This Easy Polenta Panzanella salad recipe uses store-bought polenta and summer’s best tomatoes. Make as a main course or serve as a side salad. Gluten-free.
September is hours away, and the cicadas outside my window are in full chorus. They don’t seem to be done with summer, and frankly neither am I. The recent weeks have brought us some wonderful summer thunderstorms as of late. They’ve been rolling in with their big dramatic clouds around dusk and proceed to light up the sky until wee hours of the morning.
In the years I lived in the South and on the East Coast, these percussive light shows were sorely missed. Nothing beats a Midwestern thunderstorm.
Late summer’s other beauties are flooding our farmer’s market, and we have been taking full advantage. A couple weeks back I was craving a good hearty panzanella salad. It is rare that I keep gluten-free bread in the house on a regular basis, and when I do, it’s kept in the freezer for when only a sandwich or piece of toast will do.
Polenta croutons seemed like a fair swap and with juicy tomatoes, crunch of red onion, creamy mozzarella, and peppery arugula greens, my panzanella cravings were quickly satisfied. Polenta croutons can be made easily and can bake while you prep your salad fixings. And while it is possible to make the croutons from scratch, the method below uses store-bought ready-made polenta.
This method saves the day on weeknights, when reaching for a pizza feels infinitely easier than placing greens and veggies on the table, while also allowing you to take in summer’s finest in the process. If you want to omit the mozzarella, avocado works wonderfully as a creamy substitute.
Easy Polenta Panzanella (Gluten-Free)
This easy polenta panzanella salad uses store-bought polenta and summer's best tomatoes. If you want to do without the mozzarella, avocado makes for a nice creamy substitute. Makes 4 side salad size portions or 2 meal-sized salad portions.
Ingredients
Polenta Croutons
- 1 tube polenta*
- 3 teapoons olive oil
- salt and pepper to taste
Salad
- 3 cups arugula
- 2-3 medium to large heirloom tomatoes cut into wedges
- 1/2 cup vertically sliced red onion
- 6 oz. 3/4 cup baby mozzarella, whole or torn
Dressing
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
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Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Take the polenta out of the wrapping and slice each end off to square it up, then cut into 1-1 1/2 inch cubes.
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Place the polenta cubes into a medium bowl. Add 3 teaspoons olive oil and salt and pepper to taste. Stir gently to evenly coat and then spread cubes on prepared baking sheet. Bake for 25-30 minutes until edges start to brown and outside looks crispy. Remove from oven and allow to cool while you assemble salad.
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In a large bowl add arugula, tomatoes, red onion, and mozzarella. Toss gently to combine.Add polenta croutons and toss again. In a small bowl, whisk together dressing ingredients. Drizzle dressing in the amount desired to salad or plate salads and dress individually.
Recipe Notes
*I like to use Melissa's brand regular flavor polenta or Trader Joe's brand.
Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen says
Wow, I’ve never thought of using polenta in my panzanella salad Tessa! Awesome idea! Can’t wait to give it a try. Happy weekend!
Tessa says
Those little polenta croutons are highly addictive. If they make it to the salad, it is for sure a great combo! ;) I hope you all had a great long weekend!
Joyce @ Sun Diego Eats says
LOVE this! The polenta crisps would be amazing alone, and even more so in this salad.
Tessa says
Thanks, Joyce!! Yes, alone, the polenta crisps are so very tasty. We were eating them straight from the pan!
Aysegul says
Such a clever way to add some polenta goodness in a salad. This looks so delicious and perfect for the end of summer.
Beautiful photos as always. <3
Tessa says
Thank you, Aysegul!! I have been feeling the urge to throw those polenta croutons into everything. Haha. But they really are a great compliment to the other salad ingredients. I hope you guys had a restful and fun long weekend! xoxo
traci | VanillaAndBean says
We rarely get thunderstorms in the PNW – something I do miss after moving from the South. Big billowy clouds, dramatic sky.. the sounds, the fresh smell…. ahhh. I’d become addicted to those polenta croutons. Just sayn’. What a delicious addition! And those tomatoes!! At the market this weekend, the farmers told us we coming up on the last of them. I feel like I’ve been hoarding heirlooms… they’re so good. Delicious work my dear!
Tessa says
Oh, yes, you did have great thunderstorms in Texas. One of my favorite parts of summer. Haha, I am totally addicted to the croutons – can’t. stop. eating. them! Thank you dear, Traci! xo