Meet Alex Caspero
Alex Caspero is a Registered Dietitian, New York Times Bestselling Chef, and mom of two. She aims to cut through the nutrition noise by providing real-life, nourishing tips for body and mind. Learn more about Alex.
Vegetable Polenta Kebobs with Chimichurri Sauce! Perfect for cookouts this summer! Served with herbed rice, this vegan and gluten-free dish is a must make.
It’s officially grill season! Which, for two vegetarians, means lots of kebobs, veggie burgers and corn on the cob.
Even though I roll my eyes at the typical grilled vegetable platter, there is something fancy and almost cathartic about threading hunks of vegetables onto a skewer. I knew I wanted to elevate the basic vegetable kebob, but I wasn’t sure what direction I wanted to head in. I danced around the idea of halloumi, tofu and tempeh before settling on the tube of pre-made polenta that I had sitting in my fridge.
Jackpot. Sweet, caramelized vegetables with crispy hunks of polenta are absolutely perfect together.
Since Sunday night has officially become our Game of Thrones date night, I try to come up with a special dinner and dessert that we can enjoy together on the couch. It’s like CineBistro with much better food and none of the distracting waiters.
Last week, I made a DIY burrito bowl which BL loved so much, he asked for it again last night. Of course, I suffer from ABC (always be changing) syndrome, and have a really hard time creating the exact same dinner that we had exactly one week ago. Where is the creativity in that? Yes, it’s really this annoying to be me.
But, I’ve also learned the art of the compromise. So, I paired our vegetable and polenta skewers with the same herbed rice that we enjoyed in our burrito bowl. Um, honestly this so-easy-a-4-year-old could-make-it rice has quickly become my favorite side dish.
As a dietitian, this is the part where I’m supposed to tell you how much better for you brown rice is over white but, the texture. I can’t do it. I will whole-wheat and whole-grain just about anything else, but not when it comes to my white rice. I added in a healthy serving of vegetables though, so we can call it even on the fiber front.
Then! To top these beauties off, we had a healthy portion of fresh chimichurri sauce. If you like pesto and/or herbs, then you will love these gorgeous green sauce. It tastes like you’ve dragged your kebobs through an herb garden- in the best possible way.
I think traditionally Chimichurri sauce is served with steak, but since vegetables are my steak- I choose this route. This sauce makes a lot, which is always a good thing in my book. I’ve mentioned this a thousand times before, but as a condiment fanatic, I want my food to always be covered in sauce. So, enjoy the extra to heap on leftover kebobs and every bite of this white herbed rice.
Lastly, a tip. You have to be fairly careful when it comes to threading your polenta on the kebobs so that it doesn’t break. To me, I made sure to cut a wide piece of polenta so that their was room on either side for potential breakage.
If this seems like a huge headache to you, then simply slice your polenta into 1″ rounds and grill separately. To serve, place your rice on the bottom, kebob vegetables and polenta slices on top. Then it drown in the Chimichurri sauce.
If you try this recipe, let me know! Leave a comment, rate it, and tag your Instagram photos with #delishknowledge . I absolutely love seeing your creations. Happy cooking!
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Vegetable Polenta Kebobs with Chimichurri Sauce! Perfect for cookouts this summer! Served with herbed rice, this vegan and glutenfree dish is a must make.
If using wood skewers, soak an hour before preparing.Cut polenta into rough, 1″ square cubes- they should be wide enough to skewer. If your polenta is to delicate to skewer, you can slice the polenta tube into 1″ circles and grill separately to serve with the vegetables and rice.
Tag @delishknowledge on Instagram and hashtag it #delishknowledge
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(19 comments) leave a comment
Everything about this is YES!!!! I can already tell this will be a winner in our mixed household (vego living in harmony with an omnivore) and leftover chimichurri sauce is WIN! I always get excited over grilled veggies, so these are right up alley! I do have to say though, I love brown rice, but my fiance can’t do it either, so basmati rice it is 🙂
Love all these flavor profiles here, Alex!
Thanks Cindy!
Thanks Cindy!
I;m so with you on the brown rice deal. All the jasmine rice, all the time. I am so ready for summer bbqs with some of these skewers now!
Yes, Jasmine rice is the best!
Yes, Jasmine rice is the best!
I;m so with you on the brown rice deal. All the jasmine rice, all the time. I am so ready for summer bbqs with some of these skewers now!
Whoa. You had me at polenta! Definitely trying these on the grill this week!
This meal! Not only stunning, but I can just taste it from here!
Thanks Rebecca!
Thanks Rebecca!
This sounds amazing! I love chimichurri on anything 🙂
Me too! Thanks for the comment Kaleigh!
Me too! Thanks for the comment Kaleigh!
I can always count on an amazing vegetarian recipe right here! Love the idea of polenta added to the kebob. .. and the chimichurri sauce looks divine.
Thanks Diane!
Thanks Diane!