I’ve been craving this Mexican Polenta Pie ever since I had multiple servings tasted it at our friends 4th of July Party/Potluck. It was soooo good! Thankfully my friend Michele emailed me her recipe and I was able to make it recently for dinner. Oh boy, is it delicious! I’m making it again right now, for a potluck after Mass at a friend’s home this evening, and thought I’d take a second to share the recipe with you all. Happy feast of the Assumption! 🙂
Ingredients:
1 medium onion, chopped (1/2 cup)
1 medium green sweet pepper, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoonsolive oil
1 pound uncooked ground turkey
3 tablespoons chili powder
1 tablespoonground cumin
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 15-ounce can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 14-1/2-ounce can diced tomatoes, undrained
1 cup bottled salsa
2 16-ounce tubes polenta
2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese
2/3 cup chopped fresh tomato
1/4 cup snipped fresh cilantro
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 375 degree F. In a 12-inch skillet cook onion, sweet pepper, and garlic in 1 tablespoon hot oil until tender. Add turkey, chili powder, cumin, and cayenne. Cook until turkey is no longer pink, stirring to break up the meat. Add beans, undrained canned tomatoes, and salsa. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer gently, uncovered, 15 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, grease a 3-quart rectangular baking dish with the remaining 1 tablespoon oil. Cut 1 tube of polenta into 1/2-inch cubes and press evenly into prepared baking dish. Halve remaining polenta lengthwise and cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices; set aside. Sprinkle 1 cup of the cheese over polenta in dish. Top with meat mixture. Arrange sliced polenta over meat; sprinkle with remaining cheese and fresh tomato. Bake, uncovered, for 35 minutes or until bubbly. Sprinkle with cilantro. Let stand 15 to 20 minutes before serving. Makes 12 servings.
Wow, this sounds so yummy, Jessica! Thanks for sharing it. I'll have to try it soon.
Oh thanks! That looks so good and it's such an easy and natural Gluten-Free dish as well! I'll to see how my boys like it (they have Celiac disease).
It sounds and looks so good! Must try it!
I', pinning this =) Hope to try it this week, thanks for sharing!
This looks delicious! I am not familiar with polenta. Is it found in the deli section with the specialty cheese?
Wow. That looks wonderful. I wish you could serve me up a bowl. My kids love polenta so this is going on next week's menu!
PS you can make your own polenta very inexpensively. Once cooked, pour into a pan and let cool. You'll be able to cut it then.
Polenta is made with cornmeal, and I usually find it in the health food section at our local store – though Barbara has inspired me to try and make my own next time! 🙂
This is the brand that I usually purchase: San Gennaro Polenta
(Last night I actually made it with the the Basil Garlic variety. It was really good as well, and I didn't come home any leftovers!)
I just pinned this recipe, I love polenta (alas, my husband does not)