Meatballs on a Bed of Polenta

This gluten-free meatball dish is bound to become a family favorite.

Photo by Dim Nikov on Medium

This dish tastes much richer than the ingredients list would suggest: It swaps out mashed potatoes, a classic accompaniment for meatballs, for a bed of sweet and creamy polenta, which sops up the bright and tangy tomatoes like a sponge (while standing up to the beef’s robustness).

It’s about as straightforward as protein-and-starch diners get, even if laborious, and any ingredients missing from the fridge or pantry can be picked up conveniently from the grocery store.

The result is a dish at once gorgeous in looks and grandmotherly in flavor — a means of feeding and awing the family at the same time.

There will be no leftovers. Don’t say you weren’t warned.

The Polenta

Photos by Dim Nikov on Medium

Start with the polenta, which needs to cook while you’re preparing everything else.