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    You are Here: Masala Herb » Recipes » Casserole

    Layered Polenta Casserole Recipe

    October 1, 2012 by Helene Dsouza 65 Comments

    7.2K shares
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    • Bluesky
    Helene Dsouza
    A layered Polenta casserole dish. You can also use grits instead of polenta in this dish.
    Total Time: 50 minutes minutes
    Prep Time: 25 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes
    4 servings
    RECIPE
    Layered Polenta Casserole Recipe
    Layered Polenta Casserole Recipe
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    Jump to:
    • 📕 What is Polenta?
    • 📜 Polenta Casserole variations
    • 👁️ More Casserole Recipes
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    📕 What is Polenta?

    Polenta is a typical Italian, central European maize (cornmeal) porridge type.

    Polenta resembles grits, but it's deep yellow.

    Before polenta was introduced to Europe, they used other ingredients such as chestnut flour or millet.

    Polenta is cooked with liquids such as water, stocks or milk for a couple of minutes.

    It's a very quick side dish to prepare and you can easily alter the flavors to your liking.

    Layered Polenta Casserole Recipe

    This layered polenta casserole includes some Mediterranean flavors.

    I add basil and olives to the tomato paste to enhance the flavors.

    That way you can enjoy this baked polenta dish on its own.

    However, I like to serve it with a green salad or a broccoli radish salad for a change.

    📜 Polenta Casserole variations

    You can also enhance this casserole dish by adding the following ingredients to the sauce.

    • Rotisserie Chicken
    • Cooked Shrimp
    • Tuna Flakes
    • Canned Chickpeas
    • Leftover ham from the holidays

    👁️ More Casserole Recipes

    • Broccoli Casserole
    • Potato Egg Casserole
    • Spaghetti Squash Carbonara Casserole
    • Green Bean Casserole
    Layered Polenta Casserole Recipe

    📖 Recipe

    Layered Polenta Casserole Recipe

    Layered Polenta Casserole Recipe

    A layered Polenta casserole dish. You can also use grits instead of polenta in this dish.
    4.75 from 8 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Italian
    Prep Time: 25 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 50 minutes minutes
    Servings: 4 servings
    Calories: 342kcal
    Recipe by: Helene Dsouza

    Ingredients

    For the Polenta Layer:

    • 1 cup Polenta
    • ½ cup Water
    • ½ cup Milk
    • 2 Tablespoon Butter
    • pinch Salt
    • pinch Black Pepper Ground

    For the Tomato, Olive Layer:

    • 10 Olives whole or sliced
    • 1 cups Tomato Sauce
    • pinch Salt
    • pinch Black Pepper Ground
    • Basil optional

    For the White Sauce (Bechamel):

    • 1 Tablespoon Butter
    • 1 Tablespoon All-purpose Flour
    • 1 ¾ cups Milk
    • pinch Salt
    • pinch Black Pepper Ground

    For the Topping:

    • Parmesan
    US - Metric

    Instructions

    • For the Polenta, cook the Polenta, water, milk, butter, salt, and pepper together. Keep on low heat and stir continuously for about 5 minutes. 
    • Keep your attention towards the Polenta, cause it can burn on really quickly and cooks up super fast. Remove it from the heat once it starts to boil up.
    • Spread half amount of the polenta into a baking dish to create the first layer.
    • For the white sauce, heat up a saucepan with the butter.
    • Continue adding in the White flour. Keep on stirring with a whisk on slow heat. 
    • Then pour in the milk. Stir well, season and keep on whisking the sauce till it gets thick by itself. Remove from the heat and keep aside.
    • Preheat your oven to 350 Celsius/ 180 Fahrenheit.
    • Mix the Tomato Sauce with the olives, basil, salt, and black pepper
    • Spread the mixed tomato sauce over the polenta layer
    • Then add the remaining polenta to form the layer over the tomato paste.
    • Then spread the white sauce over the polenta to create a creamy layer.
    • At last spread the Parmesan Cheese over the white sauce.
      Layered Polenta Casserole Recipe
    • Bake the casserole dish for about 15 minutes at 350 Fahrenheit/180 Celsius.

    Notes

    1. Use a homemade or readymade tomato sauce. I made my own chunky tomato sauce by adding whole onions to it for texture. You can add regular ragu as well.

