Creamy Polenta Bake with White Beans and Spinach

A comforting baked polenta dish layered with creamy white beans, fresh spinach, and rich tomato sauce, topped with melted mozzarella and parmesan cheese.

• Prep: 20 min
• Cook: 45 min
• Total: 1 hr 5 min
• Servings: 10
• Cuisine: Italian
• Difficulty: Medium
• Cost: $1.41/serving

Dietary

• Nut-Free
• Egg-Free
• Vegetarian
• High-Fiber
• Pescatarian

Tags

• one-pot
• bake
• comfort food
• savory
• healthy
• crowd-pleaser

Ingredients

• 6 cup water
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1.5 cup quick-cooking polenta
• 2 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 yellow onion (large, finely chopped)
• 4 clove garlic (minced)
• 30 ounce cannellini beans (rinsed and drained)
• 28 ounce crushed tomatoes
• 0.5 cup vegetable broth
• 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
• 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
• 10 ounce fresh spinach
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 0.5 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190 degrees Celsius). Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
2. Bring 6 cups of water and 1 teaspoon of salt to a boil in a large pot. Gradually whisk in the quick-cooking polenta, stirring constantly to prevent lumps. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 5-7 minutes, continuing to stir, until polenta thickens.
3. While the polenta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the finely chopped yellow onion and cook until softened, about 5-7 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute more until fragrant.
4. Stir in the cannellini beans, crushed tomatoes, vegetable broth, dried Italian seasoning, and black pepper. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook for 5 minutes.
5. Add the fresh spinach to the skillet, stirring until it wilts, about 2-3 minutes.
6. Spread half of the cooked polenta into the prepared baking dish. Top with half of the bean and spinach mixture. Sprinkle with half of the shredded mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses.
7. Repeat with the remaining polenta, bean and spinach mixture, and cheeses. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until bubbly and cheese is golden brown.
8. Let rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.

Notes

This dish reheats beautifully. Store individual portions in microwave-safe containers for quick lunches or dinners throughout the week.

Nutrition (per serving)

• Calories: 310
• Protein: 14.5 g
• Carbohydrates: 42.1 g
• Fat: 10.3 g
• Fiber: 9.2 g
• Sodium: 790 mg
• Saturated Fat: 4.5 g
• Sugar: 5.5 g
• Cholesterol: 20 mg