Baked Polenta with Sausage and Tomato-Pepper Sauce

By sheilaolim

This simple casserole makes a comforting weeknight
dinner as the weather turns cooler. Using ready-made
polenta saves you the step of making it from scratch, and
our quick tomato sauce can be cooked in just 25 minutes.
All you need is a fresh green salad and a loaf of crusty
Italian bread to round out the meal. Prep and Cook Time:
45 minutes. Notes: Prepared polenta is sold in most major
supermarkets; look in the Italian-food aisle (where pastas
and sauces are sold) or in the refrigerated section.

Ingredients

• 5 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 can (28 oz.) crushed tomatoes
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano
• 1 medium yellow onion, halved lengthwise, then cut into thin wedges
• 1 medium yellow, red, or orange bell pepper, cut lengthwise into thin slices
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon each salt, freshly ground black pepper, and red chile flakes
• 1 pound bulk Italian sausage, sweet or spicy (or 1 lb. Italian sausage links removed from their
• casings)
• 2 tubes (16 oz. each) prepared polenta, sliced into 1/2-in.-thick rounds
• 8 ounces fresh mozzarella, drained and sliced into 1/4-in.-thick rounds

Details

Preparation time 45mins
Cooking time 45mins

Preparation

Step 1

1. Preheat broiler to high. Heat 3 tbsp. oil in a 2- to 3-qt. saucepan set over medium heat, then
add tomatoes and oregano and simmer, uncovered, for 15 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, in a large frying pan, heat 1 tbsp. oil over medium-high heat. Add onion, bell
pepper, garlic, salt, pepper, and chile flakes, and stir to combine. Cover pan, lower heat to
medium, and cook until vegetables soften, about 5 minutes. Add sausage, stirring and breaking
it into small pieces with a wooden spoon as it firms up, about 5 minutes. Cover pan and cook
until vegetables are tender and sausage is cooked through, 5 to 8 minutes more. Add tomato
sauce and simmer 10 minutes.
3. While sauce is cooking, pour remaining 1 1/2 tbsp. oil into a 9- by 13-in. baking pan and tilt
to coat bottom. Add polenta slices to pan and turn to coat with oil, then arrange slices
lengthwise in 3 slightly overlapping rows. Broil polenta about 4 in. from heating element until
golden brown and crispy, 10 to 15 minutes.
4. Pour sauce over broiled polenta, then arrange mozzarella slices over the top. Broil until
cheese is melted and beginning to brown, about 2 minutes. Let cool slightly before serving.