PARTNER POST — Grilling season is here and it is time to explore Italian grilling with authentic ingredients from Colavita.
A polenta loaf is sliced and grilled with peaches and is served with a peppery strawberry balsamic sauce for a sweet bite of summer. Enjoy with a raspberry shrub drink made of raspberry vinegar and soda water, for a refreshing fizziness.
By Trish Bozeman
In my eyes, the perfect Italian grilling table ALWAYS includes a classic caprese salad with some amazing mozzarella or burrata cheese. When given the task to create a unique summer grilling dish, however, I went out of my comfort zone and attempted some flavors I knew were great on their own, but hadn’t put together before. The mildness of the polenta totally blends with the peppery strawberry balsamic sauce, and the grilled peaches add that sweet taste of summer. The raspberry shrub combines raspberry vinegar with fresh raspberries and soda water, for a refreshing fizziness.
Colavita olive oils and vinegars are items that I buy on a regular basis, but I had no idea they carried such a wide array of awesome Italian goodies. Capers, polenta, sun-dried tomatoes, pesto, oils, vinegars, even salt and pepper! The quality is just killer, just like Italian food should be.
A polenta loaf is sliced and grilled with peaches. Then served on a peppery strawberry balsamic sauce and topped with balsamic glace. With a refreshing raspberry drinking shrub. YUM!
Grill Like an Italian with Colavita: Grilled Peaches and Polenta with Strawberry Balsamic Sauce and a Raspberry Shrub Drink
Description
A polenta loaf is sliced and grilled with peaches and is served with a peppery strawberry balsamic sauce for a sweet bite of summer.
Ingredients
FOR THE POLENTA:
- 3½ cups water
- 1 cup Colavita polenta cornmeal
- 2 Tablespoons Colavita 100% organic extra virgin olive oil
- Salt and pepper
FOR THE SHRUB:
- 1 cup fresh or frozen raspberries
- 1 cup Colavita raspberry wine vinegar
- 4 cups sparkling or tonic water
- Ice
FOR THE SAUCE:
- 2½ cups fresh or frozen strawberries, hulled
- 1 cup water
- 2 Tablespoons Colavita balsamic glace original
- 2 teaspoons ground Rachael Ray malabar black peppercorns
FOR THE PEACHES:
- Colavita 100% organic extra virgin olive oil
- 2 peaches, sliced
- Colavita balsamic glace original
Instructions
- Start by making your polenta: Bring 3½ cups water to boil in a saucepan. Gradually whisk in polenta. Reduce heat, and continue stirring for about 5 minutes, or until thickened and almost doughy.
- Stir in 2 Tablespoons olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Grease a shallow loaf pan with olive oil and pour in polenta. Let come to room temperature, then refrigerate until cool, about 30 minutes.
- Meanwhile, make your shrub vinegar: Combine raspberries and vinegar in a glass jar with tight fitting lid and let sit for 1 hour, shaking every 10 minutes or so. Strain through a fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth. Discard berries and set liquid aside.
- Meanwhile, make your sauce: Puree strawberries and water in a blender until smooth. Heat over medium heat in a saucepan, until just simmering. Add 2 Tablespoons balsamic glace and 2 Tablespoons of pepper. Stir well.
- Bring to a boil, reduce heat, then simmer, stirring occasionally, until slightly reduced and slightly thick, about 15 minutes. Keep warm
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Remove the chilled polenta loaf from the pan and slice into ½ inch thick strips. Place polenta strips on a broiler pan and bake for 5 minutes. Remove pan from oven and set aside.
- Heat your grill to high heat. Apply olive oil to each side of the polenta and the peaches. Grill for about 3-4 minutes per side, only flipping once.
- Place a generous amount of sauce on a plate or shallow bowl. Top with grilled polenta and peaches. Drizzle with balsamic glace.
- Make your shrub: Fill a glass with as much ice as desired. Pour in a few Tablespoons of vinegar and top with soda water. Add more vinegar to taste.
- Category: Side
- Cuisine: Italian-Inspired
It looks so delicious. I got your recipe and I will try to make this dish. I love it.
I tried to follow the recipe and heated the cornmeal, but somehow it became sticky, do not know what is wrong, will try again.
It is really easy to do. I think its taste is really delicious b’cuz of many ingredients. I love it …
using polenta loaf for cooking is such an innovative idea, I have tried it and the dish was not bad, need some more trial before I get satisfactory result.