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Home » snacks

Toasted Polenta Rounds (air fryer or oven)

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Toasted polenta rounds are ideal comfort food for an easy weeknight meal. Use them to scoop up dips, top with tasty ingredients, or eat alongside your favorite salad or soup. They make a great substitute for tortilla chips! This recipe is oil-free, gluten-free, and satisfies a whole food plant-based lifestyle. Air fryer and oven methods are both included.

Chili bowls with toasted polenta rounds, greens, vegan sour cream. and smoky hemp heart seasoning.

While this recipe can be enjoyed all year round, I especially like it in the fall and winter, with warming meals.

It was inspired by my Instant Pot Chili with Greens, when I was contemplating a tortilla chip alternative. They're toasted rather than crispy, yet can withstand stacking goodies on top of it or dipping like a chip. These polenta rounds also pair well with this sour cream recipe. Both are pictured above.

Jump to:
  • Ingredients
  • Equipment
  • Instructions
  • Tip
  • Storage
  • FAQ
  • Related
  • Pairing
  • The Recipe
  • general food safety
  • Comments

Ingredients

The ingredients here are so basic and can be kept in your pantry for those nights you need an extra easy fix.

Ingredients for making toasted polenta rounds in the air fryer or oven.

Polenta tube: These are easy to find in most grocery stores and are really versatile. It's very sliceable. I have used this traditional Italian version in Mexican dishes without blinking an eye - it works wonderfully.

Garlic salt (optional): While you can also find garlic salt easily in most grocery stores, I like making mine so that I can control the garlic-to-salt ratio. Check out my garlic salt recipe to learn more - it's very easy to do.

See recipe card for quantities.

Equipment

Air fryer or oven: The recipe below includes instructions for both, so you can use what you have.

Instructions

Toasted polenta rounds require very little effort, which is why it's great for those nights when you have little time or energy. It just takes a moment to slice up the tube, place the pieces on the tray/lined baking sheet, sprinkle with garlic salt (if using), and place it in the air fryer or oven.

Polenta rounds on an air fryer tray ready to be toasted.

Slice up the polenta and place on your baking surface (lined baking sheet if using oven). Sprinkle with garlic salt if using.

Toasted polenta rounds on an air fryer tray.

Set to air fry or bake in the oven. The timing varies depending on how think your slices are and how toasted you'd like them.

Tip

Slice thickness is flexible. The instructions indicate that it's up to you whether you slice the tube into ¼-inch thick pieces up to ½-inch thick. The thinner version will end up more toasty and maybe even a little crispy, while the thicker ones will be toasted on the outside and soft on the inside.

Cook time is flexible. If you don't have much time and you don't mind the polenta rounds being softer on top instead of toasted, air fry or bake them just long enough to heat, 5-10 minutes. Alternatively, you could microwave them for about a minute. These polenta rounds are very easy to work with!

Storage

Store uneaten toasted polenta rounds in a refrigerated sealed container for up to a few days.

They also can be frozen. Lay them on a flat surface that can go in the freezer, such as a small baking sheet. This will keep them from sticking to each other. Once frozen, store them in a freezer-safe container, such as a jar.

FAQ

Are these toasted polenta rounds crispy?

While you can experiment with slicing them very thin and baking them to get them crispy, this recipe does not create crispy polenta rounds. They have a nice toasted exterior with a soft center.

Related

Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:

  • A platter of homemade artisanal rosemary olive crackers with sliced watermelon radishes and hummus.
    Homemade Vegan Rosemary Crackers
  • Air fryer sliced potatoes covered in chive blossoms.
    Air Fryer Potato Slices (oil-free)
  • a stack of delicata squash
    Delicata Dippers, A One-Ingredient Snack Recipe
  • Overhead view of three plates of hoomemade fries made with different potatoes.
    Oil-free Air Fryer French Fries

Pairing

These are my favorite recipes to serve with polenta rounds:

  • Vegan Instant Pot chili with greens served up in three bowls surrounded by topping options.
    Vegan Instant Pot Chili with Greens (oil-free)
  • A rounded glass jar of freshly made mango salsa surrounded by cherry tomatoes, a lime, and a mango.
    Mango Jalapeno Dip (Salsa)
  • Smooth and creamy homemade vegan sour cream in a handcrafted bowl.
    Vegan Sour Cream (oil-free)
  • fresh homemade guacamole
    Easy Vegan Guacamole

The Recipe

Toasted polenta rounds filling a large plate, surrounded by shredded kale, chopped red onion, and bowls of vegan chili.

