Polenta Squares with Chunky Tomato Sauce
the Editors of Publications International, Ltd.
Polenta Squares with Chunky Tomato Sauce
Yield
Makes 6 to 8 servings
Ingredients
| 2 | tablespoons butter |
| 1/2 | cup chopped green bell pepper |
| 1/2 | cup chopped onion |
| 2 | cloves garlic, minced |
| 4 | cups milk |
| 1/2 | teaspoon salt |
| 1/4 | teaspoon ground red pepper |
| 1 | cup yellow cornmeal |
| 1/2 | cup grated Parmesan cheese |
| 1 | jar (28 ounces) prepared chunky garden vegetable-style pasta sauce |
| 1-1/2 | cups (6 ounces) shredded provolone cheese |
Preparation
- Melt butter in medium saucepan over medium heat. Add bell pepper, onion and garlic; cook and stir 5 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Remove from saucepan with slotted spoon; set aside.
- Bring milk, salt and red pepper to a boil in large, heavy saucepan over medium-high heat. While whisking milk mixture vigorously, add cornmeal in very thin but steady stream (do not let lumps form). Reduce heat to low.
- Cook, uncovered, 40 to 60 minutes until polenta is very thick, stirring frequently. (Polenta is ready when wooden spoon stands upright in center of mixture.)
- Stir bell pepper mixture and Parmesan cheese into polenta.
- Spray 13X9-inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray. Spread polenta evenly into baking pan. Cover; let stand at room temperature 6 hours or until completely cooled and firm.
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Cut polenta into 24 squares. Pour spaghetti sauce evenly over polenta.
- Bake 20 to 25 minutes until sauce is bubbly around edges of pan. Remove from oven. Sprinkle with provolone cheese.
- Bake 2 to 3 minutes just until provolone cheese is melted. Let stand 5 minutes. Loosen polenta at edges with metal spatula.
- Carefully lift polenta pieces out of pan with wide spatula.
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