Baked Italian Polenta with Tomato and Basil

By AislePrompt Editorial · ·

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are drafted and published.

Comforting baked polenta squares topped with a fresh tomato basil sauce. This Italian-inspired vegetarian recipe, ready in about 55 minutes, pairs polenta (cornmeal), water, salt for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 280 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 15 min Cook: 40 min Serves 4 Italian cuisine 280 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: In a medium saucepan, bring 4 cups water and 1 tsp salt to a boil. Slowly whisk in 1 cup polenta and reduce heat to low. Cook, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, for 20 minutes until thickened.
  2. Step 2: Remove polenta from heat and stir in 1 tbsp olive oil and 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese until smooth. Pour into a greased 8x8-inch baking dish and spread evenly. Let cool for 10 minutes.
  3. Step 3: Preheat oven to 400°F. In a skillet, heat remaining 1 tbsp olive oil over medium heat. Add 2 minced garlic cloves and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant.
  4. Step 4: Add 2 cups diced fresh tomatoes and cook for 5 minutes until softened. Stir in 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil and season with 1/4 tsp black pepper.
  5. Step 5: Spoon the tomato basil mixture over the set polenta and sprinkle with an additional 1/4 cup Parmesan. Bake for 15 minutes until bubbly and slightly golden on top. Let cool for 5 minutes before slicing into squares and serving.

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