Cheesy Polenta and Sweet Roasted Butter Beans with Beetroot Sauce

This dish is a great choice for those who enjoy a cheesy aroma in their cooking without actually having to use any dairy products!

My cheesy polenta recipe is quick to prepare and can be beautifully presented, which is especially great for when you have guests over. Apart from the polenta, you’ll more than likely have all of the ingredients in your kitchen already!

Why Eat Plant-Based?

One of the great perks of following a plant-based diet is having such a fantastic range of foods available to experiment with. This means you can continue to enjoy different meals made from  so many different healthy ingredients.

What about Polenta?

Polenta is one such food that you might not be too familiar with if you are new to plant-based eating.

This yellow delight is made from cornmeal and, although it originated in Italy, it’s enjoyed all around the world. Polenta is relatively easy to cook and contains iron, calcium, zinc and magnesium, as well as a selection of vitamins.

If you’re trying to eradicate carb-heavy foods, such as bread and pasta, from your diet, then polenta can help to satiate your hunger and prevent cravings for these foods.

Cheesy Polenta and Sweet Roasted Butter Beans with Beetroot Sauce

The following ingredients will make enough to serve four people:

• 2 cups / 320g quick polenta
• 1 veggie stock cube
• 2 Tbsp of nutritional yeast
• 400g of butter beans, rinsed and drained
• 3 tsp of sweet paprika
• 4 pre-cooked beets
• 2 Tbsp of olive oil + excess for drizzling
• 2 Tbsp of apple cider vinegar
• 250g of tenderstem broccoli

Method:

To get started, you’ll first need to preheat your grill to a medium-high heat. You can then make the polenta according to the packet instructions, but be sure to mix in the veggie stock cube with the water that you use.

Once the polenta is cooked, you must mix in the nutritional yeast and put it to one side. The next step is to spread the butter beans onto a baking tray and drizzle them with olive oil. You can also sprinkle two teaspoons of the sweet paprika on top.

Next, grill the butter beans in the oven for five to seven minutes, or until they become brown and crunchy. While the butter beans are roasting, add the broccoli to a pot of water and boil for three minutes before you drain and rinse.

Next, place the beetroot, two tablespoons of olive oil, apple cider vinegar, and one teaspoon of sweet paprika into your food processor. Blend these ingredients until they become smooth. Finally, to assemble, place a good sized scoop of polenta onto each of your four plates and top with the beetroot sauce, butter beans and broccoli before you serve!