Grilled Cheezy Polenta with Spicy Pomegranate Salad

I’m planning a bunch of photo shoots in the upcoming months and I have to start watching what I eat…. Sound awful right? lol  No worries it’s not THAT bad because my head is full of delicious ideas to keep me happy even when I have to watch what I eat…

This is a fun and easy recipe, for example, that I like to prepare as a lunch during those “model bootcamp” time but you could easily serve it as a fun appetizer.  The total recipe will give you 4-5 maybe even more portions of polenta and salad dressing so it’s something you can keep in your fridge for about a week and grill your polenta at the last minute when you’re ready to eat it.  I hope you’ll like it as much as I do and let me know how it turned out!

– INGREDIENTS –

Baby Spinach

Mache Lettuce

White Sesame Seeds

For the Polenta:

1/2 cup of Polenta (cornmeal #120)

4 teaspoons of olive oil

2 cups of water

2 teaspoons of hoisin sauce

1/2 teaspoon of shiracha sauce

1 cup of finely chopped broccoli

1 1/2 cup of finely chopped Cauliflower

1/4 of a big yellow onion**

2 medium carrots**

1/2 cup of Parmesan

salt & pepper to taste

** the carrot and onion, once finely chopped together should be about 1 cup **

For the Dressing:

1/3 cup of pomegranate juice

1 tablespoon of sugar

1 teaspoon of hoisin sauce

1/4 teaspoon of  shiracha sauce

1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder

1- In a  non-stick flat bottom pan, on the stove top on MEDIUM/HIGH heat, grill your previously chopped veggies (carrots, onions, cauliflower & broccoli) with 2 teaspoons of olive oil for about 10 minutes or till they start becoming tender but not too soft.

2- In a small pan, on the stove top, bring to a broil the 2 cups of water with 1 teaspoon of olive oil, 2 teaspoons of hoisin sauce and the 1/2 teaspoon of shiracha sauce.  Once your water is boiling, bring the heat to low and add the 1/2 cup of polenta.  Keep stirring till the polenta absorb most of the water, then remove from heat and keep stirring till all the water is absorb.  The consistency of your mixture should be very “watery”.

3- Stir in the Parmesan cheese till it’s well mixed and then add your veggies.  Mix well and transfer in to a 8×8 pirex lined with a parchment paper.  Let cool down in the fridge over night or for at least 2 hours.

4- Back on the stove top, at MEDIUM heat in a small sauce pan, mix all the ingredients for the salad dressing and let reduce the juice in a light simmer for 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from head and reserve.

5- Once your polenta is cooled down, slice a piece and grill it in a non stick pan with a bit of olive oil (1/2 teaspoon MAX) till each sides are brownish.  In a mixing bowl, mix your baby spinach and mache lettuce with a small portion of the dressing.  Sprinkle the salad with a bit of sesame seed before bringing it to your plate, on top of the grilled polenta and ENJOY!.