Polenta with Summer Vegetables (Vegan and Gluten Free)

Makes 2-4 servings
This polenta with summer vegetables recipe is light yet filling and is a great way to enjoy some of summer’s most delicious vegetables while they’re still in season. Polenta is an Italian dish made from water and corn meal and provides the perfect base for the vegetables. I used a package of ready-made polenta for this recipe and baked it in the oven so it would become crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. This recipe is a great way to try polenta if you’re new to it. A little goes a long way with tomato paste, which adds richness and helps thicken the vegetable mixture. Simmering the vegetables creates a thick and hearty sauce that captures the flavors of summer.

 

Ingredients:

1 tbsp. olive oil
1 small onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tbsp. tomato paste
1 zucchini, diced
1 yellow squash, diced
1 eggplant, diced
2 ½ cups tomatoes, chopped
2 tsp. dried oregano
¾ cup vegetable stock
Salt and pepper to taste
1 package Ancient Harvest Polenta
Handful of fresh basil

 

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees
  2. Over medium heat, add olive oil, onions, and garlic to a large pot. Sauté for a few minutes until fragrant. Add in tomato paste and sauté for 2 minutes. Add in zucchini, yellow squash, eggplant, tomatoes, dried oregano, and vegetable stock. Mix well to combine all ingredients. Season the vegetables with a little salt and pepper. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 30-40 minutes until vegetables are tender.
  3. While the vegetables are simmering, slice polenta into ½ inch rounds. Grease a baking tray and place the polenta slices on the tray in a single layer. Bake polenta rounds for 10 minutes on each side.
  4. Place baked polenta on a plate and ladle the vegetable mixture on top. Garnish with fresh basil. Serve immediately and enjoy!

 

By Tiffany Wu / Guest Blogger

Tiffany is a student at JMU, majoring in dietetics. Her family owned a Chinese restaurant when she was growing up, so her passion for food and cooking began at an early age. She especially likes creating delicious and healthy plant-based recipes.