Do you have some leftover polenta and don’t know how to use it?

These open sandwiches are the perfect solution! Quick and easy to make, they are ideal as a starter, snack or for adding to a buffet. Once hard, polenta becomes a delicious base for a mouth-watering recipe that is sure to win everyone over.

Ingredients:

- 500 g of leftover polenta (preferably already cooked and cool)

- 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil

- 1 clove of garlic (optional)

- Salt and pepper to taste

- Fresh herbs (rosemary, thyme or sage)

- Grated cheese (parmesan or grana) – optional

- Baby tomatoes, mushrooms or your choice of other ingredients as a garnish (optional)

Preparation:

Make the polenta:

 If you have some leftover polenta that has gone hard, cut it into slices about 1-1.5 cm thick. If it is too compact, you can heat it up quickly in a pan with a drizzle of oil to make it softer.

Heat up the oven:

Preheat the oven to 200°C (conventional). Alternatively, you can use a grill to get an even crispier effect.

Season the open sandwiches:

Place the slices of polenta on a baking tray lined with baking paper. Brush them with extra virgin olive oil and add a pinch of salt and pepper to taste. If you like garlic, rub each slice with a clove of garlic cut in half for a more intense aroma.

Cooking:

 Bake the slices of polenta for about 15-20 minutes, or until they are golden brown and crispy. If you like, you can add a sprinkling of grated cheese before baking, so you get an even more flavourful crispy top.

Add some garnish (optional):

Once out of the oven, you can garnish your open sandwiches with fresh baby tomatoes cut in half, pan-fried mushrooms or fresh herbs. If you like, you can add some extra flavour to your open sandwiches with a little ricotta, stracchino or another soft cheese.

Serve:

Serve your polenta open sandwiches hot as a starter, snack or as an accompaniment to a main meal. They are also perfect with sauces such as pesto, flavoured mayonnaise or hummus.

Polenta open sandwiches are versatile and easy to adapt to your tastes and the ingredients you have at home. They are a great idea for a delicious way to use up any leftover polenta!