Crunchy Cheesy Oven-Baked Polenta is a great way to start or round out an Italian meal.
Polenta is an Italian peasant dish that my family has been serving since I was a little girl. I love the simple flavor of the cornmeal…it's a great base for the rich cheese sauce topping. I usually prepare my own polenta with cornmeal and water or chicken stock. But there are ready-made rolls of polenta you can buy in the store that make creating this recipe fast and easy.
I like to serve this dish as an appetizer, but it is also a delicious side for grilled steak, chicken and fish. The crunchy panko topping gives it an amazing texture that holds up well to the sauce. The ingredients are so simple!
My favorite cheese combination is Gorgonzola and Romano. You can use blue cheese for the Gorgonzola and Parmesan instead of the Romano. It all depends on what you like.
I slice the polenta into ½-inch slices and top them with a Gorgonzola cream sauce and a good amount of Progresso® Panko Italian-style bread crumbs. The crumbs and the cheese bake together and get toasted.
The end result is a warm, crunchy and cheesy delight that everyone will love.
