There are days when you want to spend time putting together a meal. Spending an hour chopping vegetables, stirring a pot on the stove, carefully garnishing the finished dish, that's all fine on those kinds of days. And then there are days when you're tired and you want to throw something in the oven and forget about it until the timer goes off.
For those days, I present to you: Baked Polenta Fries. If you haven't had them before, they're polenta cut into steak fries and baked until crispy on the outside. Magic happens when you bake polenta. Yes, really, magic! Although they take about 40 minutes to bake, they require minimal effort on your part--just take a tube of polenta, cut it into fries, and bake until crisp and golden and browned on the edges. Magic!
We usually have our polenta fries with jarred marinara sauce, but I thought I'd make an easy garlic tomato sauce to go with this recipe, just in case you're feeling ambitious. This adds a little more work, but not much. The tomatoes and garlic are roasted at the same temperature as the fries and then you give them a quick spin in your food processor to puree them into a sauce.
This post was originally published on May 30, 2013.
Recipe
Ingredients
- 24 oz polenta tubed, halved and cut into 1 inch thick fries. I used Basil & Garlic
- olive oil mister or cooking spray
- salt + pepper to taste
- 3 roma tomatoes cut into large chunks
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1 tsp. olive oil
- 1 tsp. balsamic vinegar
- 3 basil leaves
- pinch crushed red pepper flakes optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Spray two baking sheets with olive oil.
- Place polenta fries on one baking sheet. Spray tops with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Place tomatoes and garlic cloves on second baking sheet and spray with additional oil.
- Transfer both sheets to oven, placing the tomatoes on lower rack. Bake tomatoes for 10 minutes, stirring after 5. Bake fries for 25-30 minutes more, until crisp and golden-brown.
- Transfer tomatoes and garlic to food processor and add olive oil, vinegar, basil leaves, and red pepper flakes. Process until almost smooth. Add salt to taste. Serve sauce with polenta fries.
Anele @ Success Along the Weigh says
Dude, I am SO making these!! Grocery time is Sunday, it just went on my list!
[email protected] says
Wow, such a cool way to use the polenta! I love it - so creative 🙂 Very nice pictures as well!
Martina says
What a great idea! These look great.
Oh and I must check out that resturnat the next time I'm in Charleston - such a beautiful city. Although Savannah is next on the list to visit and I'm really excited about that!
Have a great time!
Martina
http://snapshotsandwhatnots.typepad.com
Kiersten says
Savannah is awesome--you will love it! There's a great vegetarian restaurant there called Vegheads too. 🙂
Grace @ FoodFitnessFreshAir says
Yum, the pictures are selling me on this one! These look great. It's been awhile since I've done something with polenta. Might have to change that.
Shelly (Pastry Shells) says
This is awesome! Do you have a favorite brand of polenta you like to use?
Kiersten says
I haven't noticed any brands that are better than others. Melissa's makes a few different flavors and so does San Gennaro. 🙂
Caitlin says
i've always made my own polenta, but the prebought version looks much more sturdy and better for becoming fries! i love this idea considering there are definitely days where i'm in no mood to be in the kitchen for an extended period of time. and i must try your sauce!
Kiersten says
Yeah, it depends how you make your homemade polenta--I've made some that ended up crumbly and some that ended up pretty solid. But in general, I prefer using the pre-made polenta for fries. 🙂
Reba - Not So Perfect Life says
I love everything polenta related! I've never tried the tube polenta though only made it from scratch. Is there a big difference?
Kiersten says
Well, like most foods, the biggest difference between store-bought and homemade is that homemade takes much longer! 🙂 And homemade usually tastes better too, but for the sake of convenience, in recipes like this I usually use the kind in a tube.
Rachel says
Yay for visiting Charleston! We do have some awesome restaurants, but I'm sad to tell you that, as far as I know, PatatSpot closed a while ago. It was really delicious while it lasted.. 🙁
Kiersten says
Thanks for letting me know--such sad news! 🙁 I will remember their Indonesian ketchup fondly.
Mary Beth Elderton says
Wow! This sounds wonderful!
Janet says
Can I make these using homemade polenta? I make my polenta in the oven, so maybe I need to spread it out in a pan and then cut it? Any ideas?
Kiersten says
Yes, homemade polenta works too! You'll want to put it in a shallow dish (maybe even a rimmed baking sheet?), let it set, and then cut it into fries.
Georgia says
YUM! I love the idea of these chips and a homemade sauce as apposed to a sweet, bought sauce 🙂 Looks fab!
http://thepescetarianpantry.blogspot.co.uk
Gwen @SimplyHealthyFamily says
I could eat this by itself for dinner!
angela @ another bite please says
oooo...lovin this idea. and what a simple tomatoe garlic sauce...have fun in your travels 🙂
Robin Gagnon {Mom Foodie} says
This is the kind of polenta I like.
dixya| food, pleasure, and health says
i have never tried making fries with these but absolutely in love with polenta. Need to make this soon.
Puja @ Indiaphile.info says
What a great idea! Baked polenta fries sound delicious. Have a great time at the wedding! 🙂
Maria Tadic says
Polenta fries are awesome - love them - crispy on the outside but still creamy on the inside. Delicious! Have fun in Charleston - one of my favorite cities in the US. Next time I go, Im definitely going to have to try that falafel place!
Kiersten says
Unfortunately, the falafel place closed. 🙁 I got a few comments letting me know about it. So sad! Charleston is still a cool city, but now whenever I go there, I'll be thinking about how Patat Spot is gone. Sigh.
Laura (Tutti Dolci) says
I love polenta, these fries look incredible!
polly kohler says
Just great. Roping my sister into a day in the kitchen for trying out some of your wonderful dishes. Turned her and my son onto your site. They love it! Great success with the cookbook .
Kiersten says
Thanks for spreading the word about my blog! 😀 I appreciate it!
Rachel @ Rachel's Giveaways says
Lately I've been craving junk food. I wonder if this would be a healthier way to satisfy my desire for crunchy fries 🙂
Kiersten says
They are definitely less calories than fries made with potatoes and I think they're more filling too!
Hannah @ CleanEatingVeggieGirl says
This is genius!! I have been wanting to try cooking with polenta for awhile now, and this sounds like the perfect recipe!! 🙂
Cassie | Bake Your Day says
I love this! I have never bought polenta in a tube like that but now I can't wait to try it!
Natalie @ Once Upon a Cutting Board says
Polenta fries have been on my mind since I saw a recipe for them in a cookbook a while ago, but I never even thought of just making them with a tube of precooked polenta - so smart! And I love that you could have different flavour combos using the flavoured polenta tubes!
Christy@SweetandSavoring says
Ooh your little getaway sounds like so much fun! Have a good time at the wedding 🙂
We love polenta in my house, and these fries are so doable!
Sarah says
I hate to be the one to break the bad news, but unfortunately Patat Spot closed a few months ago. 🙁 It was one of me and my husband's favorite places to grab a quick bite downtown, too. If you do still visit Charleston and are looking for something similar, you may want to try The Green Door ( http://www.thegreendoorchs.com/ ) - they have super tasty, fresh food and I think they even have a falafel type sandwich. Have a great trip!
Kiersten says
I read this comment when we were on our way to Georgia--so, so sad! 🙁 I loved that place. Sigh. Thanks for the tip about The Green Door! We ended up not having the time to stop in Charleston on the way home, but next time I'll know where to go!