By Mayo Clinic Staff

Dietitian's tip:

Polenta is a porridge that's commonly made from ground cornmeal. Parmesan cheese adds flavor to this creamy polenta. It's topped with lightly steamed and sauteed vegetables. Try any combination of vegetables, including leafy greens.

Number of servings

Serves 4
  1. Gluten-free
  2. Healthy-carb
  3. Weight management
  4. Low-fat
  5. Diabetes meal plan
  6. DASH diet
  7. High-fiber
  8. Heart-healthy
  9. Meatless
  10. Plant-based
  11. Low-sodium

Ingredients

  1. 1 cup coarsely ground cornmeal
  2. 4 cups water
  3. 1 teaspoon chopped garlic
  4. 1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms
  5. 1 cup sliced onions
  6. 1 cup broccoli florets
  7. 1 1/2 cup sliced zucchini
  8. 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
  9. Chopped fresh oregano, basil or rosemary, to taste

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 F. Lightly coat a 3-quart ovenproof dish with cooking spray.

In the prepared dish, combine the cornmeal, water and garlic. Bake uncovered until the polenta mixture pulls away from the sides of the baking dish, about 40 minutes. The polenta should be moist.

While the polenta is cooking, prepare the vegetables. Spray a nonstick frying pan with cooking spray. Add the mushrooms and onions. Saute over medium heat until the vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes.

In a pot fitted with a steamer basket, bring 1 inch of water to a boil. Add the broccoli and zucchini. Cover and steam until tender-crisp, 2 to 3 minutes.

When the polenta is done, top with the cooked vegetables. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and herbs, to taste. Serve right away.

Nutritional analysis per serving

Serving size: 1 1/2 cups

  • Calories 153
  • Total carbohydrate 30 g
  • Total sugars 3 g
  • Dietary fiber 7 g
  • Protein 5 g
  • Total fat 2 g
  • Saturated fat 0.5 g
  • Monounsaturated fat Trace
  • Polyunsaturated fat Trace
  • Cholesterol 2 mg
  • Sodium 76 mg
  • Potassium 310 mg
  • Calcium 64 mg
  • Magnesium 21 mg
  • Vitamin D 2 IU
  • Iron 2 mg
May 08, 2026