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Cheesy Polenta with Tomatoes and Chickpeas

Published on March 16, 2016 By Emily. Updated on August 8, 2020

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

Sometimes, Mother Nature is just mean.  A week ago, it seemed like spring was really here.  The sun was shining, temperatures were in the seventies and all our winter concerns seemed like a distant memory.  This week, the weather has been rainy and cool and there’s snow in the weekend forecast.  Though it isn’t right to complain about a winter that barely was, I’m ready to dive fully into spring.  I want the flowers that are starting to peek out from the dirt in my garden to blossom and I want to stop wearing my winter coat.  I know the time will come soon and I am so ready.

cheesy polenta with tomatoes and chickpeas 2

However, it’s still a bit too soon to put away winter comfort foods.  Cheesy polenta is a weeknight meal I enjoy making because it’s delicious – creamy, warm and rich – but also because I almost always keep the ingredients on hand, making it a great solution for a night when I might not have planned something else.  Try as I might, sometimes my menu plans fail me and I need to come up with something else in a hurry.

ingredients - cheesy polenta with tomatoes and chickpeas

This recipe has a very short ingredient list.  Polenta is just coarsely ground cornmeal and I would imagine you could find it at any grocery store.  I usually buy mine from the bulk bins at Wild Oats Co-op in Williamstown, but look near the grains, flours or Mexican products in your supermarket.

Cheesy Polenta with Tomatoes and Chickpeas

Print Recipe
Total Time 30 mins
Servings 4 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup milk
  • 2 cups canned diced tomatoes
  • 1 cup dry polenta coarse cornmeal
  • 1 cup chickpeas
  • 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
  • 3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions
 

  • Combine the milk and 1 and 1/2 cups water in a medium saucepan. Heat over medium heat until the mixture is just about boiling.
  • Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, mix together the canned tomatoes, chickpeas and Italian seasoning. Heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally. If the mixture begins to boil, turn it to low while you wait for the polenta to be ready.
  • When the milk/water mixture is nearly boiling, slowing pour in the polenta while simultaneously whisking together the liquid and the solid cornmeal. Turn the heat to low and continue to whisk for about 10 minutes, or until the polenta is thick and creamy.
  • Add the cheddar cheese to the polenta mixture and fully combine using the whisk. If the mixture becomes too thick, add water (about 1/4 cup at a time) and continue to whisk until your desired consistency is reached.
  • Taste the polenta and the sauce and add salt and pepper if needed.
  • Serve by topping the polenta with the tomato and chickpea sauce.
  • Enjoy!

cheesy polenta with tomatoes and chickpeas

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Filed Under: food, recipe, vegetarian, vegetarian main dish, weeknight Tagged With: vegetarian

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Comments

  1. melissa says

    March 30, 2016 at 4:51 am

    You’re lucky! I arrived in Ireland in winter and now I’m heading back to South Africa in Autumn! Summer seems like a distant memory to me. I don’t know when I will feel a good absorption of vitamin D again!

    This polenta looks amazing!

    http://www.melodramaticadventures.com

Trackbacks

  1. More Delicious Veggies (CSA Menu Plan #54) | Relishments says:
    June 12, 2016 at 9:31 pm

    […] creamy polenta topped with kale and kielbasa – follow steps 1-3 of this recipe for the polenta […]

  2. I’m Back? (CSA Menu Plan #71) | Relishments says:
    January 23, 2017 at 12:36 pm

    […] Creamy polenta with kale and white beans with roasted acorn squash […]

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For the fourth year, I've recapped the best new (to me) recipes I made this year in the hope that they'll give you some new dishes to try. This year's list is short, but delicious. It includes @budgetbytes My Favorite Recipes of 2022
Published on December 30, 2022 By Emily. Updated on December 30, 2022

It’s hard to believe that 2022 is basically behind us. Though overall this year found me getting back to the person I want to be (post-babies and “post”-pandemic), I did not try nearly as many new recipes this year as I used to. In fact, I was pleasantly surprised to see that I’d made note of any new-to-me recipes I wanted to share in this post. This year’s list is short, but delicious. It includes recipes from @budgetbytes, @smittenkitchen and @howsweeteats.
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It has been a while, but there is finally a new CS It has been a while, but there is finally a new CSA menu plan on the blog! Visit the link below or in my profile to see how I plan to make use of some of the @mightyfoodfarm produce seen here.
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A few more photos from our most recent trip to Mai A few more photos from our most recent trip to Maine:
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