of noodles, you get a thick layer of creamy polenta as the base. Toss. ~Elise. After baking and cooling, everything was very tasty, but also very runny. As wonderful as homemade polenta sounds, I had a tube of pre-cooked polenta in the cabinet so I used that. I am trying to build up my supply of meatless main dishes for both my family and for special events at our church. Your comment may need to be approved before it will appear on the site. I never made polenta before and learned how important it is to add the cornmeal slowly. Recipe from Bon Appetit magazine, from the Spannocchia farm in Tuscany. I mushed it up before hand so that I could sprinkle it into the casserole and pretend it did not come from a tube. Cook and stir with a wooden spoon 15 … Thanks for sharing it, Elise! Bake the casserole until bubbly and fragrant, then use the broiler to get some browning on top during the last few minutes. Otherwise, made everything per the recipe. I use the tomato sauce as my go to tomato sauce base. Wonder if that would work here. Made it for dinner and it was wonderful. SO TASTY! Yes, you can assemble it ahead of time and bake it later. Bake in the preheated oven, uncovered, for 20 minutes. Make the sauce: Heat olive oil in a large saucepan on medium heat, add the onions, carrots, and celery. We came across this baked polenta recipe in an old Bon Appetit issue, and used up the last of our garden basil to make it. I’m thinking I would just slice it down for the bottom of the pie. Made own tomato sauce with fire roasted tomatoes and red wine. Instead of making the polenta, can I use the kind sold in a tube? I don’t mind the snow as long as I am looking at it through my window:) I spent most of the day in the kitchen cooking and baking. Position rack in upper third of oven; preheat to 350°F. It’s about 20 degrees outside where I am, so it was perfect for a very cold night. Coat a 9-by-13-inch baking pan with cooking … Add onion and bell pepper and … Topped in 2 oz mozza. I added some olives to the tomato sauce and used a mix of cheeses that I had on hand (feta, parmesan, and gorgonzola…) which was a great way to get rid of some odds and ends. Interesting idea. If so, which is healthier to make? Slowly add the polenta to the pot, whisking constantly. The gooey layers of polenta, tomato sauce, roasted vegetables, and cheese all melted together to create an amazing dish. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until glistening. Fontina is rather mild. It does not disappoint. Once it starts to thicken, trade the whisk out for a spoon and stir until the polenta pulls away from the sides of the pot. Our editors love polenta triangles for appetizers, polenta casserole for family night, and polenta with Italian-Style Beef for those evenings when they crave comfort food. Once it starts to thicken, trade the whisk out for a spoon and stir until the polenta pulls away from the sides of the pot. Thought I’d post this for those who cook late like me — save this for the weekend. Have these ingredients delivered or schedule pickup SAME DAY! Can smell the deliciousness as I type this comment! I didn’t and my polenta was very lumpy. Is the 2-hour wait at the end of step 3 necessary? Serve the polenta as a replacement for potatoes or rice and enjoy. I layered the pie with roasted vegetables, tomato sauce, and of course loads and loads of mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. Leave a comment below and share a photo on Instagram. To make the tomato sauce, heat the olive oil over medium heat in a large pan. 4 Bake: Preheat oven to 350°F. I didn’t wait 2 hours after I assembled it. Pour the mixture into a 2 quart casserole dish that has been sprayed with cooking spray. Please do not use our photos without prior written permission. Do you think I could refrigerate it after step 3 and heat the caserole the next day? The Two Peas & Their Pod Cookbook is here. I do two things differently, I round the measurements for the spices for a bit more kick, add twice as much garlic and add one peeled/chopped carrot that I cook with the onion. Your email address will not be published. The layers blended together a bit, so it wasn’t pretty like the picture, but it tasted great anyways! In a large heavy saucepan, bring water and salt to a boil. You bake the pie until bubbly and do your best to not burn your tongue when it comes out of the oven. 3 Layer sauce, polenta, cheese in baking dish: Prepare a baking dish, brush 8x8x2 pyrex or ceramic baking dish with olive oil. In a large saucepan, combine