Now here’s a secret: although I make my own polenta, pesto and roasted peppers, you can buy all three at your local grocery store and save time if you need to. Buy the precooked polenta in a tube and slice into rounds. Buy the roasted peppers in a jar, drain, and slice. And use pre-made pesto from the Italian aisle of your store. In fact, keep these 3 things on hand along with some cheese and you can whip these up on short notice when guests drop by for a snack that will surprise and delight your guests!
Polenta Bites
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
Recipe type: Appetizer
Serves: 18
Ingredients
- 6 cups water, or stock
- 2 cups polenta
- ⅓ cup pesto sauce
- 2 whole red peppers, roasted and peeled
- 3 ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded OR grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese
Instructions
- Bring water or stock to a boil and whisk in polenta and continue whisking until thickened. Cook until no longer coarse, stirring frequently. Spread cooked polenta into a baking pan to a ¾ inch thickness and chill until set. Slice polenta into 16 squares and lay on a nonstick baking sheet. Slice roasted pepper into 24 short strips. Remove from oven and spread pesto evenly over polenta slices, then top with two pepper slices in a criss-cross pattern. Lay a piece of mozzarella on top and bake until polenta begins to brown, about 5-10 minutes. Serve warm.