A while back I shared my baked polenta chip & smoked sage salt recipe. That recipe became a firm favourite at my place, so much so I needed to change it up a little for variety. Enter the new family favourite, baked sweet potato polenta bites.
As mentioned then, I will never fry polenta chips, or in this case bites, again. Baking the bites is far healthier for you, plus there is less mess involved. And who doesn’t like a little less mess in the kitchen?
These sweet potato polenta bites are easy and stress free to make. Perfect to make ahead to the baking stage if you are entertaining.
There is just one downfall with this recipe. Being bite sized, I found I just kept popping them in my mouth and eating, and eating, and eating! Next thing I knew the bowl was empty leaving me wondering, “Did I really just eat all of those??”.
Sara xxx
Baked Sweet Potato Polenta Bites
Ingredients
- 1 L water
- 200 grams sweet potato
- 160 grams polenta
- 130 grams gruyere cheese grated
- 50 grams butter
- 5 grams thyme leaves
- salt and pepper to season
Instructions
- Cook sweet potato either via boiling in water or microwaving until tender and then mash.
- Line a rectangular brownie tin with plastic wrap.
- In a large saucepan bring stock to the boil. Add polenta and reduce to a simmer. Continuously stir until the polenta is cooked through and all the stock has been absorbed. It is important that the polenta has absorbed all the liquid and the mixture is stiff and thick.
- Remove pan from heat and stir through sweet potato, gruyere, butter and thyme. Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Leave to cool slightly and then place mixture in tin and smooth out evenly. Place plastic wrap over the top of the polenta mix. Smooth well with hands and place in the fridge for a few hours until chilled and set. I find it works best when left in the fridge overnight.
- When the polenta is set and you are ready to cook, preheat oven at 180 deg C (360 deg F).
- Remove wrap from the top of the polenta, and carefully turn out in one piece on to a chopping board. Remove the rest of the wrap. Cut polenta into 2cm square bites.
- Place in the oven and bake for around 25 minutes until golden and crunchy.
Notes
- 1 teaspoon equals 5ml
- 1 tablespoon equals 20 ml (Nth America, NZ & UK use 15ml tablespoons)
- 1 cup equals 250ml (Nth America use 237ml)
- 4 teaspoons equals 1 tablespoon
- I use the below unless specified in my recipes;
celeste
What are you dipping them in?
Sara McCleary
Hi Celeste
It would have been (probably) garlic aioli. Feel free to use any dipping sauce you like.
Cheers, Sara
john | heneedsfood
Um, WOW! These little things really need to appear in my life. Preferably now. Fried polenta always gets a bit tick from me, but adding sweet potato and baking them is superb. And a big YES to the gruyere!
Helen | Grab Your Fork
Yum. These look so good. I was convinced these had come out of the fryer but I love that they're baked and so easy to prepare in advance - perfect for parties!
Tania @My Kitchen Stories
Great idea and no frying?. Thats even better. Lovely pictures too
Kevin | keviniscooking
LOVE these and the sweet potato, gruyere cheese addition sounds great. Thanks they are perfect little snacks!
Claire | Sprinkles and Sprouts
These sound scrummy!
I can't wait to try them.
I love the idea of having them as little bites for serving with drinks 🙂
Thanks for sharing x
Gourmet Getaways
Nice dish, Sara - easy, simple yet a tasty-looking snack. Great styling, too!!
Julie & Alesah
Gourmet Getaways xx
Gaby
Yay for gluten-free recipes! As someone pointed out in Instagram, where is the sweet potato in the instructions?
Sara
Gaby I am so sorry. That will teach me to rush putting a recipe up. I have amended to include instructions regarding the sweet potato.
Gaby
Thanks! 🙂