Friday, January 09, 2009

Gluten-Free Recipe : Polenta Vegetable Lasagna

Gluten-Free Recipe : Polenta Vegetable Lasagna
Gluten-Free Recipe : Polenta Vegetable Lasagna
Looking for a simple way to create a gluten-free lasagna in a hurry? How about using pre-made polenta instead of lasagna noodles? My daughter created this gluten-free lasagna recipe while home for the holidays, and I found it quite enjoyable and delicious.

The recipe reminded me of "normal" (noodle / pasta based) lasagna quite a bit, since it still makes use of those all important lasagna components: cheese and tomato sauce / pasta sauce. But, it was also slightly different thanks to the flavor variation and texture differences from the polenta.

Layers of cheese, polenta, tomato/pasta-sauce, and vegetables come together in a baked lasagna that is simple and easy to prepare, and the number of servings can easily be scaled up as needed by choosing a larger pan and just more of the same ingredients.

The ingredients are somewhat free-form and you can vary them as you see fit in order to meet your tastes. For example, you can certainly use different vegetables if you do not have zucchini available or prefer eggplant instead, etc. This dish is all about simplicity and quick variations, so experiment with the concept and have some fun creating your own gluten-free polenta lasagna.

Here is a link to the recipe on our gluten-free recipe library site:
Gluten-Free Vegetable Polenta Lasagna Recipe

And, though you can certainly make you own polenta from scratch for use in this recipe, we purchased a pre-made gluten-free polenta "roll" (a plastic-enclosed cylinder / tube / roll shape package about 8" long and 3" round). We found a brand at the grocery store that was clearly labeled "gluten free", and chose a basil/garlic variety (there were a few flavors available in gluten-free options). This made preparation VERY simple, as it just was a matter of slicing the polenta roll into thin circles that would be layered into the lasagna dish recipe.

The end result is quite delicious and will remind you of traditional lasagna while also offering a unique variation on the common pasta dish.

Continue to read this Gluten-Free Blog for all sorts of gluten-free recipes, product-reviews, and related information. In addition, visit my Gluten-Free Recipes Site where many of the recipes I have featured on this blog are available.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

When I saw that picture with the polenta lasagna description, I went "Ooooh" out loud! Gorgeous, and I want to make it immediately! Thanks so much to your daughter for creating it and to you for sharing it with us. :-)

Sorry you are still having some issues after your accident. Perhaps finding a highly recommended chiropractor could be helpful. For such issues, I use something I made that I just call a "corn bag." It's a tube made of cloth filled with shelled/dried corn. I just heat it in the microwave for about two minutes and then apply it to the area causing me problems. It can really help a lot. You may have seen versions of them made with dried beans or cherry pits. You can see one here (they can also be frozen and used as ice packs).

http://www.heartlandtreasuresgifts.com/heatingpad

Hope you feel better! Thanks again for the great recipe!

Shirley

Mike Eberhart said...

GFE,
I'm glad the picture made the lasagna look enticing, and I hope you enjoy it when you bake it (or a version thereof).

Thanks for the idea about the heating/cooling "corn bag" thing. Interesting. Never heard of such a thing before. I like how simple that sounds - just tossing it in the microwave or freezer as needed to apply heat or cold. As for chiropractors, my wife and I finally were referred to PT (Physical Therapy) by our primary care physicians and we start that next week in hopes of fixing up these neck and back muscles. Everyone says it will take time, but I admit: I am impatient. In the mean time, I have some dried beans here I can make one of those bags from that you describe. Thanks again.

Lynn Barry said...

Geesh Mike! Again I am so sorry you have to deal with the pain and aftermath of your accident. Here's to hoping you are back to your old self pronto! HUGS

Anonymous said...

Mike--An easy way to try the remedy to see if it provides some relief is just to put the beans in a tube sock and tie the end. You don't need to be sewing right now with your ailment. Sorry I didn't think of that before! Best of luck to you and your wife with the PT!

Shirley

Stacey said...

That looks so yummy. I'll have to try this recipe. We love Lasagna but it is such a chore to make and takes awhile. I also found a restaurant not to far from us that has gluten-free Lasagna so I am anxious to try that too.

The Lady and The Clown said...

thanks!! I have a 10year old in my life with a mild gluten allergy who LOVES polenta & cheese so this is great

gfcanadian said...

So sorry to hear that you're still hurt. I'm recovering from a small surgery, and I've been using a variation of the "corn bag". I made mine with rice and sewed it into a flannel bag. It worked well for me, and I liked that it was environmentally friendly.

The recipe looks great, your photography is always so beautiful.

Anonymous said...

Hi,

I just wanted to share this helpful information regarding Gluten-Free Products. I've found that Whole Foods Market is a great resource to find a variety of gluten-free products. Their website lists a bunch of dietary information, nutrition facts and plenty of products to choose from...Very helpful for those who have a gluten-free diet.

http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/products/gluten-free-products.php

Linda said...

Using polenta is a great idea. I'll give it a try as soon as I pick up a roll.

I hope your neck is better soon.

Rumela said...

I made this polenta vegetable lasagna for dinner last night, and it was so good! Even my meat-loving husband liked it. I'm trying to do several meatless meals a week both for our health and our budget, so I really appreciate easy, veggie packed meals. thank you for shearing your post.