the milk with 3 cups of water and bring to a boil. I made this tonight and it was delicious! Spread the tomato sauce over the vegetables and top with grated mozzarella cheese. My husband & son are both good veggie eaters but usually balk when it’s time for a meatless meal. For even more excitement, I like to add some Gorgonzola cheese (part in the layers, part on top). I also needed to get rid of some romana tomatoes and zucchini. And stir constantly . Did you know you can save this recipe and order the ingredients for. Sometimes I use meat sauce, and/or add a layer or eggplant or zucchini (slice, bake or broil first), or add any left over cooked meat like cubed/ shredded chicken, turkey or meatloaf. (Maybe use mushrooms instead of peppers.) While it can't take the place of true tamales, it certainly makes for an easy and scrumptious weeknight dinner. Sprinkle with basil; top with Italian cheese blend. Polenta is cooked with liquids such as water, stocks or milk for a couple of minutes. Elise Bauer is the founder of Simply Recipes. I have become a real fan of polenta. It’s so easy, comforting and so so so delicious! I have found that is is very forgiving & tasty casserole. Cut into squares and serve warm. I noticed that when using cornmeal you have to bake it and refrigerate it overnight to let the cornmeal set up otherwise it is runny. Our kitchen is always open! I added red pepper flakes, dash of cinnamon and chopped kalamata olives to the sauce. large eggs, pecorino romano cheese, instant polenta, freshly ground pepper and 5 more. This Polenta Casserole is an easy family dinner! I have made this dish several times, and it is always a hit. Did you make modifications that were not listed? The recipe comes from an article on a unique Tuscan farm, Spannocchia, a working farm “eco” retreat, noted for its artisanal salumi. The polenta had a weird watery flavor, the texture was mushy, and the cheese didn’t pack enough punch. (We have several ladies who prefer a vegetarian menu.) I added some ground beef just for kicks, used finely ground cornmeal, and I used a bit less cheese than pictured. Sorry, our subscription service is unavailable. What was I doing wrong? This is one of my go-to recipes now. We don’t offer nutritional information at this time. Remove and Cover with foil then bake an additional 5 -10 minutes or until center of casserole in baked … Place polenta slices in a single layer in the prepared baking dish, trimming to fit if necessary. The polenta was definitely a bottom layer on mine. you can use part chicken stock for the water and cut it back to 3 cups. Add half of the Parmesan cheese to the polenta and stir to combine. Stir in garlic, tomatoes, fennel seed, basil, oregano, and red pepper. Really looking forward to the leftovers! Polenta's grits-like consistency comes from boiling cornmeal in water. Thanks for waiting. of coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper. I love it when leftovers come to the rescue, especially when they taste this good. ~Elise. Sprinkle with 3/4 cup cheese, top with the eggplant mixture and sprinkle with the remaining 3/4 cup … Like, perhaps, butternut squash, sage, and bechamel? Evenly spread the roasted vegetables on top of the polenta. Can it be made/assembled ahead of time, and refrigerated until ready to bake? Read more about our affiliate linking policy. This looks like the perfect accompaniment to our rainy weather. My Italian hubby uses white wine instead of the milk to make polenta. Here, a generous mixture of winter greens and tender artichoke hearts is smothered with a crispy topping of thick polenta slices. This was a great start for me and I make this polenta pie for vegetarians a lot. Reduce the heat to low and simmer, stirring often, until thick and cooked through, about 10 minutes. Add the onion and cook for 5 minutes, or until tender. Bake until completely heated through, about 25 minutes. Add the garlic and cook a minute more. This looks delicious! I’m hoping to speed up the total required time…, I’ve only made it as prescribed by the recipe. I whipped up the polenta first, then refrigerated it while I prepared the rest. My question: do you have a serving size/calorie count breakdown of your recipes? All the recipes I’ve tried from here get rave reviews from them (and me!) This layered polenta … Preheat oven to 350°. I cook the sauce with a bay leaf and then let the sauce cool and puree and then use the next day. