Pantry Dinner Salad With Polenta Croutons

Ingredients for Pantry Dinner Salad With Polenta Croutons

• 60ml extra-virgin olive oil

• 60ml red or white wine vinegar

• 1 1/2 teaspoons Dijon or whole grain mustard

• 1/2 teaspoons honey or agave nectar

• 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt

• 1/4 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper

• 450g still-warm Big-Batch Parmesan Polenta

• 50g finely grated Parmesan

• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

• 1/2 red onion or 1 shallot, thinly sliced

• 1 (heaping) cup thinly sliced raw crunchy vegetables (such as fennel, radishes, and/or celery)

• 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt

• 1 head of radicchio, escarole, or cos, leaves separated, torn into bite-size pieces

• 60g thinly sliced salami, prosciutto, or other cured meat (optional)

• 240ml olives, pickles, peperoncini, or marinated artichoke hearts, sliced if desired

• 80g (loosely packed) tender herbs (such as basil, parsley, mint, and/or dill)

Whisk together oil, vinegar, mustard, honey, salt, and pepper in a small bowl (or shake together in a small jar). Set aside.

Pour polenta into a square or rectangular airtight container and spread into an even layer. Let cool, then cover and chill at least 1 hour and up to 1 week. (The polenta will set into a solid block.)

Turn out polenta onto a cutting board and cut into 1” cubes. Place Parmesan in a wide shallow bowl and, working in batches, toss cubes in cheese to coat. Using your hands, press cheese against edges of polenta to adhere, then transfer to a plate.

Heat oil in a nonstick skillet over medium-high. Working in batches as needed, place as many polenta cubes as will fit in an even layer with 1” space between each in skillet. Let fry, undisturbed, until bottoms are crisp and browned, about 4 minutes. Resist the urge to move the cubes before 3 minutes have passed to avoid pulling the Parmesan coating off the polenta. Turn over one at a time, making sure cubes don’t stick together, and repeat cooking process with opposite sides of cubes. Transfer to a plate.

Toss onion, crunchy vegetables, and salt in a large bowl. Add radicchio, salami (if using), olives, and herbs and toss to combine. Drizzle reserved dressing over and toss gently to coat. Add warm croutons and gently toss again.

Disclaimer

While every effort has been made to ensure the information is accurate and up to date, individual needs may vary and dietary requirements can differ based on personal health conditions. Always check food labels and allergen information before preparing or consuming any recipe. If you have specific health concerns, allergies, intolerances, or are following a medically prescribed diet, seek advice from your GP, pharmacist, or a registered dietitian before making significant changes to your diet or lifestyle.