Roasted Vegetables with Polenta

When a big question mark of what’s for dinner hangs over my head, I usually turn to upma, pasta or polenta. Polenta is very easy to make and can be paired with vegetables in a variety of different ways. I like to have polenta by itself, with some herbs and parmesan cheese.

Cornmeal

Cornmeal, which is ground dried corn, is boiled in salted water, resulting in creamy and delicious polenta.

I usually serve polenta with roasted vegetables. Those odd vegetables lying in your crisper can be put to good use in this recipe. The roasted vegetable medley itself can be served as a warm salad too.

My favourite ingredient in this recipe is roasted garlic. Though I have given the recipe to prepare them beforehand, you can roast the garlic packets in the same pan where the vegetables are cooking. I always prepare extra bulb of roasted garlic and use them in other recipes. They stay good refrigerated for 2 weeks.

Ingredients

Polenta

Corn meal – 1 cup
Water – 4 cups
Butter – 1 tbsp
Salt – as needed

Vegetables

Fingerling potatoes or baby potatoes
French beans
Tomatoes
Roasted garlic
Olive oil
Salt
Pepper
Dried thyme – 1 tbsp
Dried rosemary – 1 tsp

Roasted garlic

Halve a whole garlic bulb horizontally. Place each half in two pieces of aluminum foil, drizzle with oil, salt and pepper. Wrap the garlic halves and roast in a 475F oven for 20 minutes. When they are cool enough to handle, squeeze the bulb and collect the roasted cloves of garlic. Use as needed in the recipe.

Roasted Garlic

Method

Heat water to a rolling boil. Reduce the heat to medium, add salt to the water. Slowly pour the cornmeal to the boiling water while swiftly whisking with the other hand to avoid lumps. Keep stirring for another 10 minutes until the cornmeal is cooked and comes together. Take off from heat, add butter and mix thoroughly.

Preheat oven to 450F. Halve or quarter the potatoes depending on the size. Snip the ends off french beans. Quarter the tomatoes. Cherry tomatoes can be used whole.

In a large bowl, toss the potatoes and beans with olive oil, salt and pepper. Place on a baking sheet and roast for 15-20 minutes, until the potatoes are tender and the beans is beginning to crisp.

In the same bowl, toss tomatoes in the remaining olive oil with thyme and rosemary. Add to the potatoes and beans, shake the baking sheet to rotate the vegetables, and roast for 5 more minutes, until the tomatoes soften. Add roasted garlic cloves to the vegetables. Adjust seasoning, if needed.

Serve vegetables with polenta, with a drizzle of balsamic vinegar, if needed.

Polenta with Roasted Vegetables

33 comments:

Anonymous said...

You are a woman after my own heart!! Polenta with vegetables or sauce and all kinds of variations on it is a personal favorite. Comfort food, for sure.

Coffee said...

This looks like a decent instant meal Suganya! I love anything with roasted veggies on the side....

does it not form lumps when you add the cornmeal to the boiling water??

indosungod said...

The Vegetable Medley looks colorful and roasted should taste Yum. Polenta is something that I have not tasted before but it seems to be very popular in all the cooking shows.

Roopa said...

wow this sounds delicous!roastinf garlic bulbs as whole is wonderfull!

Neelam said...

Great Pictures Suganya!
The roasted veges and the garlic look yum!

Susan said...

I like polenta, too, especially sliced (you bake it in a loaf pan after it's cooked),then fried up. Then there's hominy grits. Since you enjoy polenta, you might like this, too, Suganya.

archana said...

Polenta is totally new to me. It looks nice with vegees. I want to bake the garlic like you did. Nice pictures and good recipe :)

bee said...

roasted garlic takes things up several notches. i agree completely. beautiful dish.

Viji said...

Lovely presentation. Viji

Suganya said...

Glad to have all of you here :)

Coffee, you have to quick when you add cornmeal to water. Like making rava kesari.

Susan, I love grits. I make upma with it :D

ISG, Archana, You should try polenta. I am sure you will like it.

Saju said...

looks delicious! I love roast vegetables. I usually buy polenta in blocks, this seems like a good option

FH said...

I love making Parmesan and Rosemary Polenta! Love the roasted garlic with Olive oil and salt.Both put together with grilled veggies,Heaven!!:))

Tee said...

What a great dinner! Roasted vegetables taste so divine! :)

Anonymous said...

first thing i noticed are the wooden plates u used
crate n barrel right?
n polenta....never had it.

J said...

I like the roasted garlic in the polenta!

Vani said...

beautiful recipe...roasted garlic looks nice...polenta with wild mushroom sauce is my winter favorite.

marriedtoadesi.com said...

Hey cool meal! I like it, I have all the required ingredients at home. I am definitely going to try this out.

Kanchana

USHA said...

Hi Sukanya,

New Recipe,but looks rich and delicious..Thanks for sharing...Nice presentation.

Anonymous said...

You have such a beautiful pictures...amazing...
I have a big pack of polenta which I bought to make some cookies. I didn't know how to finish it off now. I will try your recipe.

Anonymous said...

I am sorry, I meant I have a big pack of cornmeal....

Padma said...

I was always afraid of making polenta at home, I used only once or twice store bought ready made polenta. This looks easy to handle my anxiety.
Thanks for sharing and nice pics

musical said...

Yes, yes, one of those really quick, but fabulous meals, Suganya! will try this garlicky version for sure :).

Anonymous said...

Suganya, could I please just have a taste of that sliced roasted garlic.......... :)

You ought to be making pro photography your new career. Seriously :)

Suganya said...

Professional photography is a looong way to go Linda. It takes more than what I am doing now. But thanks for the compliment :)

And roasted garlic, they are so easy. With autumn arriving in 2 months, I will roast them while roasting winter squash :)

bha said...

This one is quick and yummy, roasted veggies are an all time fav...

Raaga said...

looks yummy. You're as good a cook as you are a writer and photographer. What else does one need for a successful blog??

sunita said...

Mention roasted vegetables and I'm hooked...the entire dish looks really nice...I too love roasted garlic :)

Laavanya said...

Suganya, I love roasted garlic and vegetables. The pics are very impressive and it's such a wonderful dish you have there...

SeeC said...

Polenta is totally new to me. Love the garlic. Yummy roasted veggie. Need to check if i have the proper ingredients.
Thanks for the post.

ushaprashanth said...

Hi suganya!
Is it easy to cut garlic in that way? Polenta is looks nice! but wont it be sticky?

Poonam said...

Such a healthy recipe! Lovely pictures...Oh by the way, I sent you an email about your response for the rice paper recipe I had asked from you long time back!

I have to try this polenta!

WokandSpoon said...

Oh wow - another great meal! Thanks for the tip on easy garlic roasting!

Kajal said...

New and nice dish for me...but delicious my dear....you rock.:)

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