Gluten Free Sausage & Polenta 15 Minute Casserole

Getting tired of the same old thing for dinner? Try this next quick gluten free dinner idea. Start to finish is only 15 minutes!

A little recipe background: Why Polenta?

I guess you could say that Polenta has been trying to sneak it's way into my heart for the past year. It all started at the Gluten Free Expo* where I was first introduced to this little "corn log" ;). I had seen Polenta in the grocery store but I was a little weary of them. I mean, how do you cook a log of corn? And what does that even taste like? And why are people eating this stuff? 

I wasn't scared...well, ok, I was scared. 

So with a little encouragement from the sales rep at the expo I thought, "Ok, maaaaybe I'll give it a try..." But, I soon forgot my promise and went along my merry way until- a couple of months later my brother-in-law invited us over for dinner. On the menu: fried polenta. What in the world. There it is again. Popping into my life. This time I had the opportunity to taste it and I actually liked it! To quote a phrase from Home Alone "I'm not afraid anymore!" 

I had been introduced, I had seen it been cooked, I had tasted it myself... Now, it was my turn to go and purchase one of my very own... 

So, on my next visit to the grocery store, I found one down the spaghetti aisle. (They come in a variety of flavors ps and it's organic.) Excited and feeling brave I brought it home and placed in my cupboard...and there is stayed for the next 4 months... taunting me whenever I opened the door! "Cook me! Try me!" it would say.  And no joke with 1 day left on the expiration date I decided it was now or never. ;)

This recipe was created purely out of necessity but the result is unique and tasty. The polenta in this recipe is used in place of where I would normally have gluten free pasta. It's a great alternative that cooks up faster than pasta and has the same filling effects. Try it and let me know what you think! 

*Psst! The Gluten Free Expo is coming up soon on Oct 11th 2014 in Salt Lake City, Utah. For tickets go to the glutenfreeexpo.com website.

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Gluten Free Sausage & Polenta 15 Minute Casserole

(Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Contains Corn)
Created by jalene

Ingredients: 

• 1 (18oz) Polenta Roll (see picture above)
• 1/2 lb Gluten Free Sausage
• 1 (6oz) can of black olives, sliced 
• 1 medium sized zucchini 
• about 12 oz of your favorite gluten free spaghetti sauce

Directions: 

1. Open your Polenta roll and cut it into rounds about 1/2 inch thick. Then cut each round into 16 pieces. (See picture.) Set aside. 
2. Cut your zucchini into rounds as well and then each round into 1/4ths. Set aside. 
3. In a large pan over medium heat brown your sausage. Add the polenta and zucchini and toss with the sausage until the zucchini is tender crisp. 
4. Add the olives and then the sauce. Heat and then serve.

Cut into 1/2 inch rounds then into 16 pieces.

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.