Polenta pizza with pancetta, gorgonzola and spinach

Nothing says pizza toppings have to go on yeast-bread products. Whatever your favorite flavor combos are, chances are pretty good they might go just as well on a polenta base, so just because you don’t have a crust on hand doesn’t mean you can’t have a pie. Plus, it’s a great way to use up any leftover polenta.

Polenta pizza with pancetta and spinach

From the Star Tribune’s Taste section, March 12, 2009. While I didn’t save the article this recipe accompanies, I suspect from online searching that this must be a Mark Bittman recipe via the New York Times service.

Ingredients

¼ cup olive oil, divided, plus more for pan

½ cup whole milk

2½ cups water

1 cup polenta or cornmeal

1 small onion, chopped

½ cup chopped pancetta

10 ounces fresh spinach leaves

1 cup or more gorgonzola

Method

Oil a pizza pan lightly with olive oil. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine milk, water and a pinch of salt. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and whisk in polenta in a slow stream. Simmer on low, whisking continuously, until thick, about 10 minutes. Mix in 1 tablespoon olive oil. Spread polenta over prepared pizza pan. Cover and chill until firm, at least an hour or overnight.

Uncover polenta and bake in a preheated 450-degree oven until beginning to brown and crisp along the edges, about 20 to 25 minutes.

Meanwhile, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and pancetta and cook until onion is soft and pancetta is browned. Remove from pan and set aside. Add spinach and cook until it’s wilted and any liquid has cooked out. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Sprinkle gorgonzola over top of the baked polenta. Scatter onion-pancetta mixture on top, then spinach. Drizzle with remaining tablespoon of olive oil. Bake for another 2 minutes to melt cheese.

Rating: Very tasty, and very satisfying. The polenta brings enough body to the meal that it seems much more filling per slice than the average pizza. Can’t believe it took me seven years to finally getting around to making something this simple.