Southern Polenta Mix-Up Vegan Food 9-17-2016

Southern Polenta Mix-up
Photograph and Preparation by Nicholas D. Auger

Southern Polenta Mix-Up, Vegan Food!

Preparation Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Serves: 3
Serve More: can be stretched to 4+ if you add tortilla chips, tortillas, bread, a salad, rice, etc. Get creative!

Ingredients: Feel free to experiment with adding and subtracting what you prefer.

• 1 Tube of Polenta (large dice) 
• 3 Cloves of Garlic (minced) 
• 3 Small-Peppers (small dice, 1 bell pepper would work too) 
• 1 Zucchini (small dice) 
• 1 Handful of Spinach 
• 1 Scoop of Coconut Milk (from a can or fresh) 
• 1 Lime 

Spices and Oil: I roughly guess as I cook with spices, don't be afraid!

• Avocado Oil (enough to coat the bottom of your cookware) 
• 1 tbsp Tumeric 
• 1/4 tsp Salt 
• 1/4 tsp Freshly Ground Black Pepper 
• 1/2 tsp Ground Cumin 
• 1/4 tsp Smoked Paprika 
• 1/2 tsp Oregano 
• 1/4 tsp Minced Basil 
• 1/4 tsp Thyme 
• 1/4 tsp Sage 
• Dash of Red Pepper Flakes (optional) 

Cooking: I usually cook and clean as I go, here is how I started this dish:

• Use oil to cover the base of your cookware and heat on medium 
• Add minced garlic 
• Add small diced peppers 
• Add largely diced Polenta, stir 
• Add small diced Zucchini 
• Add all of the spices in whatever order you prefer, have them ready 
• Add a scoop of coconut milk and stir, place lid on top and let it heat for a few minutes 
• Once all is hot, add a handful of spinach on top then add lime juice over the top 
• Final stir 
• Serve! 

Polenta is finely ground corn (cornmeal) and is typical of Italian cuisine. My family introduced me to this a when I was younger, but we did not cook with it very often. In the past year, I have become very fond of cooking with Polenta and I recommend you try it! It can be utilized in many ways, I will show more of my preferred applications soon enough!

What do you think? Leave a comment! Thanks for the support.