Chickpea Puttanesca over Creamy Polenta + $100 Crate and Barrel Giveaway!
A spicy, vegetarian version of my favorite puttanesca sauce goes gluten free when served over a bed of creamy, parmesan polenta.
I can’t tell you how much I’m looking forward to the holidays this year. No really, I am. It will be the first time in over 12 years that I won’t be cooking for clients during Christmas and New Years. 12 years! Do you believe that? For twelve + years I’ve worked on Christmas. And New Years and every day in between. I’ve been so blessed to have such great clients and up until this year I’ve been happy to cook for them but since having kids, it’s gotten harder and harder to be away. I usually end up feeling guilty on top of being stressed from working so much and the two combined is a lethal combo. I’m sure I’m not alone when I say I don’t know what it’s like to have a holiday season where I’m not constantly rushed, running and gunning, only to never really get ahead.
I know in part it’s because I’m usually working so much coupled with the fact that the kids are out of school, an endless traveling husband, umpteen holiday parties, a mile long shopping list, and hosting family… it’s impossible not to feel stressed out. (Just talking about it makes me sweaty.) This year I vow that things will be different. I will say no to the things I feel obligated to and only say yes to the things that I want to. I will put a priority on spending time with my kids rather than shopping in a crowded store for the newest and latest gadget. I WILL SLOW DOWN.
It’s inevitable that I will spend a lot of time in the kitchen- it is what I do after all. But I hope that when hosting friends and family, I can take a less is more approach and keep things simple. One of my favorite things to make when I’m entertaining during the holidays is Italian. It’s quick, filling (great for hungry skiers!) and I can usually whip something up from what I have in the pantry. When Del Monte® challenged me to come up with a holiday inspired recipe that relied on one of their garden quality™ products from the pantry, I knew immediately I wanted to make a puttanesca. It’s my favorite red sauce and I almost always have the ingredients on hand.
Canned tomatoes very well might be my favorite pantry item of all time. The versatility is unparalleled- like the Beyonce of the vegetable world. Del Monte® tomatoes are California grown, and are picked and canned usually within the same day. Studies show that because of the canning process, canned tomatoes are actually higher in antioxidants and vitamins than fresh. Cha-ching! It’s like a garden in your pantry but without all the weeding and watering! The stewed tomatoes with garlic and oregano are perfect for this recipe. Combined with sautéed onion, garlic, capers, kalamata olives, and a pinch of chili flakes, this is literally done in 20 minutes. Easily doubled and great for a crowd, this is a great go to recipe for making the holidays less stressful. This particular puttanesca gets a kick of protein from canned garbanzo beans. Instead of the usual pasta, I opted for a creamy, parmesan laden polenta. Even my meat eating husband approved!
The great folks at Del Monte® have recently launched a new label design and are hoping to spread the word on how easy it is to build a garden in your pantry with their canned fruits and vegetables. As a little incentive, they’re also giving away a $100 gift certificate to Crate and Barrel to one lucky reader. Hello, holiday shopping! (I’ll gladly send you my wish list if you’re wanting to get me a present. Just saying.) All you have to do for a chance to win is tell me in the comment section below what your favorite fruit or vegetable to stock in your pantry is. If you want some more pantry inspiration, visit the Del Monte® Facebook page for more recipes and information. Here’s to a less stressful holiday season, everyone. Happy cooking!!
PrintChickpea Puttanesca over Polenta
- Yield: 4 1x
Ingredients
Polenta:
- Polenta:
- 1/2 cup polenta
- 2 cups water
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 cup parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 2–3 tablespoons half and half
- Chickpea Puttanesca:
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 cup finely chopped onion
- 2–3 cloves finely minced garlic
- 1 (14 oz) can Del Monte® Stewed Tomatoes with basil, garlic and oregano
- 1 (14 oz) can Del Monte® Petite Diced Tomatoes
- 1/4 cup pitted kalamata olives, quartered
- 2 tablespoons drained capers
- 1/2 teaspoon dried crushed basil
- 1/8 teaspoon dried crushed red pepper flakes
- Salt
- 1 (14 oz) can garbanzo beans
- fresh basil (optional)
Instructions
For the Polenta:
- In a medium sauce pan, bring water to a boil. Slowly stir in polenta and salt. Bring back to a boil and then immediately turn to low and let polenta simmer about 30-40 minutes. Add a tablespoon or two of water if polenta gets too thick.
- Off heat, stir in parmesan cheese, butter and half and half. Check for seasoning and add a pinch of salt if desired. Keep warm until ready to serve.
