This polenta lasagna is so delicious! It’s so quick and easy to throw together once the polenta is made and cooled. With premade polenta, and pasta sauce this is such a quick meal to throw together!
I love polenta. Like really, I absolutely love the stuff, but it has to be made right. Honestly, you can buy it in a tube from the store if you want, but I just love making my own. It only takes a few minutes to cook up and spread out in a pan to be baked to crispy perfection later. It’s well worth the effort 🙂
The wonderful thing about this dish is the polenta layer can be left soft or it can be baked until the edges are crispy and crunchy and the inside is soft and creamy and delicious. Completely up to you, and both ways are great.
Also, you can freeze polenta. Although it doesn’t take much time to throw together it is incredibly helpful to make a large batch, cut into pieces and wrap in saran wrap. Throw them in the freezer in a ziploc bag and you’re one step closer to enjoying this meal(or a crunchy snack) whenever.
Plus, I hope everyone knows already that tomato based sauces freeze especially well, so when you need dinner, just pull out a batch of polenta, some tomato sauce and throw it all together for a super yummy meal. Of course using frozen polenta the bake time will be longer but you can just unwrap it, spritz or brush with oil and throw it in the oven, just be sure to watch that the bottom doesn’t burn before you realize it.
Creamy Parmesan Herb Polenta
Ingredients
- 2 C milk
- 1 3/4 C water
- 1/4 C butter
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- 1/2 tsp dried basil
- 1 tsp dried parsley
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1/4 C freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 C cornmeal quick cooking variety
- Oil for baking
Instructions
- Prepare a 9x13 pan by lightly greasing the bottom and sides. Set aside.
- Melt the butter in a medium sized pot. Add the garlic and let cook for a couple minutes over medium-low heat till very fragrant. Add the milk, water and all the seasonings except the Parmesan cheese and the cornmeal. I also recommend using fresh herbs if you have them, just be sure to triple the amounts used and stir in at the same time as the Parmesan cheese - after it's done cooking and is off the heat.
- Bring to a boil then remove from the heat and while whisking to avoid lumps, slowly add the cornmeal. Continue to whisk and return the pot to the heat and whisk while waiting for the mixture to boil. Over medium-high heat this should onto take a minute or two unless you decide to use a longer cooking variety. If you do use a variety that needs to cook longer adjust the liquids in this recipe if needed and cook as long as required.
- Once the polenta starts bubbling and is completely thickened remove from the heat and stir in the Parmesan cheese and fresh herbs if not using dried. Then pour into the greased 9x13 pan. With a spatula lightly brushed or sprayed with oil smooth the top. Cover and place in the fridge until chilled and set, at least 1 hour.
Polenta Lasagna
Ingredients
- 1 recipe Creamy Garlic Herb Polenta recipe above
- Oil for baking
- 3-4 C your favorite tomato based sauce I use my basic marinara sauce to which you can add meat or any veggies you like, or just leave plain
- 3-4 large handfuls spinach roughly chopped
- 2-3 C mozzarella cheese
- A few leaves of fresh basil if available
Instructions
- Make one recipe of the garlic herb polenta above and let it set in the fridge.
- Preheat your oven to 425 degrees.
- If you plan to cook the polenta in the pan you used to let it cool in then place immediately in the oven while the oven and the pan are still cold and let them heat up together. Otherwise cut squares out of the polenta and place on a well oiled baking sheet and spray or brush the tops with oil. Place in the oven and bake till your desired level of crispiness on the bottom(I bake mine till very brown and crispy, but even fairly soft polenta will be delicious) then broil just until the top is golden.
- Remove from the oven and turn the oven back to 425 degrees. Top your polenta with your spinach or other greens to which you can also add fresh basil or other fresh herbs which would taste awesome, then add the tomato sauce and then a generous sprinkling of cheese. Return to the oven for about 10-15 minutes until the spinach is wilted, the cheese is melted and everything is heated through. Turn on your broiler again for 2-6 minutes(depending on how close your pan is to the heating element and how hot your broiler gets, as mine has different settings but a lot do not) or until the cheese is golden and bubbly then remove and serve while still hot. Top with fresh basil and Parmesan cheese if desired.
