Cheesy Polenta with Maple Balsamic Roasted Beets
Change up your meal with this rich, cheesy polenta topped with maple balsamic roasted beets. A delicious dish that is of flavor, hearty and so satisfying, this cheesy polenta recipe will become a favorite!
Suitable for vegetarian and gluten free diets.
Post includes Weight Watchers points.
Can I tempt you to try this easy peasy creamy cheesy polenta with a whole load of balsamic roasted beets?
We are a family that love cheese on everything. As in cheese and pickle sandwiches for breakfast (yep), stovetop mac and cheese and cheese with a crunchy chilli sauce for a ‘just because’ snack. Basically, I don’t dare run out of cheese. Ever.
This also means that I get to serve a lot of cheese-related dinner dishes like this baked tortellini casserole in colder months and cheese sandwiches cut into shapes during the summer. A tip here – don’t ever try to cut out a T-Rex shaped cheese sandwich.
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Recently, I have been trying to introduce new cheese dishes to shake up things a little bit, starting with this cheesy polenta, topped simply with maple balsamic roasted beetroot.
Honestly, this is one of my favorite new dishes as it is so simple to make, yet the flavors blend together very well.
Polenta is one of those creamy, comforting foods that I tend to fall back to when I want to eat differently. The magic happens when you make a cheesy creamy polenta like this one.
Why Make This Recipe
- Tasty and Comforting: This dish combines creamy cheese polenta with sweet-tangy roasted beets for a delicious, comforting meal.
- Diet-Friendly: This is the perfect polenta for vegetarian and gluten-free diets.
- Easy Recipe: Simple creamy polenta recipe for both beginners and experienced cooks.
Handy Tip: Use Good Kitchen Tools!
For the best tools to help make your recipe even easier and more successful, check out my collection of the Best Kitchen Tools on Amazon.
Ingredients Needed
- Beets: Add sweet and earthy flavors, roasted for tenderness.
- Olive Oil: Coats beets for roasting, adding richness.
- Salt: Enhances overall flavor.
- Balsamic Vinegar: Adds tanginess to the roasted beets.
- Maple Syrup: Provides sweetness, complementing the beets.
- Vegetable Stock: Forms the base for cooking the polenta.
- Polenta: Creates the creamy texture of the dish.
- Sharp Cheddar Cheese: Adds a rich and cheesy flavor to the polenta.
Ready to learn how to make polenta with balsamic roasted beets? Then gather up your ingredients, and I will show you…
How To Make Cheesy Polenta With Balsamic Roasted Beets
Get the complete ingredients list and instructions from the recipe card below.
Make the maple balsamic roasted beets:
- Preheat the oven.
- Peel and cut beetroots into bite-sized pieces.
- Transfer the beetroot pieces into a prepared baking tray and mix in the oil and salt.
- Roast for 20 minutes until they are tender but still with a bit of a bite.
- Next, remove the beetroot from the oven and mix in the balsamic vinegar and maple syrup and then return to the oven for a further 5 minutes.
- Switch off the heat, remove the Maple Balsamic Roasted Beetroot and then keep warm.
Make the polenta:
- Add the stock to a pot and bring to a boil, then slowly add in the polenta, whisking continuously, till it thickens.
- Reduce the heat to low and then stir for a few minutes with a wooden spoon.
- Then cover and stir every 7 minutes or so, until the polenta is cooked. The whole cooking process takes about 45 minutes. The polenta is cooked when it is very thick and falls away from the side of the pan.
- When done, stir in the cheddar cheese and salt and remove from heat.
- Serve your cooked polenta with maple balsamic roasted beets and extra toppings, as desired.
Expert Tips
- This recipe calls for regular polenta, NOT the quick-cooking variety or instant polenta.
- Do not let the polenta stand after cooking or it will solidify and be hard to mix. As soon as you are done cooking it, mix it and then decant into bowls while it is still warm.
- You can vary the polenta flavoring to suit your taste. For example, swap the cheddar cheese for other cheeses of your choice.
- Top creamy cheesy polenta with green onion, extra cheese, grilled mushroom or grilled chicken breast. Yum!
