I can’t decide if this is the best appetizer or meal. These tiny little polenta pizzas are impossible to stop eating, so I’m leaning toward meal, but the bite-size lends itself to sharing. So I’m torn. I’ll just let you all decide. Either way, these are incredibly easy to make and truly so delicious! You could top these little pizzas with anything you like, but if you’ve got some tiny tomatoes around, I highly recommend the following recipe as everything can bake all together, making meal prep a breeze.
Next time I make these though, I def want to try and make mini vegan pepperonis for these – as that sounds both tasty and SO cute. 🙂
I’ve gotten a bunch of different sized tomatoes in my last few CSA boxes, so I’m all about finding fun ways to use tomatoes right now. This is definitely a good one. And if you’ve never gotten into polenta before, you must give this a try! We’re using precooked polenta (cornmeal), so this is something that literally anyone could make, and bonus points that it’s gluten free. 🙂
Mini Polenta Pizzas, makes about 20 (could be a meal for two with a veggie side or a salad)
18 oz. package of polenta, usually found in the refrigerated section (see above)
2 tablespoons olive oil, divided (or other cooking oil you prefer)
1 heaping cup cherry or mini tomatoes (sometimes called sangria tomatoes)
salt and pepper
1/3 cup tomato sauce (homemade or store bought)
1/3 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Peel off the polenta packaging and pat dry. Slice into thin rounds, about 1/4 inch each (or slightly thinner is OK too). Gently brush each with oil, you’ll use about 1 tablespoon total. Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment or a baking mat. Season with a little salt and pepper.
Cut the tomatoes in half. Toss in the remaining 1 tablespoon oil. Place on a baking sheet lined with a baking mat or parchment. Season with a little salt.
Now place both baking sheets in an oven that has been preheated to 450° for 25 minutes. After the initial 25 minutes, remove the polenta from the oven and flip each round. Rotate the pans and bake for another 20 to 25 minutes. The polenta should just begin to look very brown and crispy on the edges. The tomatoes will look very juicy (see below).
Remove both pans from the oven. Top the polenta with tomato sauce (or pesto) and the cheese. Pop those back in the oven for 3-4 minutes until the cheese melts. Now top each with the oven roasted tomatoes.
If you have a little Parmesan or fresh basil, those make excellent additions as well. These are crispy on the outside but still just a little soft at the centers and oh so good – make these for your next movie night at home! xo. Emma
P.S. If you love polenta, you could also try this baked polenta tomato salad. Mmmmm!
Credits // Author and Photography: Emma Chapman.
16 Comments
Even if it take some time to create this delicious recipe, I am going for it! Thanks for sharing:-)
This looks so good! http://www.hannamarielei.com
These look & sound so so delicious!! I love mini pizzas & roasted tomatoes are my favourite, they’re just on a whole other level ^_^
Katie // wordsbykatie.com
I have a ton of cherry tomatoes in my garden. I’m going to make these for dinner. Leaving for the market right now, hope they have the polenta!
Yum! Gonna try that for dinner next week!
http://www.petiteandhungry.com
These are too cute! I would never even think to do this with polenta. I know they were delicious!
Keshia
http://www.queenlifeblog.com
These look and sound so good! I never would have thought of this. Thanks for sharing!
This looks SO delicious!!
I really should try this 🙂
x
Celien | The Losing Struggle
I am so making these! They look so good.
http://annescribblesanddoodles.blogspot.com
They look amazingly delicious!
https://www.makeandmess.com/
Freakin’ genius! Any other healthy ideas for the base other than polenta?
yum… yum yum… yum yum yum yum yum…
i think a song of korean.
it looks so delicious.
xoxo
i made this on friday night after reading this post! and it was SO delish – thank you for the awesome recipe idea.
the only thing is that i couldn’t find precooked polenta anywhere – so i whipped up some polenta from bob’s red mill, and made 2 larger size pizzas for me & the husbo. this recipe may get some regular rotation in our lives now 🙂
photo here: https://www.instagram.com/p/BJCGT2dh5Br/
(totally used colorstory w/ that pic, too)
xx e
These look so amazing! I really need to try these.
Jen / Velvet Spring x
Yum! How delicious!
-Kate // http://www.classyandkate.com
This are so adorable. I’m going to make them for lunch. What a great idea for polenta. Can’t wait to try them. Thanks for sharing.