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    Home » snack

    Toasted Polenta Rounds (air fryer or oven)

    Jump to Recipe
    Toasted polenta rounds in a large bowl surrounded by chili bowls with polenta rounds in them.

    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

    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 jar filled with homemade garlic salt.
      How to Make Garlic Salt (with reduced sodium)
    • Air fryer sliced potatoes covered in chive blossoms.
      Air Fryer Potato Slices (oil-free)
    • Crispy chickpeas on a periwinkle dish
      Air Fryer Crispy Chickpeas, Oil-Free
    • Overhead view of three plates of hoomemade fries made with different potatoes.
      Oil-free Air Fryer French Fries

    Pairing

    These are my favorite dishes to serve with [this recipe]:

    • Vegan Instant Pot chili with greens served up in three bowls surrounded by topping options.
      Vegan Instant Pot Chili with Greens (oil-free)
    • A top down view of a plated Lemon Rosemary Vegan Cheese Log.
      Lemon Rosemary Vegan Cheese Log
    • Smooth and creamy homemade vegan sour cream in a handcrafted bowl.
      Vegan Sour Cream (oil-free)
    • fresh homemade guacamole
      Favorite 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
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Side Dish, Snack
    Cuisine: Mediterranean, Mexican
    Lifestyle: Gluten Free, Vegan
    Key Attributes: corn, polenta
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes
    Total Time: 25 minutes
    Servings: 4
    Fiber: 0.01g
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    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, or until toasted golden brown. Flip half way to ensure golden on both sides.
      Oven: 40 minutes, 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.
    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.

    More snack

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      Quick Vegan Crisp (Frozen Fruit)
    • Tofu feta marinating in a glass container on a marble surface.
      Oil-Free Tofu Feta
    • A glass filled with vegan strawberry frozen yogurt.
      Quick Strawberry Frozen Yogurt (vegan)
    • A bowl of berry porridge with fresh blueberries, yogurt, and homemade caramel sauce.
      Five Minute Drizzly Vegan Caramel Sauce

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    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, oil-free, refined sugar-free, and mostly gluten-free. And so delicious!



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