Polenta, Beans & Roasted Veggies

Servings: 4-6

Time: 45-50 minutes (including roasting time)

Ingredients:

1 15-oz can of beans (pinto, kidney, black, etc.) or 2 cups beans cooked from scratch (1 cup dry makes about 3 cups cooked)

Any combination of veggies that you like to roast, like:

• 3 tomatoes cut in big chunks

• 1 zucchini cut in 1 inch rounds

• 1 yellow squash cu in 1 inch rounds

• 1 onion cut in big chunks

• 1 carrot cut in 1 inch rounds

• 1 small egg plant, peeled and cut in 1 inch cubes

• 5 or 6 portobello or white button mushrooms

7 oz tofu, cut in 1/2 inch cubes (optional)

1 Tbsp oregano

1/2 Tbsp onion powder

1/2 Tbsp garlic powder

Dash of salt

Dash of pepper

1/2 cup polenta

2 tsp nutritional yeast

1/4 tsp salt

Dash of pepper

2 cups water

Sauerkraut (an optional side dish)

Your favorite greens (it’s great to mix greens into all of these goodies on your plate or serve them as a side dish with a little Tahini sauce)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.

Place all veggies, tofu (optional), oregano, onion powder, garlic powder, dash of salt and pepper in a baking dish or roasting pot and mix together. Cover the dish with aluminum foil or lid. Bake for about 40 minutes. Veggies should be tender when done.

Strain and rinse beans (if using canned beans). Place canned beans in the microwave for a 1-2 minutes to warm them up or put them in a saucepan on the stove with a little water to warm them up for a few minutes.

Combine the polenta, nutritional yeast, salt, pepper and water in a saucepan on the stove and cook on high, stirring constantly to prevent the polenta from sticking to the pan. If necessary, turn the heat down to medium to prevent burning. Continue stirring and cooking until polenta reaches the consistency you like, about 5 minutes or so. Turn off the stove,, cover the pan and allow the polenta to sit for about 5 minutes.

When the vegetables are done, serve polenta, veggies and beans side-by-side on a plate with your favorite greens or a fresh salad and enjoy! This easy meal is nutritious and delicious. It’s also great with sauerkraut.

For a quicker dish, make a simple salad instead of roasted veggies.

It’s just as delicious! Serve the salad with a simple vinaigrette or tahini sauce.