Best 15 Minute Cheesy Polenta With Chunky Tomato Ragu Recipes

CHEESY BAKED POLENTA IN TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• Cut out a piece of parchment paper about 16-by-12 inches/40-by-30 centimeters in size and lay onto a clean work surface.
• Prepare the polenta: Add the milk, garlic, 1 1/2 tablespoons oil, 1 teaspoon salt and a good grind of pepper to a medium saucepan. Bring to a bare simmer, stirring occasionally, over medium-high heat. Turn the heat to medium-low and slowly pour in the polenta, whisking continuously, until completely incorporated and there are no lumps. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring all the while with a spatula. When cooked, the mixture should pull away from the sides of the pan and be quite thick.
• Add the Parmesan, stirring for another 30 seconds to melt. Remove from the heat and transfer the mixture to the parchment paper. Use your hands to quickly shape the polenta into a large cylindrical shape, about 13-inches/32-centimeters long. Use the parchment paper to help you tighten the cylinder and then gently roll the whole thing in the paper, tightening as you go, then twisting in opposite directions at both ends. Refrigerate to set for about 1 hour, or longer if time allows.
• Meanwhile, make the sauce: Add the olive oil to a large, ovenproof cast-iron pan that is roughly 11-inches/28-centimeters wide, and heat over medium-high. Once hot, add the onions and cook, stirring occasionally, for 6 minutes, or until softened and lightly colored.
• Stir in the garlic, red-pepper flakes and oregano, and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the tomatoes and their juices, sugar, a scant 1/2 cup/100 milliliters water, 3/4 teaspoon salt and a good grind of pepper. Bring to a simmer over medium-high. Turn the heat down to medium and cook, stirring occasionally, for 20 minutes or until the sauce has thickened slightly. Set aside until needed.
• Heat oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit/230 degrees Celsius.
• Gently unwrap the chilled polenta and transfer to a cutting board. Trim about 1 inch/2 to 3 centimeters off the ends and then cut the polenta into 24 (1-centimeter-thick) slices.
• Top the tomato sauce evenly with the sliced fontina, then fan out the polenta slices, overlapping slightly, so that they're spiraled to cover the top, leaving a 1-centimeter gap from the edge of the pan. Drizzle the polenta with the remaining 2 tablespoons oil and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until polenta is golden in places and the sauce is bubbling. Remove from oven and let sit for 10 minutes to settle.
• While the polenta cools, in a small bowl combine all the topping ingredients. Sprinkle a handful of the topping over the polenta and serve the remaining in a bowl alongside. Serve warm.

HOMEMADE POLENTA SQUARES WITH CHUNKY TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• Bring milk, salt and cayenne to boil in larfe saucepan over med. high heat.
• While whisking milk, add cornmeal in a very thin but steady stream. DO NOT LET LUMPS FORM.
• Reduce heat to low.
• Cook uncovered 50-60 minute until polenta is very thick, stirring frequently. It will be ready when you can stand a wooden spoon upright in middle of mixture.
• Meanwhile, melt butter over med. heat.
• Add bell pepper, onion, and garlic. Cook 5 minutes or until tender. Remove with slotted spoon and set aside.
• When polenta is done, add bell pepper mixture and Parmesan to saucepan. Stir to combine.
• Spray 13x9 pan with cooking spray. Spread polenta evenly into pan. Cover and let stand at room temp for 6hrs or until completely cooled and firm.
• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Cut polenta into 24 squares.
• Pour spaghetti sauce evenly over polenta.
• Bake 20 minutes or until bubbly around edges.
• Remove from oven and sprinkle with provolone.
• Bake 2-3 minutes longer to melt cheese.
• Let stand 5 minutes and loosen edges with spatula.
• Carefully lift out squares and serve.

QUICK COOKING CHEESY POLENTA

Steps:

• In medium saucepan, bring the chicken stock and milk to a boil. Whisk in the polenta, stirring until the polenta just pulls from the side of the pot. Stir in the Manchego cheese and serve warm.