- For Puttanesca Sauce:
- In a large pot heat the olive oil over medium high heat. Add the onion and saute until soft and lightly caramelized, about 5 minutes.
- Add the kalamata olives and capers and cook an additional 2-3 minutes. Add garlic and cook 1-2 minutes more.
- Add both cans of tomatoes and simmer until the sauce is thickened and slightly reduced, about 20 minutes.
- Add garbanzo beans, and adjust seasoning to taste.
- Divide polenta between 4 plates and top with puttanesca sauce. Garnish with basil if desired.
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This sweepstakes runs from 11/18/2013-12/18/2013
Be sure to visit the Del Monte® brand page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers reviews and find more chances to win!
126 Comments
Thanks, Kelley. This recipe sounds so wonderful. I love puttanesca sauce on just about anything. I am probably the only Italian alive who isn’t crazy about garbanzos, so will substitute with cannellini beans. But I really appreciate a gluten free recipe. Tomatoes are also my favorite canned veggie – so much so that I have an entire shelf in my pantry dedicated to them. I find the ones I reach for most often are the petite diced and crushed.
Cannellini beans would be great too. I say use what you like!!
Canned tomatoes and tomato paste in the tube.
OK first of all YES to Italian – it’s so simple and straight-forward when you use great ingredients! We are big fans of canned tomatoes too around here. Second, I am so with you on needing to slow down and enjoy it all. I just told Nate this morning that I really want to be careful not to put work before enjoying these years with family and friends!
I couldn’t agree more. I hope to put family and friends first and work second this season!!
This looks so comforting and delicious! I love your choice of polenta over pasta. Tomatoes are my favorite veggie to stock the pantry with, too. So many delicious meals can be made with canned tomatoes!
I can’t live without diced tomatoes and garbanzo beans. Funny enough, those ingredients are in your recipe!
I’d love to make this.
I’m so happy you are not working on the holidays. It’s so nice to simplify!
Glad to know garbanzos and tomatoes are popular pantry items!!
Canned tomatoes get used in a million different ways in our house. Love this recipe!
Well, as sadly I’m not an olive fan (much to my Better Half’s bemusement and chagrin) – I’ll probably make this with the olives on the side. Since I also always have canned chopped tomatoes (preferably in BPA-free containers – HINT, HINT to Del Monte!) and beans of all types (garbanzo, black, cannellini, etc.) in the pantry, I’m eager to give this yummy-looking recipe a try!
Lisa, my husband HATES olives but I put them in anyway and he didn’t notice. Once you simmer the sauce down, the olives lose some of their potent taste and just add to the overall flavour. I think you’ll be missing out a bit if you leave them out!
You kind of hit the nail on the head: Fave pantry items are chickpeas, tomatoes and capers. And artichoke hearts. I loooove this recipe! Totally meatless any day for me.
I always have tomatoes,artichokes and pineapple in the pantry
This recipe looks amazing !!
This recipe looks delicious! I’m with ya on the tomatoes. They are definitely my favorite canned item to stock in my pantry because they’re so versatile and work in almost any recipe.
I like to stock up on canned beans, tomatoes and peaches
https://twitter.com/elis689/status/402591124327374850
Ah creamy polenta is one of my ultimate weaknesses! Along with a big bag of polenta and dried porcini mushrooms… I always keep Garbanzo beans in my kitchen- great to throw in recipes whole or puree for a last minute hummus appy! Black beans, plum tomatoes and corn are usually kicking around somewhere too!
I just clicked over to your blog- I love the name. So happy to see another PC food blogger! Thanks for reading!!
Tomatoes are my favorite pantry stock item! Great for soups,chili, or sauces!
Italian petite diced tomatoes for sure, in fact on my laziest days I just cook some pasta and add them cold! Great and fast.
Canned tomatoes! Recipe looks great! I love a fab meatless dinner option.
I could eat this every day. Creamy polenta, chickpeas, olives, tomatoes and basil! It’s like my dream meal. Seriously!
I am so happy you are not cooking for clients this year! I hope you have a little less stressful holiday season. I am so excited too! Let it snow! 🙂
Canned tomatoes have to be in my pantry all the time. I love to use del monte mexican stewed tomatoes as one part of my salsa at home.
I like peaches and pineapples.
We stock a lot of canned corn, peas, beets, tropical fruit, pears, and peaches. I guess my favorite would be corn.
