Polenta With Roasted Mediterranean Vegetables Recipes

ROASTED POLENTA WITH GARDEN VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Make the Polenta: Bring the chicken stock, butter, pepper, and salt to a boil in a heavy-bottomed pot. While whisking the hot stock in a quick circular motion, "rain" in the polenta by letting it stream through your fingers. (This will prevent lumping.)
• Reduce the polenta to a gentle simmer; it must be stirred constantly for 25 to 35 minutes to prevent lumps or scorching. Be very careful when stirring, the mixture is very hot (think lava) and can burn you if it boils and sputters. If it begins to boil cover the pot and reduce the heat until boiling stops!
• The polenta is cooked when it is no longer grainy and has become creamy. (My grandmother says good polenta takes 30 minutes, great polenta takes 1 hour).
• Stir in the Parmesan and basil and pour onto a buttered sheet pan to cool. When cool, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate. Cut the polenta into any shape you desire that's structurally sound. In other words, a shape that won't fall apart on the grill easily, or be difficult to remove from the sheet pan after roasting. Squares, triangles, stars etc.
• Make the Marinade and Vegetables: Whisk together the vinegar and garlic. While whisking, drizzle in the oil to make a smooth dressing. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Toss the vegetables with the marinade.
• When ready to serve, preheat an outdoor grill or indoor grill pan.
• Brush the polenta lightly on both sides with olive oil and grill, turning once, until the edges are brown and crispy.
• At the same time grill the vegetables until they are tender but still firm.
• Pile the vegetables on top of the polenta, then stand back and wait for the applause!

ROASTED ROOT VEGETABLES WITH POLENTA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a sheet pan or a baking dish with parchment or foil. Toss vegetables with the olive oil and salt and pepper to taste. Add fresh herbs if using. Spread vegetables in an even layer.
• Combine polenta, water, and salt in a 2-quart baking dish and stir together. Place polenta and vegetables in the oven. If you can't fit both pans on the same (middle) rack, place vegetables on a lower rack. Roast vegetables for 30 to 40 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes or until soft and beginning to caramelize. Remove from the oven.
• If serving this with marinara sauce, make the sauce while the vegetables and polenta are in the oven.
• Continue to bake the polenta until it has been in the oven for 40 to 45 minutes and has absorbed the water. Remove from oven and stir in butter. Use a fork or a spatula to stir the polenta well, and return to oven for 5 to 10 more minutes. Remove from oven and stir again. Carefully taste a little bit of the polenta; if it is not completely soft, return to the oven for 5 to 10 more minutes.
• Remove polenta from oven and stir in 1/3 cup grated Parmesan, if using. Immediately spoon polenta onto plates and make a depression in the middle. Ladle on some marinara sauce and top with a generous spoonful of roasted vegetables. Sprinkle on remaining Parmesan and serve.

POLENTA WITH ROASTED MEDITERRANEAN VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Preheat broiler on low setting & position rack 4 inches from heat source. Line a baking sheet with foil. Spray generously with non-stick spray.
• Slice eggplant, zucchini and mushrooms into 1/4 inch slices.Cut red pepper into chunks.Brush vegetables with oil.
• Arrange in single layer onto pan and broil. Brush occasionally with oil. Turn as needed. When tender and slightly browned, remove from oven. (May cover and refrigerate if preparing ahead of time.).
• Make the Polenta:.
• Preheat oven to 350ºF. Spray an ovenproof 12-inch shallow baking dish generously with non-stick spray.
• In a medium saucepan, bring water to a boil. Reduce heat and slowly whisk in polenta. Continue to stir and cook for about 5 minutes.
• When polenta comes away from side of pan, stir in margarine and season with pepper. Remove from heat.
• Spread polenta on the bottom and up the sides of prepared baking dish. Brush with 1 teaspoon olive oil and bake for 10 minutes. Remove from oven and keep warm.
• Press spinach between paper towels to remove any remaining liquid. Spread in an even layer over polenta.Slice fresh tomatoes & arrange over spinach.Chop sundried tomatoes and olives & scatter over tomatoes.
• Top with remaining roasted vegetables. Sprinkle with oregano and cracked black pepper.
• Return to oven for another 10 minutes.When warmed through, remove and serve.

ROASTED VEGETABLE AND POLENTA SALAD

Steps:

• Place a rimmed baking sheet in the middle of the oven and preheat to 450˚ F. Combine the sweet potatoes, broccoli, red onion and tomatoes in a bowl. Add 2 tablespoons olive oil, 3/4 teaspoon salt and a generous amount of pepper; toss well. Spread out on the hot pan and roast, stirring once or twice, until the vegetables are browned, 25 to 30 minutes. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon vinegar, scraping up any stuck bits from the bottom of the pan.
• Meanwhile, cut the polenta into 1 1/2-inch pieces (about 24). Heat 2 more tablespoons olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sage leaves and cook until crisp, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel to drain. Add the polenta pieces to the remaining oil in the skillet; season with salt and pepper. Cook, turning occasionally, until the polenta pieces release easily from the pan and are golden and crisp, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Toss the salad greens with the remaining 1 tablespoon each olive oil and vinegar and a pinch each of salt and pepper. Divide among shallow bowls. Top evenly with the warm roasted vegetables and polenta along with any extra olive oil from the skillet. Break the goat cheese into bits and sprinkle over the salad. Tear the fried sage and sprinkle on top.

BAKED POLENTA AND ROASTED VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350.
• POLENTA:.
• cut up the polenta and put it in pot on the stove with the milk (or water) over medium to re-constitute into mush. The polenta should return to a mush-like consistency- you can use a potato masher to help it. Mix in a 1/2 cup of parmesan. Spread the polenta on a buttered 9x13 pan and bake at 350 for 30 minutes.
• VEGGIES:.
• Salt the eggplant on both sides and let sit for 20 minutes on paper towels, then wipe the salt off and cube the eggplant.
• Put the zucchini, mushrooms, onion and eggplant in a large bowl and mix with salt, pepper, oregano and olive oil.
• Place on a baking sheet and bake for 30 minutes or until the veggies are al dente.
• FINISHING.
• Drizzle the spaghetti sauce on top of the polenta.
• Spread the roasted veggies on top of the drizzled polenta.
• Sprinkle the parmesan and mozzarella on top of the veggies.
• Place under the broiler to melt the cheese- serve!