Day Seven: Pizza Polenta with Spinach and Peas

On the final day of my No Cost Food Week I wanted to use up a polenta package that I had open, to make the easiest of my polenta recipes. I didn’t use to like polenta at all, actually. But after moving to Germany I decided to give it another try - and I loved it! Best of all: the kids did as well.

This dish is yet another alternative to pizza, and even simpler and quicker than Flammkuchen. And very, very tasty! As toppings I used spinach and green peas that had been lying on the bottom of my freezer for ages. Just like with the Shepherd’s pie recipe, this first time combination of ingredients (thank you No Cost Week!) beats the one I would normally make, by far. Normally I would use garlicky mushrooms, but spinach really gives the Pizza polenta a fresh taste!

For four portions you need:

• 250g polenta


• 100g frozen spinach


• a handful of frozen peas


• ¼ onion, cut in thin rings


• 1 mozzarella (125g - or more if you have!)


• any grated cheese available - I used Parmesan


• salt and pepper to taste


• 2 Tbsp olive oil

Boil 1 liter of water in a pan. Add 1 tsp salt and 2 Tbsp olive, then add the polenta and whisk. Turn the heat down and let simmer a couple of minutes. Pour polenta on an oven tray covered with a parchment paper and spread it out about 1cm thick using a spatula. Place spinach, peas, and onion rings evenly on top of polenta, then the mozzarella cut in slices and finally grated (Parmesan) cheese, salt, and pepper.

Bake in a preheated oven (200 C) until the cheese melts and starts to get brown. Serve piping hot with some salad - if you've got any left. I didn’t :)