Spinach Polenta With Balsamic Tomatoes Recipes

SPINACH POLENTA WITH BALSAMIC TOMATOES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
• Slice the tomatoes in half. Place the tomatoes, cut side down, in an ovenproof ceramic dish. (Make sure the size of the pan fits the tomatoes. A 9 x 13 works well for large sized tomatoes. If the pan is too big, the pan juices will bake away.)
• In a small bowl combine the oil, balsamic vinegar, sugar and oregano. Pour over the tomatoes.
• Bake for 20 minutes or until the tomatoes are soft.
• Make the polenta while the tomatoes are roasting. Place the water and milk in a saucepan over medium to high heat. Bring to a boil. Slowly whisk in the polenta.
• Reduce the heat to low and cook the polenta stirring constantly for 3-5 minutes or until done.
• Stir in the parmesan, spinach, and butter. Remove from heat. Taste. Add salt and pepper to taste.
• To serve, spoon the polenta onto individual plates. Place tomatoes directly next to (touching) polenta and drizzle pan juices over the top of tomatoes. Finish with extra parmesan sprinkled over the polenta.

CREAMY POLENTA WITH SPINACH

Steps:

• In a Dutch oven, bring the chicken broth, oil, garlic and 1 1/2 cups water to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to medium low and whisk in the polenta. Season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon, about 10 minutes. Stir in the Parmesan, mascarpone, pecorino and butter. Cook, stirring often, about 5 minutes. Fold in the spinach and cook until wilted, about 5 minutes longer. Add 1/4 cup water if the mixture gets too thick.
• Pour the polenta into a large bowl and serve with grated Parmesan over the top.

POLENTA WITH MUSHROOMS AND SPINACH

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425°. Brush both sides of polenta slices with 1 tablespoon oil; place on a 15x10x1-in. baking pan. Bake 20-25 minutes on each side or until crisp., Meanwhile, in large skillet, heat remaining oil over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms and shallot; cook and stir 12-14 minutes or until liquid has evaporated and mushrooms start to brown. Add sherry; cook, stirring to loosen browned bits from pan., In a small bowl, mix flour, salt and pepper; stir in broth until smooth. Stir into pan. Cook and stir 1-2 minutes or until thickened. Add spinach; cook and stir over medium-low heat until slightly wilted, about 2 minutes., Arrange polenta on a platter; top with mushroom mixture.

SLOW COOKER RICOTTA-SPINACH POLENTA WITH TOMATO SALAD

Steps:

• Combine the polenta with 6 1/2 cups water in a 5- to 7-quart slow cooker. Add the butter and 2 teaspoons salt. Cover and cook on LOW until the polenta is thick and tender, about 6 hours.
• With the slow cooker on LOW, stir the polenta well and then stir the spinach into the polenta in 2 batches, covering the cooker and letting the first batch wilt before adding the second, about 5 minutes per batch.
• Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, toss together the tomatoes, oil, and vinegar. Season the tomato salad with salt and pepper.
• Optional: Pour a thin layer of oil into a large skillet over medium-high heat and crack 4 eggs into the pan. Season the eggs with salt and pepper and cook until the whites are golden brown, lacy on the edges, and just set in the middle, and the yolks are still a little jiggly, about 3 minutes.
• Fold the Parmesan and ricotta into the polenta. Taste and season the polenta with salt if necessary. Stir in warm water by the tablespoon if the polenta is looking too thick for your taste-keep in mind it will continue to thicken as it cools. Top bowls of the polenta with the tomato salad and, if you like, the fried eggs.