Name: Creamy Polenta with Jalapeño Tomato Sauce
Prep time: 30 min
Total time: 55 min
Ingredients: 1 cup chopped onion; 1 cup chopped green bell pepper; 1 to 2 fresh jalapeño chiles, seeded and finely chopped; 3 cloves garlic, minced; 2 lb. roma tomatoes, peeled, cored, and quartered (see intro for tip); 2 teaspoons ground cumin; 1 teaspoon smoked paprika; 1 teaspoon ground coriander; 1 15-oz. can no-salt-added black beans, rinsed and drained (1½ cups); 2 ears fresh sweet corn, cut off the cob (1 cup kernels); Sea salt, to taste; Freshly ground black pepper, to taste; 3 cups low-sodium vegetable broth; 2 cups quick-cooking polenta; 2 tablespoons chopped unsalted roasted pepitas; Chopped fresh cilantro

Prep-time: 30 minutes / Ready In: 55 minutes
Makes 6 cups sauce + 6 cups polenta
print/save recipe

Please enter your email to continue.

Email

Cancel

In this tantalizing fusion recipe, creamy Italian polenta meets the spicy-savory flavors of Mexican cuisine to create a truly drool-worthy dish. Roma tomatoes (which are perfect to use in sauces due to their meaty flesh and lack of seeds) are stewed with corn, black beans, bell pepper, and plenty of Southwestern spices to create the perfect Tex-Mex sauce. Chopped jalapeño infuses everything with a kick of heat that seeps into the velvety polenta grains and leaves you licking the bowl. Beyond polenta, try spooning this yummy sauce over baked sweet potatoes, pasta, or other cooked grains to transform a basic meal into something special.

Tip: To peel tomatoes, bring a large pot of water to boiling. Lightly cut a small X in one end of each tomato. Add tomatoes to boiling water a few at a time. After 30 seconds, use a slotted spoon to transfer tomatoes to a bowl of ice water; let cool 2 minutes. Remove from ice water and use a paring knife to peel off skins.

For more vegan polenta recipes, check out these tasty ideas:

Black Bean Polenta Cakes with Pepper-Cilantro Salsa
Crispy Baked Polenta Sticks with Ranch Dip
Polenta Lasagna with Kale and Lentils
Or take a look at our full collection of polenta recipes

By Nancy Macklin, RDN, Jul 13, 2023

Ingredients

1 cup chopped onion
1 cup chopped green bell pepper
1 to 2 fresh jalapeño chiles, seeded and finely chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 lb. roma tomatoes, peeled, cored, and quartered (see intro for tip)
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1 15-oz. can no-salt-added black beans, rinsed and drained (1½ cups)
2 ears fresh sweet corn, cut off the cob (1 cup kernels)
Sea salt, to taste
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
3 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
2 cups quick-cooking polenta
2 tablespoons chopped unsalted roasted pepitas
Chopped fresh cilantro

Instructions

In a large pot cook onion, bell pepper, jalapeño, and garlic over medium 4 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally and adding water, 1 to 2 tablespoons at a time, as needed to prevent sticking. Add tomatoes, cumin, paprika, coriander, and ¼ cup water. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Cover and simmer 20 to 25 minutes or until tomatoes are very soft.
Stir in black beans and corn. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Cook, uncovered, 4 to 5 minutes or until corn is crisp-tender and mixture is heated through. Season with salt and black pepper.
Meanwhile, in a large saucepan bring vegetable broth and 3 cups water to boiling. Slowly whisk in polenta. Stir constantly 5 minutes or until polenta is tender. Serve sauce over polenta. Top with pepitas and cilantro.

tags:

gluten-free

(0)

2 Comments

Comments (2)

(0 from 0 votes)

Add a Comment and/or Rating

Leave a Reply

Recipe Rating

Comment Reply Name* Email* Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You need to provide a comment or rating to submit

Joan4 days ago

When you say polenta, are you talking about grits or cornmeal?

Cindy2 months ago

Just like most of the recipes I’ve tried on FOK, this needs way more spice. We ended up putting Sriracha sauce on it.

SAVE $200ON OUR ULTIMATE COURSE

Join our best-selling cooking course at the lowest price ever!

Save $200 Now

Try Our Top-RatedMeal Planner Free

Forks Meal Planner takes the hard work out of making nutritious meals the whole family will enjoy.

Try it for free today

about the author

Nancy Macklin, RDN

Nancy Macklin has a bachelor of science in dietetics from Iowa State University and a Master of Science in health services administration from the University of Saint Francis. Macklin worked as a hospital-based clinical dietitian, providing counseling for diabetes, heart disease, and weight loss and as a food service director in health care dining sites. She now serves as a test kitchen dietitian, developing 500+ recipes per year. She is a member of the Academy for Nutrition and Dietetics and International Association of Culinary Professionals. Find her on LinkedIn.

see more from this author