Dairy-Free Bolognese Polenta Bites are grilled crispy polenta bites topped with slow cooked turkey ragu Bolognese for the perfect little Italian bite.
Table of Contents
Crispy Deliciousness
The crispy polenta is the perfect little vehicle to transport that luscious savory tender Bolognese ragu. You are just love these little Dairy-Free Bolognese Polenta Bites. When your teeth hit the crispy polenta, you are in for a real treat. Rich and delicious slow cooked Bolognese cooked with a little Italian love. It's the perfect hearty appetizer for a crowd.
Entertaining over the Holidays?
Dairy-Free Bolognese Polenta Bites are a great make ahead appetizer just like our Antipasto Wreath Charcuterie Skewers.
Well, at least the Bolognese sauce is. If you buy the pre-made gluten-free, dairy free polenta tubes this recipe is a breeze to throw together. All you need to do is cut, peel and grill the pre-made polenta for about 3-4 minutes on each side and you are good to go.
Did you know that Bolognese sauce freezes really well? I always like to make extra. Then, you can take it out for a quick and easy meal like our Tagliatelle Alla Bolognese or for these delicious Dairy-Free Bolognese Polenta Bites.
Healthier Appetizer
We made our Bolognese sauce a little less traditional. We wanted to make it a little healthier than the normal Bolognese sauce with low-fat lean turkey instead of beef and non-dairy creamer instead of whole milk to accommodate our dairy issues.
Did you Know?
If you do not have a dairy issues, please use regular milk and a grating of parmesan cheese on top before serving. How many of you did not know that there is milk in Bolognese?
The milk or milk alternative really helps make the Bolognese sauce tender and rich. It is hidden and you would never even know it is in there.
Helpful Hint
Do you want a hearty meal instead of an appetizer? Exchange the grilled polenta with a hearty serving of delicious cooked creamy polenta. This would be a perfect comfort meal.
As these little Dairy-Free Bolognese bites are just finger food you want to really keep your cut carrot, celery, garlic and onion combo , soffritto chopped finely. These aromatics are really the heart of the dish.
More Italian Appetizers Recipes
How to Roast Sweet Mini Peppers
Best Italian Stuffed Artichokes
Savory Baked Brie in Puff Pastry
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Dairy-Free Bolognese Polenta Bites
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small onion
chopped - 2 cloves garlic
minced - ½ cup celery chopped finely
- ½ cup carrots chopped finely
- ⅔ cup pancetta
chopped (or can exchange with bacon) - ½ pound ground turkey
- ½ cup red wine
- salt and pepper
to taste - 1 teaspoon sage
(optional but really nice with the turkey) - 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 28 oz tomatoes
crushed canned - ½ cup non-dairy creamer
we used a coconut creamer - 1 teaspoon sugar
or sugar alternative - 18 oz polenta pre-made tube (gluten-free, dairy free)
Instructions
- In a medium sauce pan, add olive oil, onion, garlic, celery and carrots and cook just until aromatic. Add the pancetta and cook until slightly browned about 3 minutes. Add the ground turkey, and cook until browned. Add red wine, salt and pepper to taste, sage (optional but nice with the turkey) and Italian seasoning. Add the crush tomatoes and sugar or sugar alternative . Turn heat down to slow simmer and cook and stir and give it a little love for about 30 minutes until the sauce looks rich and delicious and thick. Add your non-dairy creamer or milk alternative of choice and cook for another 10 minutes. Turn off burner and set aside.
- Slice your pre-made polenta and remove the plastic covering. Coat your grill (we used our grill pan on top of the burner) with olive oil or brush a little olive oil on both sides of the polenta. Grill the polenta cakes on each side in a grill pan with a little olive oil for about 3-4 minutes on each side or until crispy and they have nice grill marks. It makes about 9 little appetizers with some extra Bolognese left over and that is very good thing.
- Spoon a tablespoon of Bolognese sauce on top of each polenta cake. Garnish with a little basil or parsley if you wish. If you do not have a dairy dietary issues, then feel free to add a little grated parmesan cheese on top of each little Bolognese Polenta Bites. Enjoy!
Dana says
How neat -- creative!
HWC Magazine says
Thank you. These remind us of making homemade Bolognese while in Bologna, Italy. These are the bite sized version.