Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Polenta and Eggplant Appetizer




How delicious is this Polenta and Eggplant Appetizer ?
On a scale of 1-10, I would give it a 10!


polenta and eggplant stew
Top with eggplant Stew and serve

polenta with eggplant sauce

I love the presentation and the eggplant sauce is very rich and flavorful. It's hard to believe how fast and easy it was to make. It took about 10 minutes prep and about 20- 30 minutes to cook.


I frequently do not follow recipes (I usually create my own from what looks good in the produce store) except when I publish for the Secret Recipe Club where we are expected to follow our assigned blog's recipe. 

The eggplant stew was absolutely delicious. The wine (the alcohol cooks off) and tomato paste added a richness that made this meatless meal exceptionally flavorful. I will be adding those to my list of ingredients to use in other recipes.

This recipe can be made as a dinner entree or cut into little rounds and served as an entree, as I did.
  
Polenta and Eggplant Appetizer
5 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided
1 onion, chopped
3 garlic cloves, chopped
1 eggplant, cubed
2 plum tomatoes, chopped
2 teaspoons dried basil
2 teaspoons dried parsley
salt and pepper to taste
2 teaspoons tomato paste
3/4 cup marinara sauce
1/2 cup red wine

Directions:

Add 3 tablespoons Olive oil to a medium sized saucepan. Add onion and garlic.  Saute for about 1-2 minutes, then add eggplant.  Stir and add remaining oil, plus salt and pepper, basil and parsley.  Cook for about 3-4 minutes, then add tomatoes and cook for another 2 minutes.

Finally, stir in tomato paste, marinara and wine.  Cover, lower heat and simmer for about 20 minutes.

Pictures Step by Step

Chop garlic, onions, Roma tomatoes, and eggplant . Saute in olive oil until soft.



                         eggplant stew


Recipe for Basic polenta- follow the instructions on the box. When polenta is done, pour it into a Pyrex pie pan and leave for about 10 minutes (so it forms the shape of the pan). Turn pan upside down on a dinner plate and top with eggplant stew.


Put polenta into a sprayed pie plate for shaping wait 10 minutes




Invert from pie plate to dinner plate


Another variation:
I cut my polenta with a round cookie cutter and made individual polenta rounds topped with eggplant stew.





Cut out rounds of polenta with a cookie cutter



I no longer feel that "oil" is necessary to sauté. I would now sauté the vegetables in a little broth and use an oil-free marinara sauce such as the one from Whole Foods or Aldi. It will cut back on the calories significantly if you are a Weight Watcher, follow Forks Over Knives, McDougall Diet, or Dr. Fuhrman.


I love comments. You can leave one by scrolling down to the end of the post and click on comments



Shared on Katherine Martinelli  blog carnival



25 comments:

  1. I'm glad you liked it! We love this recipe...it's delicious and soooo easy! :)

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  2. Melissa,
    We absolutely loved it. It was a great recipe and you have a great blog.

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  3. This sounds great! Easy and delicious!

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  4. Oooh, this looks amazing! I love polenta - so warm and comforting. Looks amazing with the tomato sauce on top! :)

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  5. I love a tomato based eggplant sauce.This is very much up my alley and polenta is something I enjoy so much and always forget to make. Really looks awesome.

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  6. Don't forget to make this recipe. It is so easy and you will love it.

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  7. Sara,
    If you love polenta you will enjoy this recipe and its easy too.

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  8. Love polenta in all forms! Thanks for a great post. :)

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  9. This looks amazing.

    Thanks for linking it to Totally Tutorial Tuesdays :)

    Jessica
    http://myworldmadebyhand.blogspot.com

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  10. Thanks for visiting my blog! This polenta recipe looks delicious!

    I'm following you now too!

    Stephanie

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  11. WOw this looks great! Hearty, healthy, and delicious! I love eggplant with marinara sauce in any combination:-)

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  12. I just happen to have eggplant in the fridge and polenta in the pantry. Looks like this one is on the menu this week.

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  13. I'm starting to really get into eggplant. This sounds lovely and guest ready!

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  14. Mmmm this sauce sounds so flavorful! I love your presentation with the polenta.

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  15. I love polenta and I make it quite often in my house. I love how you cut it, so lovely. The sauce looks delicious too!
    The Secret Recipe Club seems like so much fun, I'm seriously thinking about joining soon.
    BTW, the English version of my cake is up, sorry for the delay :)

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  16. Thanks for stopping by my blog! I'm your newest follower.

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  17. This is an awesome appetizer! Thank you so much for sharing your fabulous recipe with Full Plate Thursday. Hope you are having a great week end and come back soon!
    Miz Helen

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  18. i just want the polenta! it looks so pretty! thanks for linking to foodie friday! Not Your Ordinary Recipes

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  19. Can you do this in a crock pot? If so,I would love for you come link this up to The CSI Project this week starting wednesday at midnight. It is the slow cooker challenge and this is perfect.
    Come by all week for great recipes and tutorials. You could win the top prize or our giveaway for the week. It is fabulous!
    Hugs
    Dee
    www.thecsiproject.com

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  20. This looks so yummy! I got to try cutting polenta out with a fancy cookie cutter. Gotta buy a cookie cutter though. Thanks for sharing with the Hearth and Soul blog hop.

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  21. Wow this is just stunning and so healthy! I am pinning and tweeting this! Thanks for adding it to the Thanksgiving party!

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  22. this looks beautiful and i am sure it is delicious too..especially since you gave it a 10 out of 10! :) thank you for sharing with tuesday night supper club. i tweeted your recipe, but not sure if you are on twitter..if you are, i would love to follow you.

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Your comments are appreciated. I love knowing who is stopping by to read my posts! Have a great day.

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