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1
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
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2
Line a sheet pan or a baking dish with parchment or foil.
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3
Toss vegetables with the olive oil and salt and pepper to taste.
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4
Add fresh herbs if using.
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5
Spread vegetables in an even layer.
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6
Combine polenta, water, and salt in a 2-quart baking dish and stir together.
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7
Place polenta and vegetables in the oven.
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8
If you cant fit both pans on the same (middle) rack, place vegetables on a lower rack.
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9
Roast vegetables for 30 to 40 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes or until soft and beginning to caramelize.
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10
Remove from the oven.
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11
If serving this with marinara sauce, make the sauce while the vegetables and polenta are in the oven.
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12
Continue to bake the polenta until it has been in the oven for 40 to 45 minutes and has absorbed the water.
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13
Remove from oven and stir in butter.
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14
Use a fork or a spatula to stir the polenta well, and return to oven for 5 to 10 more minutes.
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15
Remove from oven and stir again.
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16
Carefully taste a little bit of the polenta; if it is not completely soft, return to the oven for 5 to 10 more minutes.
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17
Remove polenta from oven and stir in 1/3 cup grated Parmesan, if using.
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18
Immediately spoon polenta onto plates and make a depression in the middle.
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19
Ladle on some marinara sauce and top with a generous spoonful of roasted vegetables.
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20
Sprinkle on remaining Parmesan and serve.