Tweet link: https://twitter.com/shala_darkstone/status/402780578983854080
This recipe sounds delish and will be a perfect Meatless Monday meal (if I can get my husband past the idea of polenta!). I love having jars of roasted red peppers in my pantry. They’re so versatile!
Mountain Mama, I made this last night… I AM IN LOVE!! Oh my gosh. I haven’t had a ton of luck with homemade Italian sauces; I find they’re always lacking something so I just never make them. I’m making this one all the time!!! And I love the chickpeas in it! I made homemade meatballs for my husband (I try to eat vegan where I can but he needs his meat) and since I didn’t have polenta on hand, I served it on GF brown rice pasta. Still fantastic! I was going to share the recipe anyway but hopefully I can win something for the effort. 😉 But seriously, thanks for this, I’m so excited to make it again.
You’re so welcome!!! Glad you both enjoyed it. Good luck!
I always have canned pineapple.
I posted on Twitter!
Canned tomatoes are so versitle! I ahve never tried polenta so this recipie will be a new frontier for my family. Great giveaway, thanks!
I like to keep tinned carrots, tomatoes, green beans and sweetcorn in the pantry! I also keep a large amount of tinned fruit because my children are big fans, some of our favorites are pineapple chunks and mandarins in light syrup.
tweeted
https://twitter.com/mummytotwoboys1/status/403257643755528192
Looks yummy. I will try it as written for myself and I am going to veganize it this weekend for a friend who eats gluten free and vegan. My pantry is always stocked with cans of tomatoes, all sorts of beans and lots of fruit.
More than half my dishes use canned tomato of some form. I also keep peaches on hand for a quick dessert
I always have tomatoes (diced and crushed) stocked on my shelves for last minute recipes
This recipe looks delicious and is very healthy; thank you for sharing.
My favorite is canned tomatoes. I use them in so many recipes: chili, Swiss steak, soups, meat loaf, pasta sauce, etc.
tweeted
https://twitter.com/amylou61/status/403357896362053632
I always keep corn and green beans in the cabinets.
chambanachik at gmail dot com
This sounds and looks delicious, I already have all the ingredients!!!
tomatoes
Well you have to have lots of canned tomatoes but I also stock peaches, corn, pineapple and olives in cans (lots of Del Monte!).
I posted a tweet too : https://twitter.com/AnnaZed/status/403637142061973504
I always have baby corn and hearts of palm in my pantry!
Green beans are a staple for me. Quick and easy and everybody likes them!
Peaches
I like to stock canned beans and pineapple in my pantry
tcarolinep at gmail dot com
-https://twitter.com/tcarolinep/status/404099633514700800
I love tomatoes !!
I love asparagus! it’s great as a side or in bits thrown into a pasta.. yummmmm
tweeted 🙂
https://twitter.com/luvmy_babygio/status/404153547396497408
https://twitter.com/OneFrugalGirl/status/404334015336833024
onefrugalgirl AT gmail DOT com
Tomatoes! I’ve been buying the kind in the box because they are BPA free, but I have a ton of them lined up in the pantry.
onefrugalgirl AT gmail DOT com
I love green beans and pears.
https://twitter.com/susan1215/status/404400722826915840
mmm, vegetarian polenta. thank you!
french beans, pears, pumpkin puree!
tweeted!
https://twitter.com/mabelcchan/status/404437321258237952
That recipe sounds great…I’m a mountain mama too….too we live at 7500 feet in California mountains..I love your recipes …thank you
I’d have to go with petite diced tomatoes as my number one item and diced pineapple as a close second. Here’s hoping I win. 🙂
This looks great! I love a tasty, healthy and easy recipe.
We use canned tomatoes the most in our pantry along with corn. I love fresh veggies for everything else!
I like storing as many canned items as I can in my food storage…peaches, pears, pineapple, apples, beans, corn, green beans, we love it all! And yes to polenta…I have never had it with chickpeas but this looks so good I will try it! Thanks!
I love to stock canned peaches and corn
https://twitter.com/disneyfan40/status/404639577563869184
I cannot wait to make this! It sounds so yummy! Oh and I stock diced tomatoes and corn always in pantry!
Tomatoes don’t last long in the freezer, so I always keep canned ones around.
peaches and mandarin oranges
yum! this looks delicious 🙂 and canned tomatoes or corn.
Yum! We stock up on mandarin oranges and pears!
Love Del Monte peaches!!
I am so excited to be making this tomorrow when my vegetarian daughter comes homes. I know we will all love it!
Definitely canned tomatoes. Can’t leave without them. It’s so much better than actually having to dice tomatoes yourself!
