Baked Polenta with Fresh Tomatoes and Parmesan

Ingredients

• 2.25 cups water
• 1 cup milk
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
• 1 cup quick-cooking polenta
• 1.5 cups grated Parmesan cheese , divided
• 4 freshs basil leaves , chopped and divided
• salt and ground black pepper to taste
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter , chilled and cut into pieces
• 2 tomatoes , sliced

Instructions

1. 1

   Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). Grease an 8x8-inch baking dish.

2. 2

   Heat water, milk, and 1 tablespoon butter in a saucepan over medium-high heat; bring to a boil. Stir in polenta with a wooden spoon until thickened, about 5 minutes. Off heat, stir in 1 cup Parmesan cheese and 1/2 chopped basil; season with salt and pepper. Transfer to the prepared baking dish; arrange 1 tablespoon chilled pieces butter over top.

3. 3

   Bake in the preheated oven until bubbly and beginning to brown, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from oven.

4. 4

   Decoratively arrange tomato slices over top of polenta; sprinkle remaining 1/2 chopped basil over tomatoes, then sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese.

5. 5

   Return to oven; bake until tomatoes warm and Parmesan bubbly, 5 to 10 minutes.