Plenty of Polenty

Polenta con Pancetta, Zucchine & Pomodorini

Polenta with Bacon, Zucchini and Cherry Tomatoes

I love how versatile polenta is- you can do almost anything with it, especially once it has been cooked, poured out, cooled down, has set and become firm- that's when the real fun begins! You can slice it, dice it, fry it, bake it and flavor it in any number of ways! And I had already made two dishes from it so far this week, but you know me- I was definitely not going to let the last 2 slices go to waste!

And I know it is always the same litany of leftovers from me on a Friday night- but there it was: one lone zucchini, a handfull of cherry tomatoes and a last rasher of bacon. Hmmm... sounds like a nice little supper to me!

Very easy of course this- but simply a good combination of flavors: sweet and tangy tomatoes, salty bacon, juicy zucchini and flavorful garlic and rosemary infused polenta... feeling hungry? Well good! The especially good part is that you will be done in 10-15 minutes at the most!

Turn on your broiler to have it ready and hot in a few minutes time and get your frying pan on the stove top and hot, hot, hot as well. Add the bacon, polenta and zucchini first. I simply cut a thin slice off each side of the zucchini, topped and tailed it and split it down the middle into 2 nice, thick slices.

Once the bacon has begun to give off its fat and the zucchini and polenta are nicely coated in it, add plenty of rosemary, some finely diced garlic, salt and coarsely ground pepper.  After 2-3 minutes, push all of these ingredients to one side and add the cherry tomatoes, a sliced Spring onion and a little garlic. Give everything a light dusting of nutmeg and fry for 2-3 minutes, (no longer!), then add a little oregano, salt and pepper, and flip so that the cut surface is facing up (if possible).

Drizzle everything lightly with honey and brown for 1-2 minutes under the broiler... finito!
Adda few fresh, green rosmary leaves and enjoy your speedy supper! Cooking can be so easy- and eating can be such fun!