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Basil Polenta with Eggplant Ratatouille

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Submitted by: kk1000

 

A cooked cornmeal mixture flavored with basil is cut into squares and topped with a sauce of eggplant, onion, tomato and olives.
 

Ingredients

  • 3 cups water
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup cornmeal
  • 1/2 cup chopped fresh basil, heaping
  • 5 tablespoons olive oil, divided
  • 1 white onions, sliced in half moons
  • 1 green bell pepper, sliced
  • 4 cloves garlic, sliced
  • 1 eggplant, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch cubes
  • 1, 2 1/4-oz can sliced black olives, rinsed and drained
  • 1 14 1/2-oz can diced tomatoes, drained
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • Fresh basil, for garnish

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Method

Boil water in a 3 quart saucepan. Add salt and gradually sprinkle in corn meal, whisking constantly to avoid lumps. Once all the cornmeal is in, reduce heat to low. Continue stirring with a wooden spoon. Stir in basil. Continue cooking and stirring for 5 minutes. Polenta should be thick, but still smooth. Transfer polenta to a lightly greased, 8x8-inch oven dish. Cool for 20 minutes or longer if more convenient. In a large skillet over medium heat, saute 3 tablespoons olive oil (reserve remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil for later use) and onion for5 minutes, covered. Add garlic, bell pepper and eggplant. Saute covered another 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in olives, tomatoes, oregano, salt and pepper. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes. Simmer, uncovered, for 3 minutes. Keep warm. Preheat oven to broil. Remove polenta from refrigerator and cut into 8 portions. Place on a nonstick baking sheet. Measure remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil into a small bowl. Using a pastry brush, brush olive oil onto polenta. Broil on top rack of oven for 5 minutes. Turn polenta over and brush with olive oil. Broil another 5 minutes. Serve polenta topped with eggplant mixture. Garnish with fresh basil leaves.

 

Notes: This also makes a delicious main course for 4. Simply cut polenta into 4 larger pieces.

 

Number of Servings: 8

 

Submitted by: kk1000 ()

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