Name: Antipasto Polenta Bake
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 40 min
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 6 Cups Water; 2 Cups Dry Polenta; 2 Tbsp Vegan Butter; 1 tsp Black Pepper; ¼ tsp Salt; 7 oz. Vegan Mozzarella; ¼ Cup Pepperoncini; ¼ Cup Spanish Olives; ¼ Cup Kalamata Olives; ½ Cup Artichokes; ½ Cup Roasted Red Peppers

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A cozy pantry purge meal that’s easy and oh-so-satisfying. This Vegan Antipasto Polenta Bake can be made with what you have available yet it still delivers BIG Italian flavor. Get ready for cozy comfort food when we all need it most.

It’s Time to Raid the Cupboards!

Our favorite thing about this Polenta Bake is that it can go in the direction of your choosing. For us, we had jars of olives, pepperoncini, artichoke, and roasted red peppers in the cupboard- an antipasto Italian Feast!

Here is precisely what you will need to make this Antipasto version:

Polenta (cornmeal)
Vegan Mozzarella
Vegan Butter
Pitted Olives (We used Kalamata and Spanish, but any will work)
Pepperoncini
Artichoke Hearts
Roasted Red Pepper

When you put all of these Italian delicacies together with the creamy polenta casserole, you get one cozy meal that is sure to delight!

Easy and Adjustable

Don’t worry if you don’t have pepperoncini on hand! Steve happens to love them, even on peanut butter toast (which is a little weird even for me…), so we typically have some in the refrigerator. But this Polenta Bake is easily customizable for your cupboards and taste preferences.

Here are some ideas if you don’t have the necessary ingredients for the Antipasto version:

Mushrooms
- Any variety will work and they will pair marvelously with the buttery polenta.
Spinach or other greens
- If you use greens, we would suggest mixing them with the polenta so they are incorporated into the bake. Just stir them in when you add the cheese. Yum, yum, yum!
Tomatoes
- Fresh or canned will work. We would recommend placing the fresh on top, similar to our antipasto version. But if you use canned tomatoes, stir them into the polenta right before transferring it to the baking dish. What is cozier than polenta, cheese, and tomato?! Mmmmm…

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can the additions be mixed into the bake?
- Absolutely. We opted to place our antipasto ingredients on top because of their preparation as condiments. However, if you are using spinach, mushrooms, or other veggies, they can definitely be mixed within the polenta before baking just like the cheese.

What if you don’t have store-bought cheese on-hand?
- Make your own! We used mozzarella but other varieties will also work including homemade. Here is a yummy pepita parmesanthat can be whipped up in less than 5 minutes or a plain cashew cheese will also taste great.

Can it be reheated?
- Yes. I will be honest polenta is always the best when it is first made, even as a bake. However, with the addition of the mozzarella, it helps to keep the polenta delicious as a leftover.

Cozy Comfort Food at Its Finest

This satisfying plant-based meal is sure to comfort. It’s easy, filling, and ready to work with what you have. Try this homemade vegan Antipasto Polenta Bake today. All you need to do is dig a little in your cupboards. Happy scrounging.