This easy, creamy polenta is the perfect comfort food for a cold night. It's made with just a few simple ingredients, and it's so versatile that you can add whatever vegetables you have on hand. We love it topped with shredded cheddar cheese, but you could also add crumbled sausage, bacon, or even a fried egg.
Polenta is a cornmeal porridge that has been a staple food in Italy for centuries. It's typically made with just cornmeal and water, but this recipe adds some vegetables and cheese to make it a more flavorful and satisfying dish. We love to serve it as a main course, but it can also be served as a side dish or even as a breakfast cereal.
Prep time: 10 | Cook time: 20 | Serves: 4
Ingredients
1 cup polenta
4 cups vegetable broth
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper
1 (15 ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 (15 ounce) can corn, drained
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
Bring the vegetable broth to a boil in a large pot.
Add the polenta and stir to combine.
Reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes, or until the polenta is tender.
While the polenta is cooking, heat a little olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
Add the onion, green bell pepper, and red bell pepper to the skillet and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
Add the black beans and corn to the skillet and cook for 2 minutes more.
Drain any excess liquid from the polenta.
Stir the vegetables and cheese into the polenta.
Why It Works
The combination of cornmeal and vegetables makes this polenta a hearty and filling dish.
The cheese adds a rich and creamy flavor to the polenta.
The vegetables add a pop of color and nutrition to the dish.
This polenta is easy to make and can be tailored to your own taste preferences.