Vegan Arepas Made with Polenta

Description

Based on a vegetarian arepa I found in SoCal, this dish combines surprising flavors and textures for an easy meal.

Ingredients

  • 1 (8 ounce) container tofu, drained
  • 1 (16 ounce) tube prepared polenta
  • olive oil
  • 2 bananas, sliced lengthwise
  • 1 cup black beans, undrained
  • 2 avocados – peeled, pitted, and sliced
  • 1 large mango – peeled, seeded, and diced
  • ΒΌ cup diced onion
  • 1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced
  • salt to taste

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven’s broiler and set the oven rack about 6 inches from the heat source. Grease a baking sheet.
  2. Slice the tofu and polenta into slabs of equal thickness; brush with olive oil and arrange on a baking sheet.
  3. Cook the tofu and polenta under the preheated broiler until the tops are crispy
  4. about 5 minutes. Remove from oven and set aside.
  5. Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the bananas in the oil until crispy on the outside
  6. yet soft on the inside
  7. about 5 minutes. Remove the bananas from the oil and set aside.
  8. Pour the entire can of black beans into a blender and blend until a thick sauce forms.
  9. Stir the mango
  10. diced onion
  11. jalapeno pepper
  12. and salt together in a small bowl.
  13. To build the arepas
  14. place a slice of polenta on each of four plates and top each with first about 1/4 of the bean sauce
  15. then a piece of tofu
  16. a few slices of banana
  17. some avocado
  18. and finishing with about 1/4 of the mango salsa.

Prep Time: 20 mins

Cook Time: 15 mins

Total Time: 35 mins

Servings: 4

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