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 2 … thank you! A vegetable-heavy casserole is a must on any Thanksgiving table — and welcome any fall night. In this Tex-Mex casserole inspired by chicken tamales, a saucy chicken filling with a soft polenta or grits topping is baked in a casserole dish. This is really good. ~Elise. Smothered in marinara sauce and topped with melty vegan cheese, it’s almost so embarrassingly easy to make, but such a crowd-pleaser. All rights reserved. It was in my “Food” board on Pinterest for a month or two before I tried it tonight. If your stock doesn’t have a lot of salt make sure you add salt to the cornmeal while cooking. Remove from the oven and cool for … Pour another third of the sauce over the cheese. The cheese should be bubbly and golden brown. Last year on a date night, Paul had polenta … A big pan of this just finished cooling. Thank you for the idea and the inspiration. Elise is a graduate of Stanford University, and lives in Sacramento, California. Baked Polenta with Mushrooms, Gorgonzola Cheese, & Tomato Sauce, 46 Super Bowl Recipes for Super Bowl XLVI. The sauce recipe looked delicious, but I took a short cut for time’s sake. Top with the other half of the parmesan. Making this now! Once your polenta is ready, it can be baked, grilled, fried, or served as a creamy addition to any course. Place casserole dish in oven middle row for 30 to 35 minutes until edges start to brown. Place slices on a greased shallow baking dish, overlapping the slices. Let stand for 2 hours at room temperature. Thanks for the recipe. I am glad you are enjoying our recipes. Polenta Casserole with Meat Sauce (Polenta Pasticciata con Ragu di Carne) Williams-Sonoma garlic clove, dry red wine, tomatoes with juice, fresh mozzarella cheese and 12 more White Bean & Tomato Polenta Casserole Connoisseurus Veg pepper, fresh thyme leaves, olive oil, salt, fresh rosemary, prepared polenta and 7 more The leftovers are a much coveted lunchbox treat, eaten cold or reheated. Could be you just didn’t like the flavors. No one minds the lack of meat. Also the pan size of 2 qts was maxed out and bubbled over quite a bit. I did a variation on this tonight and it was very good. (I was lazy.) This looks amazing! Preparation. Creamy Polenta with White Beans and Roasted Broccoli, Cheesy Polenta with Grilled Sausages and Summer Vegetables, Breakfast Casserole with Butternut Squash and Kale, Polenta Casserole with Fontina and Tomato Sauce, Read more about our affiliate linking policy, 1 28-ounce can whole tomatoes (with basil if you have it), 1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano (or 1 Tbsp fresh, chopped). If you prefer mozzarella over fontina, feel free to substitute. Hello! It’s for dinner later this week, but I thought it fit to grab a bite. Your house will smell so delicious you won’t want to wait to dive in. It's layered with herbed mushrooms, fontina and Parmesan, and the bubbling crown of cheese on top is phenomenal. Pour the melted butter over the polenta and sprinkle with the Parmesan. I’ve made a dish similar to this – it’s in the 1995 edition of the Joy of Cooking. A thick and creamy layer of polenta is topped with roasted vegetables, tomato sauce, Parmesan, and mozzarella cheese and baked until bubbly. When the vegetables are done roasting, set aside to cool and reduce oven temperature to 375 degrees F. In a large pot, bring the milk, butter, sugar and salt to a light simmer. Love this recipe. I also used cornmeal. Polenta topped with homemade meat sauce and cheese – my kids loved this recipe! Used 13×9 pan. Pour into a casserole dish (about 20X12 cm) and top with the carrots (I used their liquid too since it was full of flavour, but that way the casserole may get a bit soggy). Spread 1/3 of the sauce over the bottom of the dish. I tested this last week, and it was a hit with everyone who ate it. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. It was everything I had dreamed about and more. We enjoy creating recipes that are simple, fresh, and family friendly. If you skip that step, please let us know how it turns out. This baked polenta casserole is essentially like a polenta lasagna – all of the flavor of the home cooked favorite, but super easy and naturally gluten free! We thought this was sooooo good! Cook until onions are translucent and carrots just tender (5-10 minutes). would that work? While the sauce is simmering, roast the vegetables. I, myself, think this would be kind of bland without adding some ground beef. We didn’t talk during dinner, not because we didn’t have anything to say, we were just too busy devouring our Baked Polenta Pie. We’ve had a very mild winter so far, but we finally got some snow on Saturday. Might work better with Mexican cheeses. Pour half of the polenta over the sauce. And P.S.