Heart-Healthy Creamy Polenta
Indulge in comfort food that loves your heart with this Heart-Healthy Creamy Polenta recipe—a nutritious twist on a classic favorite. Made with coarse cornmeal simmered in low-sodium vegetable broth and unsweetened almond milk, this dish delivers velvety texture without heavy creams or saturated fats. Nutritional yeast lends a cheesy flavor while extra-virgin olive oil provides a dose of healthy fats. Aromatic hints of garlic and onion powder, paired with freshly ground black pepper, elevate its savory profile, while a sprinkle of fresh parsley adds brightness to each bite. Ready in just 30 minutes, this wholesome recipe is a perfect side dish or satisfying plant-based main course that’s both soul-warming and heart-smart.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 1 cup polenta (coarse cornmeal)
- 4 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
- 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
- 0.5 teaspoon garlic powder
- 0.5 teaspoon onion powder
- 0.25 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 0.5 teaspoon sea salt
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
In a medium-sized saucepan, bring the vegetable broth and almond milk to a gentle boil over medium heat.
Slowly whisk in the polenta, ensuring that you are constantly stirring to avoid any lumps.
Reduce the heat to low and stir continuously as the mixture starts to thicken. This should take about 5-7 minutes.
Once thickened, add the olive oil, nutritional yeast, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper. Continue to stir and let cook for another 10 minutes, stirring frequently to prevent the mixture from sticking to the bottom of the pan.
Taste the polenta and add sea salt as needed. Remember, the broth might already contain salt, so adjust to your liking.
Once the polenta is creamy and cooked through, remove the saucepan from the heat and let it stand for a couple of minutes.
Serve hot, garnished with fresh parsley. Enjoy your heart-healthy creamy polenta as a satisfying side dish or as a main course with a salad.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
1161 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 20.3 g | 26% | |
| Saturated Fat | 2.7 g | 14% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.7 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 0 mg | 0% | |
| Sodium | 1888 mg | 82% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 210.1 g | 76% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 12.4 g | 44% | |
| Total Sugars | 5.6 g | ||
| Protein | 27.4 g | 55% | |
| Vitamin D | 2.2 mcg | 11% | |
| Calcium | 504 mg | 39% | |
| Iron | 7.7 mg | 43% | |
| Potassium | 1372 mg | 29% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
