Sautéed Garden Veggies with Polenta Rounds

Sautéed Garden Veggies with Polenta Rounds
The last few mornings have seemed almost a little fall like. I’m not sure whether to be happy or sad. Summer vegetables are my favorite. But that will change once again when the season changes, then I will love everything about the fall. You see I can be quite fickle like that. The garden is quickly shifting on its own as most of my lettuce has bolted and the sweet peas and green beans are winding down.

Polenta, known as corn grits are simply coarsely ground bits of dried corn. Most of the time these corn grits are boiled in water and finished with a little butter, cheese or marinara sauce. For today’s dish I made a small batch of polenta. Right before moving the saucepan off the heat some freshly grated Parmesan cheese was added along with a pat of butter. After letting the mixture cool for 5 to 10 minutes; it is poured onto a large breadboard. When the polenta has cooled, small rounds were cut out and sautéed with a little olive oil and topped with fresh veggies that I had sautéed from the garden. The vegetables were crisp-tender and the polenta creamy and delicious, pure heaven!




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Sautéed Garden Veggies with Polenta Rounds
Crisp-tender garden vegetables top creamy polenta rounds for a quick and easy delicious summer meal.
Ingredients
  • 3 cups Water
  • 1/2 teaspoon Salt
  • 1 cup Corn grits
  • 1 tablespoon Butter
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan chese
  • 1 small Zucchini
  • 1 small Summer squash
  • 1/3 pound Sweet peas
  • 1/2 pint Cherry tomatoes
Instructions
In a large saucepan heat water to a boil, slowly pour in polenta, stirring constantly. Reduce heat and simmer gently. Stir and cook until mixture is very thick, about 20 minutes. Stir in butter and Parmesan cheese. Remove from heat, let sit about 5 to 10 minutes. Pour mixture onto a large baking sheet or breadboard. Smooth polenta down with a spatula, you want mixture about an inch thick.In a large skillet add olive oil, cut both squashes lengthwise and then into slices, trim the sweet peas and add to skillet, stir-fry veggies a couple of minutes then add tomatoes whole. When tomatoes start to burst remove veggies from skillet and set aside.Using a round muffin tin or jar cut out rounds and sauté in skillet both sides. Remove rounds from skillet and top with crisp-tender vegetables.
Details
Prep time: Cook time: Total time: Yield: 3 to 4



Sautéed Zucchini, Summer Squash, Sweet Peas and Cherry Tomatoes with Polenta Rounds 

Comments

  1. looks like a nice, light meal.

    still feels like brutal, dry summer here in texas.

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    1. Sorry Tex, Arizona is getting washed away this summer, strange weather for sure.

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  2. Lovely, Cheri. We've had cool mornings here will hot days to follow. I know it's only August 9 but I hate to think of summer ending. Sigh...Your photos of this dish are AMAZING. BRILLIANT. Well done. D

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    1. The weather sure is different this year, some mornings almost feel like fall, too early!

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  3. I just love the simplicity of this meal. My rocket is starting to bolt but it's not been warm enough to pick it 😀

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    1. Thanks Tandy, I have not had luck in growing rocket where we are, how lucky you are to enjoy fresh out of your garden.

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  4. Love your turn of a phrase, Cheri. Sorry your lettuce has bolted and the sweetpeas said sayonara...Trust you will soon be singing the phrases of fall harvests...In the meantime, I can see why you are enjoying gorgeous summer dishes like your polenta rounds with veggies =)

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  5. This is sooooo pretty! I also love the new look of your blog.

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  6. It's still pretty warm here, but the heat isn't as intense. A few fall-like mornings would be most welcome! Anyway, LOVE polenta. Really good dish -- thanks so much.

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    1. Thanks John, always looking for a new way to use up some of these summer veggies.

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  7. What a treat to have fresh veggies from your garden. While I can make this dish, it certainly won't be as good made with veggies from the grocery store. Enjoy every last bit of your garden's growing season.

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    1. Thanks Karen, I love to garden and feel very fortunate for all the summmer goodies.

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  8. Such a beautiful and delicious harvest meal!

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    1. Thanks Angie, there is nothing like fresh veggies from the farms or garden.

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  9. What a treat to have fresh veggies from your garden. While I can make this dish, it certainly won't be as good made with veggies from the grocery store. Enjoy every last bit of your garden's growing season.

