A simple polenta crust pizza topped with fresh basil, parsley, sliced black olives and ripe red tomato. An Italian classic made gluten-free and vegan without missing one hint of flavor!
Why is pizza such a popular food? Because it's really good, that's why! Nothing else to it! I'm so glad that pizza can be made to fit any diet and accommodate any dietary needs. Just like granola, pizza has endless combinations, pairing, and possibilities! From the crust to the toppings, every component can be customized to make a perfect pie just for you. I guess pizza is also like a salad. First, you choose the base, and then you choose all the toppings (which really matter), and the sauce could be like the dressing. But when you want the crust, the base, to shine, it's best to keep the toppings simple, having every component count.
When you're making pizza with polenta as the crust, you don't want to overwhelm the glory that is with too many toppings, but just the right ones. This is when the classics, the tried-and-true flavors are best. That's why I chose fresh flavorful basil and parsley. California Ripe Black Olives, and vine ripe red tomato. Elegant, simple, but so much flavor (and the smell was beyond!). Classic Italian Mediterranean staples that won't disappoint you in the pizza combo department.
It's obvious to use fresh herbs when making a pizza. All that summer basil and parsley are continually being used in my kitchen and there is no stopping! Since I chose to not coat this crust with sauce, I sliced a beautifully ripe tomato, so I could still get that fresh bite of sweet acidity. Then there are the olives. I can finally say I will always put olives on my pizza now. I just love that tender salty bite! I actually hate salty things, thus, why I don't cook with salt, but a few bites of olives and I'm happy! I've been making a lot of recipes with olives recently and I just love them more and more each time! Not only do they provide a lovely Mediterranean flair to any dish, but they are so easy to use and a great source of healthy fats, vitamin E, A, iron, and fiber!
hey aren't just for pizza, olives are so great thrown into anything! From hummus, sandwiches, sauces, pasta, chicken, anything! Olives are one of those pantry staples to always have on hand. I always keep a few cans of black olives on hand.
Side note: were you one of those kids (or adults) that would put whole black olives on the tips of your fingers? Don't be shy, I know you did it 😉 What's more fun than eating olives off your fingers! Hahahaha! Childhood nostalgia! I haven't done that in years, but I remember. I usually buy them already sliced so that defeats the "olive finger-puppet thing", but still. Long live the olive!
Italian Polenta Pizza
Italian Polenta Pizza
A simple polenta crust pizza topped with fresh basil, parsley, sliced black olives and ripe red tomato. An Italian classic made gluten-free and vegan without missing one hint of flavor!
- Yield: 1 Pizza 1x
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: Italian, Mediterranean
Ingredients
- For the Polenta Crust:
- ½ Cup Polenta (Corn Grits)
- 1 ½ Cup Water
- ½ Tsp Minced Garlic
- ½ Tsp Onion Powder
- ½ Tsp Dried Basil
- ¼ Tsp Black Pepper
- 1 TB Nutritional Yeast
- Toppings:
- 2 TB Chopped Fresh Italian Parsley
- 1 TB Chopped Fresh Basil
- 2-3 Ripe Red Tomato Slices
- 3 TB Black Olives (rinsed and sliced)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 415°F.
- In a pot, bring 1 ½ cups of water to a boil, then add the dry polenta. Reduce to low heat, stirring, for 3-5 minutes until water is absorbed. Allow it to cool for about 10 minutes as you mix in the spices and nutritional yeast.
- Spread the cooled polenta mixture on a parchment (or silpat) lined baking sheet. It will be very sticky (I used my fingers to shape it, but you can use a rubber spatula).
- Now top the polenta crust with the prepared toppings. Place in the oven and bake for 20 minutes.
- Remove, let cool just a bit, and serve. This is great eaten hot or cold!
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2
I always forget how much I love polenta! But since it sticks together so great, it makes the best gluten-free crust for pizza! This pizza can be one big serving or you can share it with a lovely dear friend....if you're nice 😉 But when it comes to pizza, sharing isn't always an easy option!
So tell me:
+ Simple pizza toppings or do you go all out?
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Honest mum
Love the sound of this. Great alternative to wheat.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
For sure!
Stephanie
Yum!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
🙂
Sherry
This looks so good!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thanks!
Raia
Sounds delicious. 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thanks!