    Nutrition

    Nutrition Facts
    Layered Polenta Casserole Recipe
    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 342 Calories from Fat 135
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 15g23%
    Saturated Fat 8g40%
    Cholesterol 36mg12%
    Sodium 612mg26%
    Potassium 438mg13%
    Carbohydrates 43g14%
    Fiber 1g4%
    Sugar 9g10%
    Protein 9g18%
    Vitamin A 875IU18%
    Vitamin C 4.3mg5%
    Calcium 168mg17%
    Iron 1.2mg7%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    7.2K shares
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    I am Helene, and I created Masala Herb in 2011. Here you will learn to cook with spices and herbs. I share from scratch, international food recipes and my mission is to teach you to cook flavorful food at home. Read More…

    MasalaHerb.com as seen on

    Comments

      4.75 from 8 votes (8 ratings without comment)

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    1. N says

      January 20, 2025 at 11:06 pm

      Might want to recheck the oven temp - think it's reversed!

      Reply
    2. Peggy says

      August 19, 2024 at 6:55 pm

      What kind of olives? Green or black?

      Reply
      • Helene Dsouza says

        August 19, 2024 at 7:29 pm

        I like using black ones but green are ok too.

        Reply
    3. Tina Rinella says

      January 27, 2024 at 1:25 am

      Easy Polenta….delicious and fast
      1/8 t salt
      3/4 c polenta
      3 c water
      Nuke for 8 min.
      Stir
      Nuke for 3 min.
      Stir with lotsa butter/evoo
      General measurements - 1/4 polenta to 1 cup water

      Reply
    4. Margaret says

      April 28, 2023 at 2:58 am

      I didn’t see ham on the ingredient list, did I miss something? I want to try this and Use for a meatless Monday.

      Reply
      • Helene Dsouza says

        April 28, 2023 at 12:00 pm

        The recipe doesn't include meat, but I mentioned in the post that the recipe can be adjusted by adding meat or seafood to the dish, it's under the title “Polenta Casserole variations”. If you want to make this for meatless Monday, you can just use the base recipe (as it is written in the recipe card), since it's vegetarian and therefore meatless. I hope this helps.

        Reply
    5. Yve says

      September 03, 2022 at 2:39 am

      I wish only people who made it would comment. I'd like reviews to be about how it tastes - not how the photos look.

      Reply
    6. Lyn @LovelyPantry says

      October 11, 2012 at 7:45 am

      I've never had polenta prepared this way before! This looks so rich and tasty! Lovely one, Helene!

      Reply
      • Helene Dsouza says

        October 13, 2012 at 2:30 pm

        Oh yes its rich but not too much either and I feel with the mediterranean touch it can be nearly enjoyed with any weather. Thank you Lyn! 😀

        Reply
    7. albertocook says

      October 06, 2012 at 1:49 pm

      Hi, i'm Alberto from Italy i live in Friuli Venezia Giulia under Austria.
      Your recipe is like one of my family....
      You have more beautifull recipe in your blog.

      Reply
    8. Kim Bee says

      October 06, 2012 at 7:42 am

      Okay seriously this is pure genius. I am really loving this. I would have never thought to do this.

      Reply
    9. Sissi says

      October 04, 2012 at 3:30 pm

      I love this polenta gratin and would never have the idea to cook polenta this way.

      Reply
      • Helene Dsouza says

        October 04, 2012 at 3:40 pm

        Hi sissi!
        this dish came to my mind some months ago in austria when I had no lasagne sheets to make lasagne. ^.^

        Reply
    10. Hotly Spiced says

      October 04, 2012 at 10:17 am

      That's a beautiful looking dish with so many wonderful ingredients. This is definitely something my whole family would enjoy. And I love your image of the butterfly! xx

      Reply
      • Helene Dsouza says

        October 04, 2012 at 3:37 pm

        Thank you Charlie! xo

        Reply
    11. Kiran @ KiranTarun.com says

      October 04, 2012 at 3:45 am

      It's hard to believe I've never used or tasted polenta before. Ever. And that looks mouth-watering 😀

      Reply
      • Helene Dsouza says

        October 04, 2012 at 3:29 pm

        That's really hard to believe Kiran, you have to check it out, its so versatile!

        Reply
    12. Coffee and Crumpets says

      October 04, 2012 at 7:53 am

      Cheesy and decadent! Looks delicious, I would have to make it without the ham though 🙂 I always try to use quality ingredients but every now and then I will choose a store brand, but a good store brand. Some of them are a great deal like the Whole Foods brand.

      Reply
      • Helene Dsouza says

        October 04, 2012 at 3:36 pm

        That's odd because here its pretty much the opposite most of the time with quality products. Those famous brands don't have great quality, the smaller ones, made and created by people who live in the neighborhood, are always organic and taste much better. For example the olives I used are imported by a family friend from Crete and he keeps his olives, the oil and cheese in the local stores for sale.