Comments & Reviews
RL says
Hubby is a polenta fan, I love lasagna, so this was obviously a huge hit at my house. Thank you for this recipe ! Polenta has now made it’s way into the “gotta keep this stuff on hand” list. Easy to make from scratch, it replaces many other starches. Last night we used polenta with chicken tikka masala, instead of rice. Recommend !
Angela says
Just tried this recipe with my sister. We were both wanting to try and make something with polenta. It was soo delicious! I had found your recipe on pinterest and the photo instantly caught my attention. We added goat cheese and capers as well. Thank you for the inspiration.
Saree Rentals says
What an interesting take on lasagna! Once again, very pleased with what you have created!
Tiffany says
What a great idea. Never have tried it but I would love to! Thanks for sharing!!
Peggy says
What a great idea! Definitely going to try this when it starts getting cooler outside =)
kankana says
uuuu Polenta as Lasagna.. loving the idea and I am going to try this next time!
Olga @ MangoTomato says
I’ve made something similar once, but used ‘plain’ polenta. I like that you spiced it up. Looks really pretty!
Jennifer (Delicieux) says
What a great idea! I have never heard of polenta lasagna. Your lasagna looks delicious and so comforting.
Claudie says
This polenta lasagna is gorgeous. You can definitely see everything is cooked fresh and with care. Really, really nicely done! 🙂
Nikita says
I love polenta! I have never used it in lasagna though. I will have to try it this week!
shirley@kokken69 says
I have been really curious about polenta and I really think I should give this a try… if not for anything else ( It looks so moreish) … I need to expand my knowledge about food 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
Ari@ThE DiVa DiSh says
Please slap me because I have never tried polenta! This looks amazing!
I really shouldn’t read blogs in the morning, because I am laying in bed, STARVING! And that melty cheese on top!…It’s just making my tummy growl louder! 🙂
Kate@Diethood says
Now there’s an idea!! Brilliant … I love this lasagna. And I just want to eat up your photos! 🙂
Deborah Dowd says
I love this idea! A lighter version of lasagna for these hot summer days- a stroke of genius!
Lynda says
I love this inspiration for lasagna!
Yadi @ShopCookMake says
I made something similar a while ago, but didn’t look as pretty.
Marsha @ The Harried Cook says
I love polenta too! This sounds like such a fabulous idea & recipe… and your pictures are gorgeous too! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Pretty. Good. Food. says
This sounds great. Never thought to make pizzas out of polenta! Thanks for the inspiration 🙂
Maria @ Scandifoodie says
What a great idea! I’ll have to try this!
Ashley @ The Drunk Squash says
Awesome recipe(s), I’m so glad you posted them. My experience with polenta was irreversibly marred by college cafeteria cooking, but I’ve always wanted to love it. I have a feeling polenta lasagna could be the gateway recipe… thanks!
Katie Thacher says
This looks delicious! I love the idea of treating polenta like lasagna.
Sally says
I’m reading this on Saturday morning and all I can think is: I want this for breakfast! I, too, am a polenta lover (and all things corn.) That makes me think, I might stir some leftover corn kernels to this–will have to try as soon as it cools off enough around here to turn on the oven!
Lauren at Keep It Sweet says
This is such a good idea and a great alternative to lasagna to those who can’t eat gluten!
Sonia The Healthy Foodie says
OMG this looks fantastic!!! I was just thinking how it had been so long since I’d made polenta and how I was WAY overdue for a little fix! LOVE the idea of making it into a lasagna. Brilliant! Guess where this is going!
Oh, and your pictures are just equally brilliant. I can’t stop looking at them. I’m hungry now. Better go to bed…
Maris (In Good Taste) says
This looks fabulous! Very delicious!
Maryea {Happy Healthy Mama} says
Oh, I am totally drooling over this recipe! I can’t wait to try it. I love polenta, too. I’ve never bought it from a tube. It’s so easy to make on your own I’ve never seen the need.