Cheezy Baked Polenta Chips With A White Miso Salsa

A delicious side or starter of crispy baked polenta chips with a “cheesy” flavour from the addition of some nutritional yeast and tamari. The addition of a spoon of white miso softens, sweetens and adds another flavour layer to the salsa.

Serves 2 (18-20 chips) - Prep time: 5 mins - Cooking time: 1 hour

Ingredients

For the Chips

• 500ml water
• 100g Clearspring Instant Polenta
• 2 dsp Clearspring Tamari Soya Sauce
• 2 dsp nutritional yeast
• Pinch dried oregano or mixed herbs
• 1 tbsp Clearspring Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• Pinch Clearspring Sea Salt

For the White Miso Salsa

• ½ tsp Clearspring Sweet White Miso
• 1 tsp Clearspring Extra Virgin Olive Oil 
• Zest half a lime
• 10 cherry tomatoes
• ½ spring onion - finely chopped
• ½ red chilli - finely chopped (to taste)
• Pinch Clearspring Sea Salt

Method

For the Chips

1. Pour the water into a pan and bring to the boil. Pour the polenta in very slowly whisking all the time until you have a smooth paste. Carry on whisking until the polenta has thickened, this should take about 7 minutes. Stir in the tamari, nutritional yeast and herbs.
2. Line a 10cm square container with plastic wrap, then grease it with a drop of olive oil. Remove the polenta from the heat, allow to cool for a few minutes then transfer to the lined container pushing the mixture into the corners and smoothing the top. Cover and allow to cool and firm up for at least 20 mins.
3. Turn the block of polenta out of the container and peel off the plastic wrap. Cut into chips each about 5-6cm long, and 1cm across. The number you will get will depend on the size and shape of your container.
4. Preheat the oven to 190C / GM5. Drizzle the oil onto a non-stick baking sheet, roll the polenta chips in it to coat, spread them out then sprinkle with sea salt. Bake for 25-30 mins until golden, turning once.

For the White Miso Salsa

1. Stir the miso, olive oil and lime zest together in a bowl to make a paste. Add all the other ingredients and mix well. Allow to rest for at least an hour before serving to let the flavours mingle.
2. Serve immediately with salsa or your choice of dip.

Recipe, photography & styling by Helen Best-Shaw, Fuss Free Flavours, for Clearspring Ltd.