Baked Polenta with Tomato Sauce and Ricotta

Ingredients for Baked Polenta with Tomato Sauce and Ricotta

• 4 tomatoes

• 1 medium yellow onion, skin on

• 1 small bulb garlic

• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

• Salt

• 240ml polenta

• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

• 4 tablespoons chopped fresh basil

• 1/2 cup ricotta cheese

• Salt and freshly ground black pepper

• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

• 4 tablespoons chopped basil

How to make Baked Polenta with Tomato Sauce and Ricotta

Preheat the oven to 218°C. Place the tomatoes, yellow onion, and garlic in a baking pan. Bake for 45 minutes or until the garlic is soft and the skin is peeling away from the tomatoes. Remove from the oven and cool to room temperature. Remove the skin from the tomatoes and put in a saucepan. Squeeze the garlic out of the bulb and into the tomatoes. Remove the skin from the onion. Coarsely chop the onion and add to the tomatoes.

Add the olive oil to the tomatoes and puree with a handheld immersion blender until smooth. You may need to add up to 80ml water if there is not enough liquid. Season with salt. Warm the tomato sauce just prior to use.

Preheat the oven to 204°C. In a medium saucepan, bring 725ml water to a simmer and stream in the polenta. Whisk together until there are no lumps. Cover with a lid and continue to cook over low heat for 20 minutes, stirring every 3 minutes. Be careful when you go to stir the polenta—it tends to spit out pieces of the cornmeal, which is very hot. Remove the polenta from the heat and stir in the olive oil and basil. Drop in teaspoon-size pieces of the ricotta cheese. Pour the polenta into an 8-inch square baking pan and spread evenly. Sprinkle with the Parmesan cheese and let sit for 1 hour or until the polenta has firmed up. Bake the polenta in the oven for 15 minutes or until heated through. Cut the polenta into 8 equal pieces.

Place 120ml warm tomato sauce in 4 shallow bowls and top with two pieces of the polenta. Sprinkle with the chopped basil.

Disclaimer

While every effort has been made to ensure the information is accurate and up to date, individual needs may vary and dietary requirements can differ based on personal health conditions. Always check food labels and allergen information before preparing or consuming any recipe. If you have specific health concerns, allergies, intolerances, or are following a medically prescribed diet, seek advice from your GP, pharmacist, or a registered dietitian before making significant changes to your diet or lifestyle.