This polenta dish is super quick and easy to make. It’s great when you’re short on time but want something delicious and filling. I often make it as a quick weekday lunch or dinner. All in all the recipe requires only 10 ingredients and your food is on the table in just 20 minutes.
For this recipe I used express or instant polenta. This type of polenta is steamed and dried before it’s packaged which is why it cooks much quicker. Of course, you can also use regular polenta – just be aware that it takes a lot longer to cook. The polenta is topped with zucchini, cherry tomatoes and chickpeas which are cooked together with dried oregano, a pinch of salt and some lemon juice. I also like to add a few fresh parsley leaves as garnish. Simple but delicious.
If you’re looking for more quick and easy recipes, make sure to check out these dishes:
I hope you enjoy this polenta dish with zucchini, cherry tomatoes and chickpeas. Please let me know how you go in the comments and don’t forget to tag @nothangryanymore in your creations on Instagram. I love seeing them!
Annick
Polenta with Zucchini, Cherry Tomatoes and Chickpeas
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Ingredients
Polenta
- 125 g express/instant polenta
- 500 g water
- 1 pinch salt
Zucchini and Chickpeas
- 1/2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 zucchini (about 220g)
- 1 can chickpeas (240g chickpeas once drained)
- 1/2 tsp dried oregano
- 1/2 lemon
- 1 pinch salt
- 120 g cherry tomatoes
- 1 handful fresh parsley leaves
Instructions
Polenta
- Heat up the water in a pot. Once the water is boiling, add a pinch of salt and slowly pour in the polenta while stirring. Continuously stir the polenta for about 3 minutes until the polenta has soaked up all the water and a smooth and even mixture forms.
Zucchini and Chickpeas
- While the water for the polenta is coming to the boil, finely slice the zucchini with a mandolin or knife.
- Drain and rinse the chickpeas.
- Heat up a pan and add the olive oil and zucchini. Cook everything for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Now add the chickpeas, dried oregano, juice from 1/2 lemon and salt. Give everything a mix and cook it for another 5 minutes.
- Finally, cut the cherry tomatoes in half and add them to the zucchini and chickpeas. Cook for 2 minutes.
- Serve the cooked zucchini and chickpeas on top of a bed of polenta. Garnish with fresh parsley leaves. Enjoy!
FAQ
Absolutely. Just keep in mind that it can take 30-40 minutes until the polenta is fully cooked. Once finished, the polenta should be tender and have a thick and creamy consistency.
To prevent lumps from forming, gradually add the polenta to the boiling liquid, whisking constantly. Because instant polenta cooks so quickly I recommend you keep stirring constantly to ensure no lumps form. If you cook regular polenta, stir the polenta in regular intervals to help to prevent lumps from forming.
Yes, polenta is made from corn and is usually gluten free and coeliac friendly. However, it’s always best to make sure to check the back of the packaging if you have an allergy.