Polenta Pizzas With Roasted Tomatoes And Kalamata Olives

Total Time: 2 hrs 40 mins Preparation Time: 40 mins Cook Time: 2 hrs

Ingredients

• Servings: 6
• 4 cups water
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground pepper (i prefer finely ground pepper)
• 1 cup polenta (coarse cornmeal)
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2 teaspoons dried oregano
• 8 large plum tomatoes, ends trimmed, each tomato cut crosswise into 3 slices
• 1/2 teaspoon sugar
• 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 3/4 cup kalamata olive, pitted and cut in half
• 1/2 cup freshly shredded parmesan cheese

Recipe

• 1 line rimmed baking sheet (cookie sheet) with foil. bring 4 cups water and 1 teaspoon salt to a boil in a heavy large saucepan. slowly add polenta, whisking until smooth. reduce heat to medium-low; cook about 30 minutes or until polenta thickens and pulls away from sides of pan, whisking frequently to remove any lumps.
• 2 stir in butter, pepper, and 1 teaspoon oregano, combine until smooth.
• 3 pour cooked polenta onto baking sheet and use spatula or butter knife to spread evenly. it should cover the sheet completely. refrigerate until firm (at least 2 hours).
• 4 while the polenta is cooling, preheat oven to 300°f line another large baking sheet with parchment paper. arrange tomato slices in single layer. sprinkle tomatoes with 1/2 teaspoon sugar, then some salt. drizzle with 2 tablespoons olive oil. roast until tomatoes are tender but the slices still hold together, about 2 hours. remove from oven and allow to cool. (polenta and tomatoes can be made 1 day ahead and refrigerated).
• 5 preheat oven to 450°f.
• 6 line large baking sheet with parchment paper. using 1 3/4- to 2-inch-diameter cookie cutter or juice glass, cut out approximately 24 rounds from polenta. place rounds in a single layer on baking sheet. place 1 tomato slice on each round and sprinkle rounds with remaining 1 teaspoon oregano. top each with 2 or 3 olive halves. drizzle with remaining 2 tablespoons oil, then sprinkle with parmesan.
• 7 bake polenta pizzas until heated through and cheese melts (approximately 10 minutes). serve warm.