This tasty tomato and eggplant polenta recipe will rock your world. It is creamy, beautiful and fun to eat!
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I love polenta, but apparently not as much as Christopher does because his family used to have it every Christmas Eve. They had a wooden board his grandfather made that was the size of a small table. When a humongous batch of polenta was cooked, his mom and grandmother poured it onto the board, spreading it with a three-foot rolling pin to the edges. Then they’d cover that creamy polenta with tomato sauce and put a big pile of meatballs and sausages in the middle.
Then everyone gathered around the dining room table, the polenta board in the center, with forks in hand. The kids weren’t allowed to take a piece of meat until they’d cleared a path through the polenta that started at the edge of the board in front of them and went to the pile in the middle.
Now, that’s a party! In fact, just recently, I saw a photo of the huge board. Holy moly! How the heck did they pick it up to plop it on the table?
As far as I can remember, we never ate polenta like that.
When Christopher hears that I’m going to make polenta, his eyes light up and he says, “I love polenta!”
I know, I think. You’ve told me. A million times.
I don’t say that out loud because he has to hear me say repetitive things all the time about food and drink items. So, I figure it is only fair, right?
Right!
Also, I love to eat polenta with veggies plopped on it. I like it with gravy too, but I love the cleanness of the veggies in this recipe.
On to the Tasty Tomato and Eggplant Polenta recipe
So, I start cooking the polenta first because it takes around 25 minutes. At first, I measure out some beef broth and water, pour them into a saucepan and bring it to a boil. Then I pour in some polenta and keep stirring the mixture every few minutes so it doesn’t stick. In any case, I cook the polenta for 25 minutes.
While the polenta is cooking, I gather the eggplant and tomatoes.
I wash and cut up the eggplant and heat up my wok. Then I add a few tablespoons of olive oil and once that heats up, I add the eggplant and cute heirloom tomatoes. I also salt the veggies, add some garlic paste and stand there as it cooks, alternatively stirring the polenta and eggplant.
Finally, after 25 minutes, I add 2 ounces of goat cheese and stir it in the polenta until it melts.
Eggplant is done
Time to pour the creamy polenta in a shallow bowl.
Mmmm.
I also dollop some tomato and eggplant on the polenta.
This tomato and eggplant polenta looks delicious! But before we dive in, let’s look at an overhead shot.
So I hope you enjoyed this recipe! It is super delicious!
Please feel free to leave me a comment. In fact, did you ever eat polenta the way Christopher’s family did? I’d love to know your polenta memories! I read every single comment.
Also, feel free to Pin any photo to Pinterest and Yum the recipe to Yummly! Or share it any way you feel is appropriate. You can stumble it, google plus it, or share to Facebook. In any case, I will love you to bits if you do.
😘
And as always, may all your dishes be delish!
- 2 cups beef broth
- 2 cups water
- 1 cup polenta (corn grits)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 ounces goat cheese
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 medium eggplants ends cut off but cut in chunks
- 6 ounces tomatoes I used small heirlooms
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons garlic paste or 2 garlic cloves, crushed
- Pour beef broth and water in a saucepan and heat it on medium
- Once it comes to a boil, pour polenta in and stir it until incorporate it. Continue to stir it every 5 minutes until it's done at 25 minutes
- Meanwhile, heat your sauté pan on medium (I used my wok) and add olive oil
- Add eggplant, tomatoes, salt and garlic
- Cook for 15 minutes, stirring the veggie when you stir the polenta
- Set veggies aside and once the polenta is done, stir in the goat cheese until it has melted
- Ladle some polenta in a bowl or dish, dollop some veggie on top
- Serve
- Eat
- Smile
- Enjoy
I haven’t seen this combination. It looks so good! I need to try this.
Thank you Brandi! I appreciate it!
I love polenta. This is a great use of the veggies with it. Have to give this a try!
Thank you Serena!!
