Tomato Mozzarella Polenta

This easy tomato mozzarella polenta recipe tops creamy Parmesan polenta with sweet sautéed tomatoes and fresh mozzarella for a cozy vegetarian supper that’s ready in 40 minutes! 🍅🧀

There’s something wonderfully comforting about a bowl of creamy polenta, especially when it’s topped with juicy sautéed tomatoes and little pockets of fresh mozzarella that soften and melt into all that cornmeal deliciousness.

The Southern husband insists that polenta is simply grits in fancy clothes, and honestly, he has a point! Whatever you call it, this easy vegetarian supper is warm, cheesy, colorful and ready to curl up with in about 40 minutes. 🍅🧀🥣

Jump to:

• 🔎 A quick look at this recipe
• ⭐️ Why this recipe works
• What is polenta?
• 🍅 Ingredients you need
• 📝 Ingredient notes
• 💡 Ingredient substitution ideas
• 👩🏻‍🍳 How to make this recipe
• Recipe FAQs
• What to serve with this recipe
• Tomato Mozzarella Polenta
• 💫 Variations on this recipe
• 😍 Other polenta recipes we love!
• We want to know what you think! 🤔

🔎 A quick look at this recipe

• What It Is: Creamy Parmesan polenta topped with sweet sautéed cherry tomatoes, fresh mozzarella and oregano.
• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Total Time: 40 minutes
• Servings: 4 servings
• Calories: Approximately 630 per serving
• Cooking Method: Stovetop
• Good For: Cozy vegetarian suppers, comforting side dishes and celebrating World Mozzarella Day. 🍅🧀🥣

⭐️ Why this recipe works

• 🥣 The polenta is extra creamy: Butter and Parmesan turn simple cornmeal into a rich, velvety base.
• 🍅 The tomatoes add freshness: A quick sauté brings out their natural sweetness and creates a light, juicy topping.
• 🧀 Fresh mozzarella makes it special: The cheese softens against the warm tomatoes and polenta, creating delicious little creamy pockets.
• 🌽 It’s wonderfully versatile: Serve it as a satisfying vegetarian main course or as a cozy side dish with meatballs, chicken or pot roast.
• 🛒 The ingredients are simple: A short list of familiar ingredients comes together into something colorful and comforting.
• 🍂 It’s comfort food with a fresh twist: You get all the coziness of creamy polenta balanced by bright tomatoes and herbs.

What is polenta?

Polenta is an Italian dish made by slowly cooking finely ground cornmeal with water until it becomes soft and creamy. It is similar to Southern grits, although polenta is usually ground a little finer and has a smoother texture and milder corn flavor.

Polenta can be served soft and spoonable, as it is in this recipe, or cooled until firm and then sliced and grilled or fried. Here we stir in butter and Parmesan to make it extra creamy before piling on those juicy tomatoes and fresh mozzarella. 🌽🥣

🍅 Ingredients you need

📝 Ingredient notes

• Cornmeal: Choose finely ground yellow cornmeal for the smoothest, creamiest polenta. Avoid cornmeal mix, which already contains additional ingredients.
• Fresh mozzarella: Look for fresh mozzarella in the specialty cheese section, either in one large ball or smaller balls. Cut it into bite-size cubes so it softens evenly against the warm polenta.
• Parmesan cheese: Freshly grated Parmesan melts most smoothly and gives the polenta its rich, savory flavor.
• Cherry tomatoes: Cherry or grape tomatoes both work beautifully. Halving them helps them soften quickly and release their sweet juices into the topping.
• Baking soda: This small amount helps the cornmeal soften and cook into an especially smooth polenta.
• Red pepper flakes: These add just a gentle little spark of heat. Feel free to use less or leave them out entirely.
• Oregano: Dried oregano works perfectly here, but you can substitute chopped fresh oregano or basil if you have some.
• Olive oil: Use your favorite everyday olive oil for sautéing the tomatoes. There’s no need to bring out the fanciest bottle!

💡 Ingredient substitution ideas

Missing something or want to swap in something different? Check out the links below to find more ingredient substitution ideas. 👇🏻

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities and nutritional information.

👩🏻‍🍳 How to make this recipe

STEP 1: Bring the water to a boil in a large pot. Stir in the salt and baking soda, then slowly pour in the cornmeal in a steady stream while whisking away so those pesky lumps don’t have a chance to form. Bring everything back to a simmer, reduce the heat to low and cover.

STEP 2: After five minutes, give the polenta another good whisk to smooth it out. Cover it again and let it simmer until it is thick, tender and creamy, about 20 to 30 minutes depending on your cornmeal. Give it a stir now and then so nothing sticks to the bottom.

STEP 3: Take the polenta off the heat and stir in the butter and Parmesan cheese until everything is melted and glorious. Taste and add a little salt and pepper if it needs it. Cover the pot while you make the tomato topping—the polenta will continue to thicken as it rests.

STEP 4: Heat the olive oil and red pepper flakes in a skillet over medium-high heat for one minute. Add the cherry tomatoes and cook until they soften and release some of their sweet juices, about two to three minutes. Season with a little salt and pepper.

STEP 5: Spoon the creamy polenta into bowls and top it with the warm tomatoes and all those lovely skillet juices. Scatter the fresh mozzarella over the top, sprinkle with oregano and break out the spoons! 🍅🧀

PRO TIP: Polenta thickens quickly as it sits. If yours gets thicker than you like, whisk in a little warm water until it is soft and creamy again.

Break out the spoons!  And if you are making this for the Southern husband, make sure you tell him it’s grits.  Ha!

Recipe FAQs

What to serve with this recipe

Serve generous bowls of tomato mozzarella polenta with a cup of winter vegetable soup or a green bean salad for a cozy vegetarian supper. If you’re serving the polenta as a side dish, it’s scrumptious alongside maple pot roast or meatballs with fresh ricotta. However you serve it, make sure everyone gets plenty of those sweet tomatoes and creamy mozzarella! 🍅🧀🥣

Let’s spoon up that creamy polenta and pile on the tomatoes and mozzarella! 🍅🧀🥣

💫 Variations on this recipe

• 🌿 Make it Caprese-style: Swap the oregano for plenty of fresh basil and finish with a drizzle of balsamic glaze.
• 🍄 Add mushrooms: Sauté sliced mushrooms with the tomatoes for an extra-savory topping.
• 🥬 Bring on the greens: Stir baby spinach into the tomato mixture until it is just wilted.
• 🍗 Add some protein: Top each bowl with shredded chicken, cooked shrimp or sliced Italian sausage.
• 🧀 Change the cheese: Try burrata, fontina, goat cheese or ricotta in place of the mozzarella.
• 🌶️ Turn up the heat: Add extra red pepper flakes or a drizzle of hot honey.
• 🫑 Add more vegetables: Sauté zucchini, bell peppers or chopped asparagus along with the tomatoes.
• 🍳 Put an egg on it: Top each serving with a fried or poached egg for an extra-hearty supper.

😍 Other polenta recipes we love!

We want to know what you think! 🤔

If you try this recipe, we would love to hear how it came out for you! I’d be super grateful if you could leave a star rating (you pick how many stars! 🌟 ) and your thoughts in the Comments section below.