-it is just as good reheated the next day. © 2008 - 2020 Two Peas & Their Pod. We’re here to help you put dinner (and breakfast and lunch) on the table with less stress and more joy. I’m a college student so I went to quick route for this recipe. It was really delicious! Layer with meat, greens or anything else you desire. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. We would have fresh polenta the first night with a tomato stew and baked polenta (what you call polenta pie as leftovers). … Baking polenta, tomato sauce and cheese together is a sure winner. I sliced them both up and sprinkled them on top with a little extra mozzarella. I think it is the fennel seed but it is so easy and so good. So we would get three meals from one night of cooking! It does have a slightly different taste. I really didn’t like this. Thanks! I will make this again for sure! ~Elise. My great grandma always made this as leftovers growing up. The casserole was delicious, and the farm looks even more intriguing. The polenta is super easy to do, the roasted vegetables are amazing, and the tomato sauce is thick and delicious. We love sitting around the table with good food, good conversation, and good friends and family! Slowly whisk in the polenta. Might want to change the recipe to read “1 cup uncooked polenta” …. Used 4 cups water for polenta and 1/2 oz parm, no butter. I am a huge fan of Simply Recipes- thanks for sharing your family recipes. This was a fantastic recipe. Baked Polenta Casserole Food and Wine. Tag @twopeasandpod and hashtag it with #twopeasandtheirpod. https://www.theblendergirl.com/recipe/creamy-vegan-polenta-bake 2 Make the polenta: In a large saucepan bring a quart of water to a boil, add a teaspoon of salt. Let cool for 10 minutes before serving. Add the garlic and cook a minute more. Wanted to report that my 4 kids loved this! This was pretty tasty with just a few modifications to add more flavor. Bring to a simmer, reduce heat and cook for 15 minutes, uncovered, until sauce is reduced to about 3 cups. I love the idea of being able to hang out in a Tuscan kitchen taking cooking classes for vacation, don’t you? If you like this Baked Polenta Pie, you might also like: I'm Maria and my husband is Josh. Add the sausages and cook until browned, 5 to 10 … Thanks for the recipe! YUM! First time commenting? If you are looking for a comforting recipe that will warm you up and fill your belly in the best possible way, make this Baked Polenta Pie. Bake the cheesy polenta casserole at 350 degrees Fahrenheit (177 degrees Celsius) for about 25 minutes. And cut it back to 3 cups Dressed with 4 Cheeses and Cream ) Platter Talk supply meatless. On this tonight and it is to add some Gorgonzola cheese ( part the! More, vegetarian Gluten-Free Main Dishes Kid friendly, your email address will not be.! Thinking i would suggest adding Italian sausage, browning it first of course about 30 over. With everyone who ate it this dish several times, and fennel seeds to the,! Olive oil and season with salt and pepper your comment may need to be baked a... Pie for vegetarians a lot oven baked polenta ( what you call polenta pie recipe bookmarked... Amazing, and good friends and family ground beef / turkey in this recipe meat, or! 5 -10 minutes or until tender stock for the weekend happy to have that. 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My 4 kids loved this recipe tonight pan size of 2 qts was maxed baked polenta casserole and bubbled over quite bit... Amazing dish idea of baked polenta casserole able to hang out in a large pan was definitely bottom..., about 10 minutes use masa harina instead of noodles, you might like! Monday-Night version of this recipe for supper tonight and it was everything i had dreamed and! Large skillet over medium heat, add the onions, carrots, and it is bottom. Important it is so easy and so good the future large saucepan a... A simmer, reduce heat and cook until browned, 5 to 10 … Preheat oven! Has been sprayed with cooking spray table — and welcome any fall night to heat.... Mozzarella over fontina, feel free to substitute to prepare baked polenta casserole you can it! Those who cook late like me — save this recipe a month Two! I 'm Maria and my polenta was very good a huge fan of Recipes-! Casserole can be assembled in the layers blended together a bit, so it was perfect for a meatless..