Creatively Homespun
This looks amazing!!! xo
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thanks!
kimmythevegan
What a creative way of making a gluten-free crust! I'm not a huge fan of olives, but this sounds pretty good.
Thanks for sharing this at Healthy vegan Fridays! I'm featuring this awesome recipe tomorrow =) Pinning!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thanks Kimmy! I bet this will get you to love olives a bit more 😛
Deborah Davis
So yummy! You truly outdid yourself with this creative and delectable recipe. I love the fact that this is so easy to make.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you!
Miz Helen
I can't wait to give this recipe a try, it looks awesome!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you!
Shirley Wood
Sounds and looks wonderful! Pizza is always good no matter how it's made but the polenta crust is a nice twist.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Haha, you are so right! Thanks Shirley!
Kathy
Thank you for sharing another great recipe!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thanks!
Charlotte Oates
I've been trying out gluten-free pizza dough recently in an aim to develop my "free-from" repertoire. However, so far it's been pretty much an inedible disaster. I've not tried using polenta for it so I'll have to give this a try. Thanks for sharing - this may well have solved a problem for me 🙂 #TastyTuesdays
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
The polenta works like magic! You will love this one and it couldn't be any easier!
Emma's Mamma
This looks delicious and I like the idea of using polenta for the base #tastytuesdays
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you!
Heather@hungryforbalance
I love olives, especially the green ones! This looks delicious! I have never thought to use polenta as a pizza crust! Brilliant!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Haha, and I dislike the green ones!
Vicki Montague - The Free From Fairy
I love polenta pizza! It is fab isn't it? And yours looks really delicious. Great photos as always!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
You've made a large polenta crust before?
Christine
My cousin David and I would hide under the dining room table until the salad was put out, then emerge and steal all the black olives off the top of it and stuff our faces with them. We may have eaten them off our fingers, too. I couldn't love black olives more if I tried.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Hahahahaha! I love that! The "olive-capers" 😉
Carole West @ Garden Up Green
I love polenta - come from an Italian family and my grandma taught me how to make it from scratch. I normally make it in the winter with a nice chicken stew sauce. This pizza looks like something I need to try because I think it would be really good - especially since I have lots of herbs in the garden. Very Clever!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Haha, doesn't take much effort from scratch, that's why I love it!
Jennifer Stewart
Polenta is what got me through my pasta detox! I love how well is goes with so many flavor profiles! This is a great idea and I can't wait to make it!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
It's a black slate ingredient for sure!
Debbie
When I was a kid, my mom would buy an Astra can of black olives any time she was serving them because she knew her daughters would eat at least that much.
Debbie
Don't know how auto correct turned "extra" into Astra, but that's what I meant.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I was wondering what that was 😛 XOXO
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Olive love!
Deborah @ Confessions of a Mother Runner
I love Polenta too! I like your twist on it.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thanks!
Karen Patten
This looks really wonderful! I'm always looking for gluten free crust alternatives - and I can't believe I didn't think of polenta! Brilliant!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you! The perfect healthy fun alternative!
Http://www.honestmum.com
Wow looks delicious! I've never eaten polenta pizza x
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Totally give it a try!
swayam
This is good!! What an amazing idea to use polenta as a pizza base... Yum!! and the toppings so flavorsome 😉
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you!
Kat | curlsnchard.com
Hahaha, totally guilty of putting the olives on my finger tips 😉 It's just so much fun 😀 The last time I have done this is not THAT long ago either...I love this kind of pizza! Can you actually cut it in slices? Haven't made polenta in a while, you just reminded me of how much I enjoy the taste.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I know! We should start an olive finger-puppet show 😉
Yes!!! The polenta crust worked way better than I'd planned, haha!
Deanna @ The Live Fit Girls
Love this idea! I've never even thought of using polenta before! Brilliant! And I'm loving you photography!...I LOVE olives, especially Greek marinated olives!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you so much! Polenta is so fun since it can take the form of anything!
Sarah-Ann
Never thought of using polenta as a crust. What a great idea! I can't wait till we get home so I can try this recipe out.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thanks!
Tara Siudy (Little Miss Dexterous)
I am so excited to try this! Pinning and sharing!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you so much!
Kristy @ Southern In Law
I love polenta pizzas (and polenta crusts and polenta tarts and polenta EVERYTHING!) and yours looks SO good!