Toasted Polenta Rounds

Toasted polenta rounds are ideal for an easy weeknight meal. Use them to scoop up dips, top with tasty ingredients, or simply eat alongside your favorite salad or soup. They make a great substitute for tortilla chips! This recipe is oil-free, gluten-free, and satisfies a whole food plant-based lifestyle. Air fryer and oven methods are both included.
____________________________
Plant Diversity: Striving for 30 different plants per week
The number of plants in this recipe: 1 plant
4 from 3 votes
Print Pin Rate SaveSaved!
Course: Side Dish, Snack
Cuisine: Mediterranean, Mexican
Lifestyle: Gluten Free, Vegan
Key Attributes: corn, polenta
Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes minutes
Servings: 4
Fiber: 0.01g
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Equipment

  • air fryer or oven

Ingredients

  • 1 tube polenta
  • ⅛ teaspoon garlic salt optional

Instructions

  • Slice the tubed polenta into ¼-1/2 inch thick slices. Place the slices on your air fryer tray or parchment-lined baking sheet for the oven.
  • Sprinkle with garlic salt, if using.
  • Air fry: 20 minutes at 400°F, or until toasted golden brown. Flip half way to ensure golden on both sides.
    Oven: 40 minutes at 400°F, or until toasted golden brown. Flip half way to ensure golden on both sides.
  • Serve on their own, as a side to a salad or soup, or however you might use tortilla chips or bruschetta.
  • Store in the fridge for up to a few days.
    For freezing: Freeze on a baking sheet until solid, then stack them in a freezer safe container, like a jar for up to a few months.

Rough Nutrition Estimate provided by WPRM (based on generic ingredients and limited specification options)

Nutrition Facts
Toasted Polenta Rounds
Amount per Serving
Calories
0.93
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
0.003
g
0
%
Polyunsaturated Fat
 
0.003
g
Sodium
 
72.67
mg
3
%
Potassium
 
0.36
mg
0
%
Carbohydrates
 
0.2
g
0
%
Fiber
 
0.01
g
0
%
Sugar
 
0.003
g
0
%
Protein
 
0.02
g
0
%
Vitamin A
 
0.54
IU
0
%
Calcium
 
0.05
mg
0
%
Iron
 
0.003
mg
0
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Tried this recipe?I'd love to see! On Instagram, mention @beautifulingredient and tag #beautifulingredient!

general food safety

  • Cook to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C)
  • Do not use the same utensils on cooked food that previously touched raw meat
  • Wash hands and ingredients well before using
  • Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
  • Never leave cooking food unattended
  • Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
  • Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove

See more guidelines at USDA.gov.

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Comments

    4.34 from 3 votes (3 ratings without comment)

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  1. Rachel says

    July 30, 2024 at 9:53 pm

    What temperature do you cook them at in the oven? The air fryer temp is also not on the recipe

    Reply
    • Kari says

      July 31, 2024 at 3:54 am

      Thanks for your question and sorry for the error! The cook temps are now available in the recipe. 400°F for both, though since they're pre-cooked you could cook them anywhere from 350°F on up to 425°F (probably with less cook time) and they should do well, depending on whether you want to warm or toast them. Hope that helps!

      Reply
Kari smelling anise hyssop while standing behind her market basket and fresh produce.

Welcome to a world of beautiful food!

I'm Kari, and this is where I celebrate beautiful ingredients and focus on ways to make eating more plants easier. Recipes are centered around whole foods and are vegan, cooked without the need for oil, mostly refined sugar-free and gluten-free. And so delicious!


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