Polenta With Lentils In Tomato Sauce Recipes

CHEESY BAKED POLENTA IN TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• Cut out a piece of parchment paper about 16-by-12 inches/40-by-30 centimeters in size and lay onto a clean work surface.
• Prepare the polenta: Add the milk, garlic, 1 1/2 tablespoons oil, 1 teaspoon salt and a good grind of pepper to a medium saucepan. Bring to a bare simmer, stirring occasionally, over medium-high heat. Turn the heat to medium-low and slowly pour in the polenta, whisking continuously, until completely incorporated and there are no lumps. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring all the while with a spatula. When cooked, the mixture should pull away from the sides of the pan and be quite thick.
• Add the Parmesan, stirring for another 30 seconds to melt. Remove from the heat and transfer the mixture to the parchment paper. Use your hands to quickly shape the polenta into a large cylindrical shape, about 13-inches/32-centimeters long. Use the parchment paper to help you tighten the cylinder and then gently roll the whole thing in the paper, tightening as you go, then twisting in opposite directions at both ends. Refrigerate to set for about 1 hour, or longer if time allows.
• Meanwhile, make the sauce: Add the olive oil to a large, ovenproof cast-iron pan that is roughly 11-inches/28-centimeters wide, and heat over medium-high. Once hot, add the onions and cook, stirring occasionally, for 6 minutes, or until softened and lightly colored.
• Stir in the garlic, red-pepper flakes and oregano, and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the tomatoes and their juices, sugar, a scant 1/2 cup/100 milliliters water, 3/4 teaspoon salt and a good grind of pepper. Bring to a simmer over medium-high. Turn the heat down to medium and cook, stirring occasionally, for 20 minutes or until the sauce has thickened slightly. Set aside until needed.
• Heat oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit/230 degrees Celsius.
• Gently unwrap the chilled polenta and transfer to a cutting board. Trim about 1 inch/2 to 3 centimeters off the ends and then cut the polenta into 24 (1-centimeter-thick) slices.
• Top the tomato sauce evenly with the sliced fontina, then fan out the polenta slices, overlapping slightly, so that they're spiraled to cover the top, leaving a 1-centimeter gap from the edge of the pan. Drizzle the polenta with the remaining 2 tablespoons oil and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until polenta is golden in places and the sauce is bubbling. Remove from oven and let sit for 10 minutes to settle.
• While the polenta cools, in a small bowl combine all the topping ingredients. Sprinkle a handful of the topping over the polenta and serve the remaining in a bowl alongside. Serve warm.

STEWED LENTILS AND TOMATOES

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large saucepan. Add the onions, carrots and fennel and cook over medium-low heat for 8 to 10 minutes, until the onions start to brown. Stir occasionally with a wooden spoon. Add the garlic and cook for 1 more minute.
• Meanwhile, rinse and pick over the lentils to make sure there are no stones in the package.
• Add the tomatoes, lentils, chicken stock, curry powder, thyme, salt, and pepper to the pan. Raise the heat to bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer covered for about 40 minutes, until the lentils are tender. Check occasionally to be sure the liquid is still simmering. Remove from the heat and allow the lentils to sit covered for another 10 minutes. Add the vinegar, season to taste, and serve hot.

POLENTA WITH LENTILS IN TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• Add 8 cups water to a large saucpan, set over high heat; when water boils, add 2 teaspoons salt and decrease heat to medium.
• Whisk in cornmeal in a slow, steady stream (this should take about 1 minute); make sure to whisk the cornmeal continuously to prevent lumps from forming; continue whisking as the cornmeal comes back to a boil.
• Simmer, whisking constantly, until the polenta starts to thicken, 1-2 minutes.
• Decrease heat until the polenta is at the barest simmer; cover the pot and cook very slowly, stirring iwth a wooden spoon every 10 minutes or so, until the cornmeal loses its raw flavor, 35-40 minutes.
• While the polenta is cooking, bring 8 cups water to a boil in a saucepan; add in the lentils, bay leaf, and garlic; simmer over medium heat until the lentils are tender but still a bit firm, about 25 minutes.
• Drain; discard the bay leaf and garlic; set aside.
• While the lentils are cooking, heat the oil in a saucepan, add the onion, carrot, and celery; saute over medium heat until the vegetables have softened, about 10 minutes.
• Add in the tomatoes; simmer until the sauce thickens somewhat, about 10 minutes.
• Add the lentils and cook for 1-2 minutes to heat through.
• Stir in the parsley; season with salt and pepper to taste.
• When the polenta has finished cooking, stir in the butter and add more salt if needed.
• Divide the polenta among large individual bowls; spoon some of the lentils and sauce over each portion.
• Serve immediately with grated cheese passed at the table.