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Polenta Caprese Appetizers

Polenta Caprese Appetizers


  • Author: Joanie Simon
  • Total Time: 35 mins
  • Yield: 24 pieces 1x

Description

An easy recipe for polenta caprese appetizers with polenta rounds topped with mozzarella, tomatoes, basil and a balsamic honey sauce.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup polenta
  • 1 cup buttermilk or whole milk
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 3 cups water
  • 6 oz cherry tomatoes, small diced
  • 8 oz fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced
  • 1/4 cup basil, chiffonade
  • 2 Tbs olive oil
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/8 tsp ground black pepper
  • 2 Tbs honey
  • 1 Tbs balsamic vinegar

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400F
  2. Heat 3 cups water over high heat on the stove until it comes to a simmer, then add in your polenta, 1/2 tsp salt and buttermilk. Reduce heat to medium low and allow to lightly simmer for 15 minutes until the polenta is soft and water is absorbed. It should be stir-able, should not turn into a solid block while in the pan. If that starts to happen, just add water by the 2TBS full.
  3. Spray two 8inch round cake pans with cooking spray and divide the cooked polenta between the two pans, spreading out evenly until it reaches the sides.
  4. Place pans in the oven and bake for 8 minutes then remove from the oven and allow to cool in the pans.
  5. Once cooled, turn out the polenta from the pans onto a clean work surface. It should come out as one large piece.
  6. slice into 12 triangles, like a pizza.
  7. Put a slice of mozzarella on top of each triangle.
  8. Toss together tomatoes, basil ,oil, salt, pepper, honey and vinegar and spoon out a healthy tablespoon of tomatoes onto each piece of cheese on top of the polenta triangles.
  9. Serve and enjoy!
  10. *alternatively, if you want this to be a hot appetizer, once you slice the polenta, place the pieces on a baking sheet and top with the cheese and place under the broiler until cheese is melty (approximately 2 minutes) then top with tomatoes as per the recipe and serve.
  11. *you can make the polenta a day ahead and refrigerate and serve it all cold, too.
  • Prep Time: 10 mins
  • Cook Time: 25 mins
  • Category: Appetizer
  • Cuisine: Italian