Mediterranean polenta slices with braised red pepper

Mediterranean polenta slices with braised red pepper: crispy polenta cooked in vegetable stock, with pepper, onion, garlic, basil and balsamic vinegar.

At a glance

• Serves 2
• Prep time: 20 min
• Cooking time: 25 min
• Total time: 45 min
• Calories: 360 kcal per serving
• Protein: 7 g
• Fat: 12 g
• Carbs: 54 g

Ingredients

• 150 g polenta
• 600 ml vegetable stock
• 3 peppers
• 1 onion
• 2 cloves of garlic
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
• 1 pinch of oregano
• 1 handful of basil

Method

You’ll need: frying pan · chopping board · knife · wooden spoon

1. Wash and prepare the peppers, onion, garlic and basil. Cut the peppers into strips and the onion into thin wedges, and chop the garlic.
2. Bring the vegetable stock to the boil and sprinkle in the polenta. Cook, stirring, until thick and creamy, then spread it in a shallow dish and leave to set.
3. Gently heat the olive oil in a wide frying pan. Braise the onion, garlic and peppers in it over a medium heat until the peppers are soft and slightly sweet.
4. Add the balsamic vinegar and oregano and let it reduce briefly. Fold in the basil and season the peppers to taste with a little salt and pepper.
5. Cut the set polenta into slices and fry in a frying pan with a little olive oil on both sides until golden brown.
6. Place the polenta slices on plates and arrange the braised peppers on top or alongside. Serve with fresh basil.

Good to know

Golden outside, soft inside, with sweet braised peppers full of depth. A simple dish that tastes of far more than it needs.

Swaps

Polenta → wholegrain millet (also provides fibre and minerals) | balsamic vinegar → lemon juice (fresher acidity, without added sugar) | basil → parsley (contains vitamin K) | olive oil → avocado oil (also mainly monounsaturated fatty acids, high smoke point)

Allergens

The dish is naturally gluten-free if you choose a suitable vegetable stock. Onion and garlic can taste stronger for sensitive children or if you have a sensitive stomach; in pregnancy, the ingredients are fine in normal kitchen amounts.

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