Polenta is one of those restaurant menu items that comes with a hefty price tag despite its origins as a peasant food. It’s just the Italian word for grits.
So, instead of paying $15-$20 for an entrée with polenta, I make it at home for less than $5. This recipe uses Italian sausage, but you could easily substitute chicken sausage to make it a bit healthier. I also like to cut the cooled polenta into squares and fry them in olive oil but this could just as easily be served over the soft fresh polenta.
Fried Polenta with Sausage
Polenta Ingredients
- 1 cup polenta, prepared according to package directions (add to boiling water and whisk until thick)
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
- Salt and pepper
- Olive oil for frying
Sauce Ingredients
- 2 tbs olive oil
- 1 lb Italian sausage
- 1/2 onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 14oz can of diced tomatoes
- 2 tsp Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper
- Red pepper flakes (optional)
Directions
1. Cook polenta according to package directions, add salt and pepper and parmesan cheese and pour onto a plate or cutting board to cool.
2. Cut into squares and fry in an inch of olive oil. Drain on paper towels.
3. In a large pan, sauté garlic and onions in olive oil. Add sausage and cook until nicely browned, about 5 minutes.
4. Add tomatoes, salt and pepper, Italian seasoning and red pepper flakes and warm through.
5. Serve the tomato and sausage mixture over the fried polenta with some nice crusty Italian bread on the side!
