Polenta & Vegetable Terrine with Roasted
Tomatoes
Preparation time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Cooking time: 6-8 minutes
Serves 6-8
4 tablespoons olive oil, plus extra for
brushing
1 red pepper
250 g (8 oz) mushrooms, quartered
2 red onions, cut into small wedges
125 g (4 oz) baby courgettes, cut in half
lengthways
125 g (4 oz) baby carrots
125 g (4 oz) French beans, topped and
tailed
125 g (4 oz) broccoli, cut into florets
1.5 liters (21/2 pints) water
300 g (10 oz) polenta
50 g (2 oz) vegetarian Parmesan cheese,
grated, plus extra for sprinkling
2 garlic cloves, crushed
8 ripe plum tomatoes, cut in half
lengthways
50 g (2 oz) black olives, to garnish
Salt and pepper
Brush a 1.25 kg (21/2 lb) loaf tin with
olive oil. Put the red pepper under a preheated grill for 10 minutes
until blistered. Seal in a polythene bag and set aside to cool. Peel
off the charred skin and remove the seeds. Cut the flesh into 2.5 cm (1
inch) strips.
Heat half the oil in a frying pan, add
the mushrooms and onions, cover and cook for 2-3 minutes. Remove with a
slotted spoon and drain on kitchen paper. Blanch the remaining
vegetables in separate saucepans of boiling salted water until just
tender. Drain, refresh under cold running water and drain again.
Bring the measured water to the boil in a
large saucepan. Add a pinch of salt, then pour in the polenta ,
stirring constantly for about 20 minutes until the mixture leaves the
sides of the pan. Remove from the heat, add the vegetables and
Parmesan, mix well and spoon into the loaf tin. Level the surface and
set aside until cold. Turn the terrine out of the tin and cut it into
slices. Brush each side with a little of the oil.
Mix the garlic with the remaining oil,
brush it over the tomatoes and season to taste. Place the terrine
slices and tomatoes, cut side down, under a preheated moderate grill
for 6-8 minutes, turning once. Serve the terrine topped with the tomato
halves, garnished with the olives and sprinkled with Parmesan.
Note: Polenta is fine golden cornmeal
which comes originally from Italy. It is widely available from
supermarkets.
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