Baked Polenta Recipes

BAKED POLENTA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Grease a half 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. When water has reached a boil, reduce heat to medium high and slowly add the polenta, stirring constantly for 3 minutes. When polenta is thick and smooth, pour it into the prepared pan. Bake in oven for 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool in pan. When cool enough to handle, cut into any shape you desire. I like to cut out 2-inch circles.

EASY OVEN-BAKED REAL POLENTA (NOT INSTANT)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 2-quart casserole dish with cooking spray.
• Pour water into the prepared dish; stir in polenta and salt.
• Bake in the preheated oven until polenta is thickened, about 40 minutes. Stir in squash, sour cream, and Cheddar cheese. Continue baking until cheese is melted, about 10 minutes more. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.

BAKED POLENTA

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.

CRUNCHY CHEESY OVEN-BAKED POLENTA

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 17x12-inch half-sheet pan with cooking spray.
• In 1 1/2-quart saucepan, cook oil, butter and garlic over medium-high heat 2 to 3 minutes or until garlic is transparent (do not let garlic burn). Add whipping cream; heat to a slight simmer. Stir in Gorgonzola cheese until melted. Stir in pecorino-Romano cheese. Remove from heat.
• Cut polenta into 1/2-inch-thick slices. Arrange slices in pan. Ladle cheese sauce evenly over polenta; sprinkle with pepper. Sprinkle bread crumbs evenly over top.
• Bake uncovered about 15 minutes.
• Set oven control to broil. Broil 2 to 3 minutes or until top is golden brown. Garnish with basil. Serve warm.

BAKED POLENTA WITH TOMATO SAUCE AND RICOTTA

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 FRIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Unwrap and cut each tube of polenta in half crosswise. Then cut each half lengthwise into 8 wedges.
• Drizzle olive oil on a large rimmed baking sheet. Place polenta wedges on baking sheet; season with salt and pepper, and turn gently to coat with oil. Arrange wedges in a single layer.
• Bake, turning once with a thin metal spatula, until golden and crisp, 45 to 50 minutes. Drain on a paper-towel-lined plate. Transfer to a shallow dish, and toss with Italian seasoning before serving.

BAKED POLENTA

Steps:

• While the polenta is still warm, pour it into a bowl, loaf pan, or other mold, lightly coated with olive oil. Lay plastic wrap right on top of the polenta to minimize crusting. Let it cool thoroughly at room temperature until firm. For longer keeping, refrigerate, up to 2 days.
• When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 400˚ and set a rack in the center. Coat a baking dish or sheet pan lightly with butter. Unmold the polenta, and cut it in ±-inch-thick slices. Cut the slices into any size and shape you like-smaller for hors d'oeuvres or appetizers, or larger to serve as an accompaniment to a main course.
• Arrange the pieces in the dish or baking sheet spaced apart, so they will crisp all around. Dot the top of each piece with bits of butter, and, if you like, mound a bit of cheese on top as well: grated Grana Padano or Parmigiano-Reggiano; shredded fontina (imported), mozzarella (drypacked), Muenster, or Cheddar; or a combination of cheeses. Bake until the polenta is crispy and golden and the cheese has toasted to a dark-gold crust, 15 to 20 minutes.

OVEN-BAKED POLENTA

Steps:

• Butter a shallow 2 1/2- to 3-quart baking dish, and set aside. Place stock or water and salt into a large saucepan, and bring to simmer. Remove pan from heat.
• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Slowly pour polenta into stock, stirring rapidly with a wooden spoon. Place pan on medium heat. Slowly bring to a boil, stirring constantly in same direction. Boil 5 minutes, continuing to stir.
• Pour polenta into buttered dish, and cover with buttered foil. Bake for 1 hour. Remove foil and serve.

BAKED POLENTA

Steps:

• Bring water to a boil.
• Add the salt and slowly stire in the polenta.
• Stir constantly to avoid lumps.
• After mixtures begins to thicken you can stir less frequently.
• Simmer for about 20 minutes or until very thick.
• Pour into a greased loaf mold or bread pan.
• Allow to cool in the refrigerator overnight.
• Cut into 1/4-inch slices and layer like tiles in a baking dish.
• Pour the butter or oil over the top and then the cheese.
• Bake in 375º oven for 20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and all begins to brown just a bit.

BAKED POLENTA

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400ºF.
• Heat oil in medium saucepan on medium heat. Add garlic; cook and stir 1 min. Add broth and water; stir. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low. Add polenta in thin steady stream while whisking constantly; cook and stir 4 to 5 min. or until thickened. Remove from heat.
• Add cream cheese and 2 Tbsp. Parmesan; stir until cream cheese is completely melted and mixture is well blended. Spoon into 8-inch square baking dish sprayed with cooking spray; spread to evenly cover bottom of dish. Sprinkle with remaining Parmesan.
• Bake 20 min. or until heat through.

BAKED POLENTA WITH RICOTTA AND PARMESAN

Steps:

• Soak polenta in cold water for 1 hour. Heat oven to 400 degrees. Drain polenta, then place in a heavy-bottomed pot or ovenproof baking dish. Add salt and 4 cups water.
• Place pot in oven, cover, and bake for 45 minutes. (The polenta will begin to simmer and absorb water after a few minutes. No need to stir.)
• After 45 minutes, uncover and stir in the olive oil, ricotta and Parmesan, but don't overmix. Some of the ricotta should remain in big blobs. The mixture may be a bit soupy at this point, but will thicken as it continues to cook. Bake, uncovered, for another 15 minutes, until top has browned. Finish with a generous amount of pepper.

CREAMY OVEN BAKED POLENTA

Steps:

• preheat oven to 425.
• in a dish with a lid whisk together water, cornmeal, salt& pepper.
• cover and bake 30 minutes, stirring halfway through.
• remove from oven, add milk, butter, marjoram, adjust seasonings with salt& pepper, whisk until smooth.
• serve.

OVEN-BAKED CREAMY POLENTA

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.

BAKED POLENTA WITH FRESH TOMATOES AND PARMESAN

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.