Cheesy Polenta with Maple Balsamic Roasted Beets

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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.

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.

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:

1. Preheat the oven.
2. Peel and cut beetroots into bite-sized pieces.
3. Transfer the beetroot pieces into a prepared baking tray and mix in the oil and salt.
4. Roast for 20 minutes until they are tender but still with a bit of a bite.
5. 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.
6. Switch off the heat, remove the Maple Balsamic Roasted Beetroot and then keep warm.

Make the polenta:

1. Add the stock to a pot and bring to a boil, then slowly add in the polenta, whisking continuously, till it thickens.
2. Reduce the heat to low and then stir for a few minutes with a wooden spoon.
3. 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.
4. When done, stir in the cheddar cheese and salt and remove from heat.
5. 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

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Serving Suggestions

• Whole boiled chicken.
• Air fryer salmon.
• Baked turkey meatballs.
• Baked chicken meatballs.

Weight Watchers Points

One serving of this cheesy polenta recipe contains just 8 Freestyle SmartPoints.

Thank you for reading my Cheesy Polenta Recipe post. And please come visit again as I continue to slice, dice, and dream up affordable Air Fryer recipes, Instant Pot Recipes, Southern Recipes, and more. Thanks for supporting Recipes from a Pantry, food blog. 

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