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    1. Thanks Karen, the plan is exactly that unless some varmint gets to it first. Ha!

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  10. I love polenta but I never tried with fresh summer veggies. What a great idea C!

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    1. Thanks Mike, it's a quick and easy meal......Take care!

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  11. This looks so pretty and delicious!

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  12. I so love polenta and topping it with all these gorgeous veggies is such a great idea, Cheri!

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  13. I so love polenta and topping it with all these gorgeous veggies is such a great idea, Cheri!

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    1. Thanks Marcie, most any type of veggie would work here.

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  14. Hi Cheri, this is such a lovely and delicious meal.

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  15. Love polenta and I love this simple dinner. Feeling a touch fallish here but still in the 90's. It is getting dark earlier and the nights are cool. Still loving this new site!It inspires me to get to work on mine!

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    1. Thanks Abbe, I had help, my computer coding skills are non existent.

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  16. Lovely Colorful Dish Cheri. I've been noticing a subtle graduating of less sunlight each day around here, the thing I most dislike approaching the end of summer. Enjoy the summer beauties as they provide is the excellent approach.

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    1. I know I love the longer days and even though they are longer I still do not have enough time. Hope you are having a great week Peggy.

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  17. I could eat this for breakfast lunch or dinner. Very nice indeed! I am often sad to see summer vegetables go but fall is my favorite season. I will be wishing for cooler weather as we experience a heat wave for the next few days. Temperatures near 100 with high humidity. Staying inside today!

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    1. I know what you mean Trcia, it is kind of bittersweet. Hope you are having a great week, take care!

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  18. Perfectly simple yet special, delicious and fresh. I would love this for any meal. Keep enjoying/eating up the summer, Cheri!

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    1. Thanks Monica, my husband is not so keen on the zucchini this time of year, I think he thinks he's had enough. haha!

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  19. I love this combination! Polenta is so good with sauteed vegetables. I wish I had garden of my own full of summer vegetables!

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    1. Thanks Lisa, I love having a garden. Appreciate you stopping by take care.

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  20. Isn't it crazy how fast seasons seem to change? I hoping that summer hangs out a little longer because I too love all the summer veggies - this dish looks amazing and so summery

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    1. You are so right, I feel like I am always a little behind. Thanks Phi!

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  21. This looks so perfect! I love polenta, and what a great idea to pair it with fresh late summer produce! The nights are getting crisp at night here in the mountains - it's subtle - but I can feel a little shift in seasons now too. By the way, I L-O-V-E the look of your blog! It's gorgeous!!!!

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    1. Thanks Susan, appreciate your feedback. Lake Tahoe is such a pretty place.

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  22. What a delightful and light meal. I love polenta both soft and like you have done it, sautéed in discs. Your veggies look perfect!

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    1. Thanks David, I love polenta both ways as well. Hope you are having a great week-end.

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  23. This is such a nice way of serving polenta and perfect for the summer season.

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  24. It has been really hot here this week but I am seeing signs that Fall is getting closer. I am pinning this recipe to try soon.

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    1. Thanks Mindy, I know this morning i actually wore a light jacket when we walked Olive.

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  25. Yum, this looks wonderful. I'm crazy about all this summer produce but I'm kind of done with the heat. Cool mornings, pumpkins and apples are sounding so good to me!

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    1. We saw apples today at the farmers market, we were told they are coming in early this year, it's hard to keep up that is for sure. Hope you had a great week-end Chris, take care!

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  26. I have to confess I've never had polenta but yours is the first one that finally has me interested in tasting it. Looks fabulous! I'm not ready for Fall but I've had enough of this extreme heat. Obviously, I'm not easy to please, lol.

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    1. Thanks Robyn, hope you have a chance to try it, I absolutely love it!!!

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  27. I love this plate Cheri !
    Look absolutely delicious and beautiful !!

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  28. I love this plate Cheri !
    Look absolutely delicious and beautiful !!

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  29. What a spectacular summer dish!! Your polenta rounds sound amazing---I can see topping it with all sorts of seasonal veggies.

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    1. Me too Liz! most any summer veggie combo would work here, take care!

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  30. The polenta sounds so good with the cheese and butter in it. Mmmm. Topping with the sauteed veggies sounds great. I love veggies cooked any way or even not cooked, but sauteed would be even better. Thanks for sharing, Cheri!

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  31. Cheri, I love polenta! This looks like a great way to serve it! Beautiful food :)

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