I always have tomatoes! Diced, stewed, whole…all different types.
I love keeping canned peaches and canned green beans on hand.
Thanks for the chance to win!
wildorchid985 at gmail dot com
tweet–https://twitter.com/WildOrchid985/status/406784436907147264
I always keep a box of Del monte canned peaches in my pantry. I buy the kinds in 100% fruit juice from Costco (I’m frugal) and store it in my tiny pantry (I’m in college) for when I’m in the mood for a sweet treat without all the added sugar. I just drain the can (I love the easy opening tops, my can opener broke so I can still have the peaches!), grab a fork and I’m all set. It’s so convenient, I love peaches, and I can have it all year long!!
i like pineapple
https://twitter.com/HappyTina0115/status/408409285333250048
My favorite fruit or vegetable to stock in my pantry are tomatoes and peaches. love your Chickpea Puttanesca over Creamy Polenta
amy [at] utry [dot] it
tweeted:
https://twitter.com/uTry_it/status/409218161917964288
amy [at] utry [dot] it
I always have canned tomatoes, green beans, and peaches on hand thanks for the giveaway
I like to keep corn in my pantry! thanks for a chance to win! kmassman gmail
Canned beans and tomatoes are always in my pantry!
Just found this via Pinterest – sounds so good! I’m excited to have a great option in my pocket for vegetarian dinner guests 🙂 Can’t wait to check out the rest of your blog!
I like peaches.
Carrots, peas and peaches.
I keep peaches, apricots, pineapple, and tomatoes on hand.
I always have pineapple and diced tomato with green chili on hand. I use both in quite a few recipes.
tweeted https://twitter.com/hzeh818/status/411664007183880192
You will always find peaches and mandarin oranges in my pantry.
Tweeted: https://twitter.com/rhoneygee/status/412491519874965504
I always have beets and corn in the pantry
nannypanpan@gmail.com
I usually have corn and green beans available in our pantry.
I keep pineapple packed in juice in the pantry to use for smoothies.
this looks good and i love the ideal of keeping corn and green beans
https://twitter.com/purplelover04/status/413018083809189890
I always have canned peaches and canned green beans in my pantry.
This sounds yummy. We haven’t done anything like it before but we do always have tomatoes. We have dry garbonzo beans. We also keep green beans and kidney, black and pinto beans.
i keep corn, tomatoes, green beans and peaches in my pantry
I posted a tweet:
https://twitter.com/bellows22/status/413119169765203969
tweeted: https://twitter.com/KerryBishop/status/413140794766147584
I love to stock canned peaches
https://twitter.com/aes529/status/413318567338049537
I love canned peaches and apples. Just dump in a pan with a bit of cinnamon and PRESTO! yummers!
I tweeted here: https://twitter.com/MsTofuFairy/status/413370757251477504
My favorite to keep on hand is peaches, but I always have a big variety on the pantry shelves.
My favorite canned veggies and fruits to keep in my pantry include tomatoes in their many forms, peaches, corn, beets, and pineapple.
I tweeted a link to your yummy recipe and the giveaway. Thanks!
https://twitter.com/NotherAnneOther/status/413412776854290432
I like to stock up on canned corn.
https://twitter.com/thomasmurphy40/status/413416575522201600
canned pineapples
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com
tweet https://twitter.com/ChelleB36/status/413432372730662912
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com
canned tomato b/c we use it in chili and pasta dishes
We keep canned corn handy because I make a ton of soups – veggie, turkey noodle, corn chowder etc.
tweeted
https://twitter.com/MelindaJoy926/status/421102951487127552
I made this for a group of friends last week and everyone went crazy!! I couldn’t find regular polenta in my grocery store so I used instant polenta and it turned out fabulous! I just loved the different flavors that were going on in this dish…this is one that we will definitely make again and again! 🙂
So glad you liked it, thanks for the kind comment!!! It’s one of my favorites too!
Even my picky, non-vegetarian daughter liked this. Thank you!
I have never made polenta before so I looked it up: Polenta (Polente or Poleinte in France) is cornmeal boiled into a porridge, and eaten directly or baked, fried or grilled. So in the ingredient list when you say polenta do you actually mean cornmeal?
You could use medium or coarse ground cornmeal.
Sounds Deee-licious!
Made this tonight and loved it! Great flavor and easy!
I made this tonight for dinner, it was wonderful. Will be making this again and again.
Very tasty. But there is no direction for when to add the basil and red pepper flakes.