Hope you have an amaaaazing weekend, girl!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Corn for days 😉
Patricia Krank
My favorite olives are kalamata and I think they would be delicious in this recipe with tomatoes and maybe some fresh mozarella! I'm hungry and it is bedtime!
Thanks for sharing,
Patti
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Pizza love!
Kathryn Doherty
Love this! A polenta pizza - how fun! I'm definitely going to have to try this out soon. Pinning for a fun pizza night in our future! Have a great weekend 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I hope you do Kathryn!
Jess @hellotofit
MMM I love polenta. And olives. Okay, everything about this post!!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Hahaha, thank you Jess!
Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table
What a fun idea! I love polenta. I used to buy the rolls of it and slice it off to cook like mini pizzas. Totally forgot about hat! I need to try this big one!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I never liked the rolls, all that sodium! So I've always just cooked it from scratch 😉
Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table
Right?! That's why I quit buying them!
Cristina @ I Say Nomato
Polenta always reminds me of being a kid for some reason - it's just so homey and delicious. I love how you've made it the crust for your pizza!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
It is! Thank you!
Sina
I love polenta pizza! 🙂 Yours looks awesome, Rebecca!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
O really! You've done it before?
Melissa @ vegan does it m
I absolutely love everything about this! I hated olives as a kid, but now I love them and yes I've been known to entertain the kids with dancing olive fingers once or twice ???? Can't wait to try this!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Hahaha, yay for the dancing olives! We should all play with out food sometimes 😉 XOXO
Megan
I've never thought of using polenta as a pizza crust! This is genius. I know I will be trying any and every vegan pizza crust I can find! Thanks for the recipe lady!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
It's a good one! I hope you give it a try!
Mummy Fever
This looks amazing ! Love olives #brilliantblogposts
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Woohoo! Thanks!
Michelle @ The Complete Savorist
I love polenta and love how you have used it here...same with the Cal Olives.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you Michelle! It's one great combo!
Life Loving
Looks really yummy. I've never thought of using polenta as a pizza base before. I've actually never cooked with polenta!
Thanks for sharing.
Sally @ Life Loving
#brilliantblogposts
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
You'll love polenta! So quick to cook!
Audrey @ Unconventional Baker
This looks so yummy, Rebecca! I never thought to make a polenta crust, but all I can say is COLOR ♥♥♥ This looks great, especially with all those olives on top 🙂 {and my faves are definitely Kalamata! 🙂 }
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
So right! Bright Pizza! Haha!
My mom is all about the kalamata. I think just black are my favorite though!
Cassie @ Almost Getting it Together
Polenta is my faveeee. I've always wanted to try a polenta-based crust and this looks delicious!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
You totally need to make this then!
Sabrina
How creative to use polenta for the crust! Looks so delicious!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you Sabrina!
Neli @ Delicious Meets Healthy
This Italian pizza sounds amazing! Never thought of polenta crust. Great idea! I love that it's healthy and looks delicious!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you so much Neli!
Alisa @ Go Dairy Free
I love polenta pizza! Your version looks so flavorful and rustic Rebecca!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you! I was going for the rustic vibe 😉
sue
Polenta as a base - how usual but creative thinking.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thanks!
Florian @ContentednessCooking
This looks so flavorful and tasty! Very cool idea with the polenta crust. I mean who can say no to pizza?
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
NO one, that's who 😉 Haha, thanks Florian!
Casey @ Casey the College Celiac
I applaud you for keeping the toppings simple - that is never easy for me for pizza...or any food actually! Looks delicious!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I have so many crazier pizzas, I wanted the crust to shine in this one 😉
Evolve with Mary
I love love love this recipe Rebecca, I got my entire family hooked on Cauliflower pizza and this polenta pizza just takes it to another level. I can't wait to try this one out. I love polenta. 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Move over cauliflower 😉
Sam @ PancakeWarriors
Why have I never thought to use polenta like this, so genius. I'm going to admit that olives and I just don't get along, but I will happily substitute them for artichokes and devour this pizza pronto!! Thanks for sharing!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Like I said, pizzas should be topped however you want! Let the pizza-dreams run wild! XOXO
Michele @ paleorunningmomma
Very nice! I'd love to try that for pizza crust and I really love olives, so, yum!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Pizza and olives <3
Michelle @ A Dish of Daily Life
What a great idea to use polenta for the pizza crust! So creative! And yummy! It looks delicious!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you Michelle!
