RECIPE: Polenta Pizza

Pizza Time!

 

Polenta is golden-yellow cornmeal made from ground maize which only takes a few minutes to cream up to make an easy pizza base. This was my first attempt at making a base from polenta and it was remarkably simple. Whip up a quick tomato sauce, throw some veggies on top and 'wah-lah', a pizza is born!

 

Makes 1 large pizza

 

Ingredients

 

2 cups water (may vary depending on polenta used)

1 cup polenta

1 cup homemade tomato sauce*

2 cups fresh spinach

handful cherry tomatoes

1 yellow pepper, sliced

1/2 courgette, sliced

1/2 red chilli, finely diced

Any other of your favourite veggie toppings

 

*homemade tomato sauce recipe (makes around 4-5 cups worth)

500g carton tomato passata

2x 400g can chopped tomatoes, drained

2 tsp dried basil

2 tsp dried oregano

1 tsp dried thyme

1 tsp onion powder

1/4 tsp chilli flakes

1 tbsp agave nectar

- Combine all ingredients in a saucepan and simmer on medium-high heat for 3-4 minutes.

- Decrease heat to low and simmer for further 5-10 minutes.

- Use 1 cup worth for the pizza and refrigerate/freeze the rest for a later date.

 

1. Preheat oven to 200 degrees celcius. Line a pizza tray with parchment paper.

 

2. Bring water to a boil. Add the polenta and whisk constantly until the mixture thickens and there are no lumps (instructions may vary).

 

3. Pour polenta onto the parchment paper and flatten out with a rolling pin into desired crust. Pre bake the crust for 10 minutes.

 

4. Remove the crust, add tomato sauce and your toppings of choice. Return to the oven and bake for a further 10-15 minutes.

 

5. Slice the pizza into healthy portions and enjoy! Serve with a big leafy salad.

 

TIPS

- You may need to heat up the tomato sauce to thicken it up a bit before using it on the pizza.