Baked Polenta with Tomato and Cheese recipe
information
Polenta is made from cornmeal and is a staple food of northern Italy. It can be served as a soft, thick puree, or, as in this recipe, it can be left to set in a baking dish and then sliced. All manner of toppings can be added to baked polenta, so you can vary the ingredients according to availability. Fontina is a mild Italian cheese that is soft, yet firm enough to slice. If wished, you can substitute another soft cheese, such as Italian Ricotta Mozzarella. You will need a liquidiser for this recipe.
Preparation time : 30 minutes,
Cooking time : 1 hour 30 minutes,
Oven : Preheat to 200°C (400°F, gas mark 6),
Calories per serving: 620
ingredients
Two cheeses blend with polenta in a tomato sauce.
10 oz (275 g) polenta
8 thin slices ham or prosciutto
1 large onion
2 cloves garlic
1 tablespoon virgin olive oil
1 bay leaf
2 tablespoons fresh parsley
1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil
1 3/4 lb (800 g) tinned whole tomatoes.
1/2 teaspoon sugar
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/2 oz (15 g) butter
6 oz (175 g) Fontina or other mild soft cheese
4 oz (115 g) goat or blue cheese
2 tablespoons fresh mixed herbs
8 thin slices ham or prosciutto
1 large onion
2 cloves garlic
1 tablespoon virgin olive oil
1 bay leaf
2 tablespoons fresh parsley
1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil
1 3/4 lb (800 g) tinned whole tomatoes.
1/2 teaspoon sugar
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/2 oz (15 g) butter
6 oz (175 g) Fontina or other mild soft cheese
4 oz (115 g) goat or blue cheese
2 tablespoons fresh mixed herbs
method
1. Stir the polenta into a large pan of salted boiling water. Cook over a moderate heat, stirring continually for 5 minutes, then frequently for a further 35 minutes, until the polenta becomes very thick.
2. Meanwhile, cut the ham slices into strips, and finely chop the onion and garlic. Heat the olive oil in a frying pan and cook the onion, garlic, bay leaf, chopped parsley and basil over a gentle heat for 5 minutes. Add the tomatoes, breaking them up with a spoon. Increase the heat and cook for 15 minutes, until the mixture is soft.
3. Remove the bay leaf and blend the mixture in a liquidiser until smooth. Add the sugar and season to taste. Return to the pan and simmer for 10 minutes, until quite thick. Taste and adjust the seasoning.
4. Turn the cooked polenta into a buttered baking tray and leave to cool for 30 minutes, until firm, then turn out and cut into slices. Butter a gratin or baking dish, and spread a thin layer of tomato sauce over the bottom. Place the polenta slices in the dish in a single layer.
5. Mix the ham strips with a small amount of the tomato sauce and spread over the polenta. Slice the Fontina and place the slices over the meat, then spread over the remaining sauce.
6. Break the goat or blue cheese into small pieces and sprinkle over the top, adding a little more black pepper. Bake, uncovered, for 30 minutes, then remove and sprinkle with the fresh mixed herbs. Serve immediately.
2. Meanwhile, cut the ham slices into strips, and finely chop the onion and garlic. Heat the olive oil in a frying pan and cook the onion, garlic, bay leaf, chopped parsley and basil over a gentle heat for 5 minutes. Add the tomatoes, breaking them up with a spoon. Increase the heat and cook for 15 minutes, until the mixture is soft.
3. Remove the bay leaf and blend the mixture in a liquidiser until smooth. Add the sugar and season to taste. Return to the pan and simmer for 10 minutes, until quite thick. Taste and adjust the seasoning.
4. Turn the cooked polenta into a buttered baking tray and leave to cool for 30 minutes, until firm, then turn out and cut into slices. Butter a gratin or baking dish, and spread a thin layer of tomato sauce over the bottom. Place the polenta slices in the dish in a single layer.
5. Mix the ham strips with a small amount of the tomato sauce and spread over the polenta. Slice the Fontina and place the slices over the meat, then spread over the remaining sauce.
6. Break the goat or blue cheese into small pieces and sprinkle over the top, adding a little more black pepper. Bake, uncovered, for 30 minutes, then remove and sprinkle with the fresh mixed herbs. Serve immediately.
serving amount
serves 4
rate this recipe
|
0 comments |
also in this category
more information
See the food glossary for information on recipe ingredients and food-related terms, and for help on using cooking measurements, see the measurements page.