Liz
I would've never thought to use polenta for a pizza crust! Such a great idea. This looks delicious and now I want pizza!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I was pretty excited about how it came out! Thanks Liz!
Shashi at RunninSrilankan
A polenta pizza crust is so brilliant! I love black olives and like to keep my pizza simple- but with tons of veggies !
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you! Yes to all the veggies! The fresh taste we want!
Chrystal from Gluten-Free Palate
Wow! I would have never have thought to use Polenta for a crust. I will definitely give this a try. Thank you!
Best,
Chrystal
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
The perfect gluten-free crust, right 😉 Thanks dear!
Colorado Gal
I've tried for years to like olives but I just CAN'T! Polenta, on the other hand, is delightful!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Haha, I can't get behind green olives...I think they're pretty gross, but otherwise, I like them 😉
Jenn
I LOVE this idea! That crust looks to die for! I'm definitely going to try this...minus the olives. 🙂 Just can't get into those.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Haha, as long as you make the crust, go crazy with any toppings!
Harriet Emily
Wow! That polenta crust sounds amazing - all of the flavours in it sound sooo good. Love the addition of nutritional yeast! I've never really cooked with polenta before, but I definitely want to now. I have to try this! Love the olives on top too. Yum!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I always need my little bit of cheezy flavor 😉
Polenta is so quick to cook, that's why I love it!
Natalie | Feasting on Fruit
So I mihgt not be the biggest olive fan, but this crust is AWESOME!!!!!! I have been really craving pizza lately but too lazy to feel like making a crust, but this is such a creative crust concept that I never would've thought of! And I agree, keep toppings simple. Tomatoes are a must, as are herbs, and in addition to that I usually go mushrooms or cauli-crumbles, or zucchini 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Ah, yea! Mushrooms! When I HATED them as a kid, I would be so grossed out when my mom would order mushroom pizza, but then I feel in love with all mushrooms a few years ago and yea 😉 Although, I still like mushrooms raw much more than cooked!
Ali the Skinny GF Chef
Polenta pizza..wow...how creative! You never cease to amaze me!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Haha, thank you Ali!
Amanda
I absolutely LOVE polenta so this would be a great new pizza variation for us. Thanks!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I hope you give it a try!
Elizabeth Shaw
Love this, and your are spot on... who doesn't love pizza! I have to admit, I am not a fan of black olives, but pretty sure if I swap them with mushrooms this would be 100% in my belly in no time! Great idea! Good thing I just ordered polenta 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I say top this polenta crust with anything! 😉
Christie
I love this idea. We picked up some polenta from a very small mill in North Carolina. This would be a perfect way to enjoy it.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Yea! Give it a shot!
Ellen @ My Uncommon Everyday
Polenta as a pizza crust? Genius. And you're so right - there's nothing better than the flavor of fresh herbs. Love this!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Ming blowing, right? 😉 Haha! It's really yummy!!!
Yea, and the fresh herbs...a MUST for pizza! All about the homemade taste and fresh herbs need to be included!
lindsay
thanks for making me drool at 7am. I need this now! polenta is amazing and those olives? swoon
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I always used my favorite brown rice tortillas for pizza, but polenta is where it's at now!
Amber
Oh, using polenta as a crust, GREAT idea! and ick, I hate olives, too salty 😛
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Confession: I always rinse my olives off under water 😛
Taylor @ LiftingRevolution.com
I love olives! All varieties! We go through them so quickly each week in our home since we put them on everything! This pizza looks great, it's been forever since I've had polenta! yum!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
We have tons of jars and cans in our house too!
I hand'y had polenta in awhile either, and then pizza seemed like the perfect way to bring it back!
Judy (ImBoredLetsGo)
I love olives...and yes I was one of those kids who stuck them on my fingers. I think every kid does that! Your pizza looks devine and I bet using a polenta crust is yummy. I must try that!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Haha, yay olive fingers!
I am obsessed with making the polenta crust now! I was surprised by how well it held up on its own!
Rachel @ Athletic Avocado
That such a great idea using polenta as a pizza crust, I'm gonna try this, I love polenta 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Do it!!! It works so well!