        Reply
      • Julie says

        December 24, 2022 at 2:55 pm

        Quality? Start researching all ingredients period, everything is toxic in our foods. At least for the past year bioengineered ingredients aka GMO is listed on basically everything.
        Transhumanism began long ago. You are what you eat.
        Mother Nature provides abundance from the garden. The sun and water ensures growth. Everything else is man-made.
        We think there's so many brands when actually a handful of families buy/bought out everyone else eons ago and it's all the same poison.
        For eyes to see and ears to hear.
        Be safe out there.

        Reply
    13. Vicki Bensinger says

      October 04, 2012 at 7:41 am

      I've never made a layered polenta dish before but this looks incredible. I love all the flavors going on here. This dish spells comfort, so I'm sure on a rough day of work this hit the spot!

      Reply
      • Helene Dsouza says

        October 04, 2012 at 3:33 pm

        Vicki I am glad that you think the same way as I do. =D

        Reply
    14. kitchenriffs says

      October 04, 2012 at 4:58 am

      Great dish! I really like polenta, but have never had it in a casserole. Really nice combo of flavors that you've put together, and perfect for the chilly weather we're beginning to enjoy. Good stuff - thanks.

      Reply
      • Helene Dsouza says

        October 04, 2012 at 3:31 pm

        Thank you, exactly my thought. Even here it will get cooler in the nights and that day when I made it was a typical rainy monsoon sunday.

        Reply
    15. Prathima Rao says

      October 03, 2012 at 12:46 pm

      Im literally drooling here!! For me this is the comfort good & would not mind induging in this almost every day!!!!Cheesy & has a nice, perfect slice..Do send me some Helena 🙂

      Reply
      • Helene Dsouza says

        October 03, 2012 at 7:50 pm

        Wish I could send you some, you life too far away go! =P

        Reply
    16. Sanjeeta kk says

      October 03, 2012 at 2:11 pm

      A recipe to treasure Helena! Am baking one for me this weekend...can't wait to bite into it.

      Reply
      • Helene Dsouza says

        October 03, 2012 at 7:49 pm

        oh cool let me know how you liked it! =D

        Reply
    17. ATasteOfMadness says

      October 03, 2012 at 7:23 am

      That sounds like every day to me 😉 This looks delicious! I'm in LOVE with all the cheese!

      Reply
      • Helene Dsouza says

        October 04, 2012 at 3:28 pm

        I am in love with it too ^.^ nice cheesey and home made!

        Reply
    18. Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella says

      October 03, 2012 at 9:49 am

      That looks like a big hug in a serve! 😀

      Reply
      • Helene Dsouza says

        October 04, 2012 at 3:42 pm

        LOL

        Reply
    19. Minnie@thelady8home says

      October 03, 2012 at 5:44 am

      What a beautiful polenta~! So cheesey, and full of rich flavors. Ham has always been a problem in India. I hope someday they start getting really standard quality of ham out there.

      Reply
      • Helene Dsouza says

        October 04, 2012 at 3:27 pm

        Oh yeah I hope for that as well! Whatever they r selling smells weird when defrosted. They don't sell fresh pink ham here around

        Reply
    20. shuhan says

      October 03, 2012 at 3:38 am

      yum yum! firsti've heard of polenta in casserole, but of course it would be brilliant, since it goes so well with cheese!

      Reply
      • Helene Dsouza says

        October 04, 2012 at 3:24 pm

        I had the same thought shuhan. 😉

        Reply
    21. mjskit says

      October 03, 2012 at 12:44 am

      This does look like a rather heavy, but comforting dish! Perfect for the winter when I tend to make casseroles. Love the layers of polenta and of course, the olives - definitely have to have good olives! Thanks for the story behind your name! Very interesting and your pictures are gorgeous!

      Reply
      • Helene Dsouza says

        October 03, 2012 at 6:48 pm

        thank you MJ! Its great when its rather cool outside and especially in winter when we like to get reminded of the warm Mediterranean sea.

        Reply
    22. Kitchen Belleicious says

      October 03, 2012 at 12:08 am

      I never thought to use polenta in a casserole but it is just genius! I must give it a try

      Reply
      • Helene Dsouza says

        October 03, 2012 at 6:44 pm

        for sure totaly worthwhile to try this dish out

        Reply
    23. Angie@Angie's Recipes says

      October 02, 2012 at 9:49 pm

      A comforting and delicious casserole, Helene. The golden cheesy topping looks marvelous.

      Reply
    24. Kristy says

      October 02, 2012 at 7:03 pm

      Oh look at that cheesy layered goodness! Fabulous dish Helene. I love how you named your blog too. This was a fun post to read. And I love the photo with the rose! So pretty!

