Cheesy baked polenta in tomato and roasted pepper sauce
Italian 30 Mins Prep · 60 Mins Cook
- Place a 40cm x 30cm sheet of cling film on the kitchen counter. Roughly grate the Parmigiano Reggiano.
- Place the water and milk in a large saucepan and bring to a simmer. Crush 2 garlic cloves and add to the pot along with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and 1 teaspoon salt. Slowly add the polenta while whisking until thick. Cook, stirring often for 3 minutes, until the polenta pulls away from the sides. Add 30g of the Parmigiano Reggiano.
- Transfer to the cling film and quickly shape into a large cylinder – use the cling film to tightly roll the polenta. Twist the ends to secure it. Chill for 1 hour.
- To make the sauce, finely chop the onions and crush 1 garlic clove. Heat the rest of the olive oil in a large pan then add the onion and garlic. Sauté for 5 minutes until softened. Stir in the chilli flakes, oregano, tinned tomatoes, roasted mixed peppers and salt. Mix well and simmer gently for 20 minutes. Place the sauce in a serving platter.
- Preheat the oven to 220ºC, gas mark 7.
- Gently unwrap the chilled polenta and transfer to a cutting board. Trim approx. 2-3cm off the ends, then cut the polenta into 1cm-thick slices.
- Tear the bocconcini and arrange over the tomato sauce. Arrange the polenta discs overlapping slightly over the cheese. Drizzle with the remaining olive oil.
- Bake for approx. 35 minutes until golden and bubbly.
- Serve immediately.
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