Mozzarella Polenta With Roasted Vegetable Salsa Recipes

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.

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.

Steps:

• Combine milk and cornmeal in large saucepan. Whisk over high heat until mixture comes to boil. Reduce heat to medium; simmer until polenta thickens, whisking often, about 15 minutes. Add rosemary and cheeses; whisk until cheeses melt. Season with salt and pepper.

Steps:

• For polenta:
• Bring 2 cups water and salt to boil in heavy small saucepan. Gradually whisk in cornmeal. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer until polenta is very thick, whisking constantly, about 6 minutes. Remove from heat. Add cheese and butter; whisk until melted. Mix in basil. Season generously with pepper. Spread in 9x9x2-inch metal baking pan. Chill until cold, about 1 hour.(Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover, keep chilled.)
• For stacks:
• Preheat broiler. Place eggplant on baking sheet. Brush with oil on both sides; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Broil until brown, about 4 minutes per side. Arrange 12 tomato slices on large plate (discard end slices). Drizzle each slice with a few drops of vinegar. Sprinkle eggplant and tomatoes with oregano.
• Preheat oven to 375°F. Oil baking sheet. Cut polenta into 25 squares. Place 12 squares on sheet. Top each with eggplant round. Cut cheese into 1/3-inch thick slices; place atop squares. Top each with tomato slice (save remaining polenta and cheese for another use).
• Bake polenta stacks until heated through and cheese melts, about 15 minutes. Top each stack with 1 basil leaf.

Steps:

• Preheat the broiler. Line two baking sheets with aluminum foil. Lightly spray the foil with cooking spray.
• Cut the tomatoes in half crosswise. Cut the bell pepper in half lengthwise. Discard the ribs, seeds, and stem of the pepper. Flatten each half with your palm, pulling out any parts of the pepper that curve under. Set on one baking sheet. Cut the zucchini and summer squash in half lengthwise. Put all with the cut side up on the same baking sheet. Lightly spray all the vegetables with cooking spray.
• Broil about 4 inches from the heat for 5 minutes. Turn over. Broil for 3 minutes, or until lightly charred.
• Meanwhile, in a small bowl, stir together the remaining salsa ingredients except the parsley.
• Gently rinse the polenta under running water. Pat dry. Cut the polenta into 8 rounds and put on the second baking sheet. Set aside.
• Using a knife and fork, coarsely chop the broiled vegetables. Transfer to a medium bowl. Stir in the vinegar mixture and parsley. Cover with aluminum foil to keep warm.
• Broil the polenta for 3 minutes. Turn over. Broil for 2 minutes. Sprinkle with the mozzarella and broil for 1 minute, or until beginning to lightly brown. Arrange the polenta rounds on plates, spooning the salsa on and around each serving.
• Cook's Tip
• The salsa is also delicious served at room temperature. For peak flavor, wait until serving time to toss the vegetables with the vinegar mixture.
• Cook's Tip on Polenta
• Look for prepared polenta (basically cornmeal cooked with water) in plastic-wrapped cylinders in the produce department or with the pastas. In addition to plain polenta, you'll also discover everything from Mexican-inspired combinations to polenta flavored with exotic mushrooms.
• nutrition information
• (Per Serving)
• Calories: 182
• Total Fat: 4.5g
• Saturated: 1.0g
• Trans: 0.0g
• Polyunsaturated: 0.5g
• Monounsaturated: 2.0g
• Cholesterol: 8mg
• Sodium: 537mg
• Carbohydrates: 25g
• Fiber: 4g
• Sugars: 7g
• Protein: 10g
• Dietary Exchanges
• 1 Starch
• 2 Vegetable
• 1 Lean Meat