      Reply
      • Helene Dsouza says

        October 02, 2012 at 8:59 pm

        Glad you had your fun here, thats the whole purpose of this blog post. =D

        Reply
    25. Joanne says

      October 02, 2012 at 6:07 pm

      I am DEFINITELY in a comfort food kind of mood so this sounds perfect!

      Reply
      • Helene Dsouza says

        October 02, 2012 at 8:57 pm

        Hi Joanne! I was a bit worried about you after hearing the devastating news...

        Reply
    26. Liz says

      October 02, 2012 at 5:53 pm

      This looks phenomenal, Helene!!! Your photography is impressive, too 🙂

      Reply
      • Helene Dsouza says

        October 02, 2012 at 8:58 pm

        thank you Liz! and that from the baking queen in person. 😉

        Reply
    27. Terra says

      October 02, 2012 at 8:40 am

      Polenta is my favorite! I love love your recipe....AND soooooo need to make your gorgeous recipe:-) That looks like some layered happiness! Your pics are beautiful:-) Hugs, Terra

      Reply
      • Helene Dsouza says

        October 02, 2012 at 2:44 pm

        I had a feeling that it would be your kind of food Terra. layered happiness is the right word. hehe =D

        Reply
    28. Cass @foodmyfriend says

      October 02, 2012 at 7:39 am

      I know that feeling! I am always craving carbs at night. I love meals like this. Make you feel all warm and sleepy.

      Reply
      • Helene Dsouza says

        October 02, 2012 at 2:42 pm

        exactly, it gives u a feeling of peace in the night before going to sleep.

        Reply
    29. Rosa says

      October 02, 2012 at 12:24 pm

      It looks absolutely delicious! That is sucha wonderful and comforting dish.

      Cheers,

      Rosa

      Reply
      • Helene Dsouza says

        October 02, 2012 at 2:47 pm

        Thank you Rosa, glad you like the idea of this dish. 😉

        Reply
    30. Choc Chip Uru says

      October 02, 2012 at 8:54 am

      What a unique way to eat polenta 🙂
      Such cheesy goodness!

      Cheers
      Choc Chip Uru
      P.S. Come enter my international giveaway to celebrate my 1st Blogiversary!

      Reply
      • Helene Dsouza says

        October 02, 2012 at 2:45 pm

        Great to satisfy our senses and super filling after a long day. Don't u think? 😉

        Reply
    31. foodwanderings says

      October 02, 2012 at 7:08 am

      Love this lasagne like polenta casserole Helene. I bet it is packed with flavor. Lovely post and waving hi! 🙂

      Reply
      • Helene Dsouza says

        October 02, 2012 at 2:40 pm

        huhu Shulie! =)

        Oh yes its stuffed with wonderful flavors and in the same time its not overwhelming. Best way to enjoy it is with some green salad and french dressing and some good wine.

        Reply
    32. Nami | Just One Cookbook says

      October 01, 2012 at 9:30 pm

      I have only had polenta probably a few number of times, but not in cheesy casserole like this! Looks wonderful, Helene! Casserole is perfect for chilly weather and very comforting...

      Reply
      • Helene Dsouza says

        October 02, 2012 at 2:17 pm

        Nami, I know you will enjoy it, in fact I bet that anybody will like it who loves cheese. The weather is changing in the world so its getting slowly colder all over the northern hemisphere, thats why I thought of sharing my polenta casserole.

        Reply
    33. Aparna B. says

      October 01, 2012 at 7:07 pm

      Yumm! I love polenta! what a unique idea to bake it this way like a lasagna. Looks so yummy!

      Reply
      • Helene Dsouza says

        October 02, 2012 at 2:31 pm

        exactly like a lasagne. =) u can make it without ham if you want aparna! I know u r vegetarian, so I tried to make it in a way that it can be easily modified.

        Reply
    34. FiSh says

      October 01, 2012 at 6:56 pm

      delicious! and it's so cheesy 🙂

      Reply
      • Helene Dsouza says

        October 02, 2012 at 2:15 pm

        you bet! cheesy goodness... mhm 😀

        Reply
        • FiSh says

          October 04, 2012 at 6:51 pm

          exactly! so delicious but i hope it's not sinful to me

          Reply
          • Helene Dsouza says

            October 05, 2012 at 12:22 pm

            lol no don't worry, its not that heavy at the end. I added a white sauce instead of heavy cream. For me its heavy because we eat very very light compared to what we r used to in europe.

            Reply

    Welcome

    Hi there! I'm Helene and here you will learn how to cook with spices and herbs. Discover global food and learn to season your food like a pro. Read more about my work and mission or head over to my food ingredient space, Unknownbite.com, and our travel space, Paulmarina.com!

    More About Me ->








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