Cheezy Polenta Chips with Smoky Tomato Sauce

Polenta is easy to make and comforting to eat. Every time I eat it, I wonder why I don’t have it more often. I love polenta! One of my favorite dishes is this polenta chips recipe. They are crunchy, cheese-like in flavor and fun to eat – a real crowd pleaser. Kids love these but maybe you should omit the smoky flavour in the tomato sauce for them. Polenta chips are great with a cooked breakfast on a Sunday morning or a wonderful lunch or dinner, accompanied with lime smashed avocado on toast. 

Ingredients:

• 1 litre filtered water
• 2 teaspoons quality salt
• 11⁄2 cups coarse polenta
• 1 cup rice crumbs
• 3 tablespoons savoury yeast flakes*
• 1⁄4 cup cold-pressed olive oil, plus extra for brushing
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder (optional)

Smoky tomato sauce:

• 1 tablespoon cold-pressed olive oil
• 1 small onion, finely diced
• 1⁄2 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1 teaspoon sweet paprika
• 1⁄2 teaspoon hickory smoke* (optional)
• 1 x 400g tin chopped tomatoes
• 2 tablespoons coconut sugar
• 1 teaspoon quality salt
• 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar

* You’ll find these ingredients at your local Santos Organics store or online.

Method:

1. Bring the water and salt to a gentle boil in a large saucepan. Add polenta slowly and stir continuously to prevent lumps forming.
2. Reduce heat to low and continue to stir the polenta to prevent it sticking to the pan.
3. Continue stirring and cooking for 10-15 minutes or until polenta has fully absorbed all the water and is thick.
4. Add remaining ingredients and stir to combine thoroughly.
5. Spoon polenta onto a flat baking tray (approx. 32cm x 22cm) lined with baking paper.
6. Spread evenly and level the surface with a spatula (a crank spatula, if you have one, is best).
7. Place tray in the fridge to chill for 15-30 minutes.
8. Meanwhile, make the smoky tomato sauce and preheat oven to 200°C fan-forced.
9. Cut chilled polenta lengthways down the middle of the tray, and then cut crossways into 3cm-wide chips.
10. Transfer the baking paper and the chips to a slightly larger baking tray.
11. Prise chips apart to allow the sides to bake.
12. Brush with olive oil and bake for 55 minutes or until golden and crunchy.

Smoky tomato sauce:

1. Sauté onion in the olive oil in a small saucepan until soft. Add the paprikas and sauté for a further 1-2 minutes.
2. Add remaining ingredients and simmer on low-to-medium heat for 10-15 minutes.
3. Allow to cool a little, then puree with a stick blender until smooth.
4. Serve the polenta chips and sauce warm for a delicious and comforting starter.

Tip: You may need to make a double batch next time! If there are any left, cooked polenta chips keep well for 3-5 days in the fridge. Simply re-heat in a frying pan to enjoy again.   For more recipes and to pre-purchase 'Hungry' with over 150+ recipes go to http://organicpassioncatering.com/index.php/books @organicpassion (insta) https://www.facebook.com/organicpassioncatering/ https://www.facebook.com/AntheaAmore.author/