Believe it or not I fell in love with polenta as a child. Of course it was fried in discs and had maple syrup on it but it was a start. Your recipe is wonderful with eggplant and tomatoes. I’ll absolutely be making it very soon.
Thanks so much Ginny!! I had it like that too when I was a kid. Mmmmm.
I never had it like that growing up but I love polenta now. I grew up eating grits in every imaginable way, though, and they are basically the same thing. The only difference is the grind! I make a similar version to this with veg but I add goat cheese in, because I AM A GOAT CHEESE FANATIC! And I have some eggplant just waiting to be used in my fridge right now 🙂
Woohoo Jeni! Hope you like it!
Polenta is a recent discovery in our house, so I would love to try new ways of eating it. This looks delicious.
Thanks so much Dannii!
Oh my!!! Polenta is in my gene as much as it is in Chris’. Mom made it almost the same way as Chris’, just she never served it on a huge board 🙂 I love polenta any way but never made it like yours, it looks so good, I must absolutely try it! YUM!
Thanks so much Patty. Can’t wait to tell Christopher that you had it like he did!!
I love polenta, and I always buy Bob’s Red Mill!!! It’s the best!
I so agree Sarah! I love polenta too! Thanks for your comment!
There is nothing quite like a nice creamy rich bowl of polenta! It’s a blank canvas for adding yummy ingredients to! Thanks for sharing!
This just hit the top of the must make pile, Elaine! OMG yum! I absolutely adore polenta but don’t make it nearly enough. LOVE the story about Christopher’s family too. What a way to enjoy such a gorgeous meal 💞
Polenta and egg plant – love both, but I have never thought of combining these two . Looks delicious . Can’t wait to try !
Thank you Syama!!
Sounds delish! That polenta looks so creamy and delicious!
Thanks so much Jessica!
While I’m a total meat eater, I love meatless meal options and this looks delicious.
Thanks Cheryl!
I love polenta and I wish I could eat it the way Christopher use to eat it. Though you might want to let him know that as an Italian he has been living in sin: we never eat meat at Christmas eve. Your eggplant version will do and I am ready to dig in !!!
Laura! Haha. We know about the fish on Christmas Eve but they are rebels!
I wish my husband liked eggplant more. This looks divine! I love Bob’s Red Mill, too.
Thank you Alicia!
It took me a long time to come around on polenta, but now that I have I can’t get enough. I’ll have to try this!
Leslie! I think it’s because we think of corn muffins and sweet. Polenta isn’t sweet. I get it why it took you a while!
I don’t know why I don’t make polenta more frequently – I have a bag of it in the pantry! This recipe looks super appealing, pinning to help me break out of my rut!
Thanks so much Monica!!
I love polenta and definitely don’t make it enough. This dish looks amazing! Love that you used eggplant – It pairs perfectly with the polenta!
Thanks so much Christine!
Sigh. I’m remembering how much I enjoyed eating this meal!!
Hehe Chris. Soon, sir, very, very soon.
This looks like a great side dish or would even be perfect as a light weeknight meal!!
Yes, indeed Kathryn!
Your polenta sounds wonderful! I am a new polenta eater but your recipe is on my list of must-try. Pinned!
Thank you Carrie! It’s rather tasty, hope you enjoy it!
This recipe is A. Making me crave polenta and B. Getting me thinking about fun holiday dinner traditions!
What fun Abby to have this at the holidays.
To me, this is just one huge bowl of comfort! I love the flavors and perfect for a family meal
Thanks so much Eileen!
We enjoy polenta..but never try with eggplant.. İ should try this combination soon.
Thanks Çitra!
Polenta with tomatoes – the perfect combo!
Thanks so much Lynette!! It really is!
I am so glad to come across this recipe! I just picked up some of Bob’s polenta a couple of weeks ago to make a cheesy shrimp and grits. It was so good and the texture was amazing! I used to use just corn meal, until I learned that Bob’s made actual polenta. Can’t wait to try out this flavor combination for something completely different!
Thanks so much Renee! I hope you enjoy it. It’s so delicious!