Delicious Variations
- Instant Pot Polenta: To find out how to make pressure cooker polenta, head over to this Instant Pot Polenta Recipe.
- Grilled Vegetables: Switch out the balsamic beets for a medley of grilled or roasted vegetables such as zucchini, bell peppers, and cherry tomatoes.
- Mushroom Ragout: Sautéed mushrooms in a flavorful sauce make a delicious and savory topping for cheesy polenta.
- Sundried Tomato Pesto: Try topping the creamy polenta with a sundried tomato pesto to bring a totally different flavor to the dish.
- Caramelized Onions: Sweet and golden caramelized onions add depth and sweetness to polenta.
- Change Up The Cheese: Try this polenta recipe with different cheese such as grated parmesan cheese.
Prep and Storage
- Prep Ahead- Roast beets and cook polenta in advance; store separately. Prepare toppings and beet glaze ahead. Reheat components before serving.
- Store- Keep leftover polenta, beets, glaze, and toppings in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
- Reheat- Reheat polenta and beets on the stove or in the microwave. Gently reheat glaze and toppings as needed before assembling.
FAQs
Polenta is a dish of boiled coarse cornmeal that can be creamy and smooth or set and sliced.
While both come from ground corn, cornmeal is the raw ingredient, and polenta is the cooked dish.
Whisk continuously while adding polenta to boiling liquid. Stir consistently during the cooking process.
Peel and cut beets into bite-sized pieces before roasting.
Use a fork to check for tenderness. Beets should be easily pierced but still have a bit of firmness.
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Serving Suggestions
Weight Watchers Points
One serving of this cheesy polenta recipe contains just 8 Freestyle SmartPoints.
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Cheesy Polenta with Maple Balsamic Roasted Beets
Ingredients
Maple Balsamic Roasted Beetroot Ingredients:
- 4 large beetroots
- 1 tablespoons olive oil
- salt
- 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
Cheesy Polenta Ingredients:
- 4 cups (1 L) vegetable stock
- 1 cup (160g) polenta
- 2/3 cup (150g) grated cheddar cheese I used Wyke Farms cheese
- salt
- extra grated cheese and sliced spring onions for serving
Instructions
Maple Balsamic Roasted Beetroot Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F / fan-assisted 190 degrees C / 210 degrees C / gas 7.
- Peel the beets and cut them into bite sized pieces.
- Transfer the beetroot pieces into a lightly oiled, lined baking tray and mix in the oil and some salt.
- Place in the oven and roast for 20 minutes, until the beetroot is tender but still with a bit of a bite.
- Remove the beetroot from the oven and mix in the balsamic vinegar and maple syrup.
- Then return to the oven for a further 5 minutes. Switch off the heat, remove the beetroot and set aside in a warm place.
Cheesy Polenta Instructions:
- Bring the stock to the boil in a pot. Then slowly add in the polenta, whisking continuously till it thickens. Reduce the heat to the lowest setting and stir for a few minutes with a wooden spoon.
- Then cover the pot and stir every 7 minutes or so, until the polenta is cooked. The whole cooking process takes about 45 minutes. The polenta is cooked when it is very thick and falls away from the side of the pan.
- When the polenta is cooked, stir in the cheddar cheese and salt and then switch off the heat.
- To serve, spoon the cheesy polenta into 4 bowls and then top with the maple balsamic roasted beetroot, extra shredded cheese and sliced green onions.
Notes
- This recipe calls for regular polenta, NOT the quick-cooking variety.
- Do not let the polenta stand after cooking or it will solidify and be hard to mix. As soon as you are done cooking it, mix it and decant into bowls while it is still warm.
- You can vary the polenta flavoring to suit your taste. For example, swap the cheddar cheese for other cheeses of your choice.
- Top creamy cheesy polenta with green onion, extra cheese, grilled mushroom or grilled chicken breast. Yum!
Cheesy Polenta Weight Watchers Points
One serving of cheesy polenta with maple balsamic roasted beetroot contains 8 Freestyle SmartPoints.Nutrition
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