These Sweet Pepper and Chorizo Bruschetta Polenta Bites are a delicious, healthy option for your appetizer list this holiday season! So colorful and flavorful!
This is a sponsored post on behalf of Honest Cooking in association with Divine Flavor. As always, all opinions are 100% my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that help make The Beach House Kitchen possible.
Looking for a zesty, healthier appetizer for the holidays this season?? Well, don’t you worry guys, I’ve totally gotcha covered!
I’ve always been a huge fan of bruschetta especially during the summer. Fresh tomatoes and basil from the garden make for the most delicious bruschetta ever. Unfortunately, during the winter my garden is bare, but my love for bruschetta is still strong. With no juicy red tomatoes to pick from the vine, I change things up a bit and substitute my favorite little Tribelli Sweet Mini Peppers from Divine Flavor in this classic summer appetizer.
They’re delicious, natural, healthy, and packed with color and Vitamin C. They’re available all year-long, non-GMO, and sustainably-grown in greenhouses using a selection of varieties that guarantee the best product quality, bite after bite.
If you’re not familiar with Divine Flavor, it’s a family-run and grower-owned distribution company based in Nogales, Arizona that believes in growing “Better Food for a Better World.” Tribelli’s professional growers care about each crop and harvest peppers when they reach the peak of their ripeness for an express packaging process. The folks at Divine Flavor use natural and improved agricultural methods to ensure healthier crops that are richer in nutrients and offer sustained shelf quality. I’m not sure about you, but that’s the kind of company I feel comfortable buying products from!
I’ve always been a HUGE fan of peppers, so substituting them for the tomatoes in classic bruschetta was spot on! The peppers have minimal seeds and are sweeter and milder than most other varieties. I decided to add some sliced Spanish dry cured chorizo sausage and capers to the bruschetta to make it extra zesty, and to serve it atop polenta squares. It’s a winning combo!
These little bites are packed with flavor and they’re an appy you’ll feel good about indulging in this holiday season! Enjoy!
Ingredients
- Polenta:
- 2 2/3 cups whole milk
- 1 Tbsp. butter
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1 cup polenta or yellow cornmeal
- 1/4 cup olive oil for frying
- Bruschetta:
- 3-4 Tbsp. olive oil
- 2 one-pound bags Divine Flavor Tribelli Peppers seeded and sliced into thin strips
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tsp. granulated sugar
- 8 oz. Spanish dry cured chorizo sausage sliced on the bias into 1/4 inch slices, then halve each slice
- 2 Tbsp. capers drained
- 2 Tbsp. freshly chopped parsley
- kosher salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Polenta Squares: Lightly spray a 9x13 pan with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside. Bring the milk, butter and salt to a boil in a large heavy saucepan. Slowly whisk in the polenta. Reduce the heat to medium-low, stirring constantly until the polenta thickens, about 10 minutes. Pour the polenta into the prepared pan, spreading into a 1/2 inch layer. Cover and let stand at room temperature until set. When set, cut the polenta into bite-sized squares. (I made mine about 1 1/2 inch squares)
- Bruschetta: Heat olive oil in a large saute pan over medium-high heat. Add the peppers and cook until soft, about 15-17 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 2-3 minutes. Sprinkle with sugar and continue to cook for 2 minutes. Stir in the sausage, capers and one tablespoon parsley. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper. Remove from heat.
- Add some olive oil to a large nonstick skillet and heat over medium high heat. Add a few polenta squares at a time, and saute until lightly browned, about 2 minutes per side. Transfer to large baking sheet lined with paper towels to drain.
- Assembling the bites: Place polenta squares on a large platter. Top each polenta square with some of the bruschetta. Sprinkle with the remaining one tablespoon freshly chopped parsley. Place the extra bruschetta alongside in a bowl.
You are so setting me up for my holiday party girl. I need apps for Saturday night and these are so colorful! I can’t wait to try them out.
Yay!! Hope you enjoy them Karen! They’re so flavorful. And I’m always looking for a healthier appetizer around the holidays!
Beautiful colors with those peppers!! It’s a great and fresh idea for a bruschetta! Would love to try it for dinner sometime!
I LOVE the colors too Deepika! This one is a healthy appetizer winner! Hope you try it!
Love these little bites, perfect appetizers for the holidays!
So easy too Matt! I love to have a few healthy apps for people during the holidays! Happy Monday!
LOVE all these flavors!!
Yay!! They are incredibly flavorful!
Spot on, indeed!! Love the flavours and colours in this one, Mary Ann! Love bruschetta, love polenta and this twist is absolutely fabulous! Perfect bites for entertaining in the coming weeks. Pinned! Happy Monday! XO
Thanks Dawn! The colors remind me of the warm days of summer!
Oh my! Now this is my kind of appetizer! Loving all the creative twists on this bruschetta! This could easily become a new classic!
Mine too Annie! I love anything with sweet peppers! Thanks so much. Have a great week!
Honestly, little bites and appetizers are my favorite part of any dinner party, and these bites are just perfection, Mare!! LOVE the colors and flavors happening here! These gorgeous bites need to make an appearance in my kitchen for sure! Pinned of course! Cheers! Xoxo
Mine to Chey! Since I like to fill up on the appetizers I like to make a few a bit more healthy, and these totally work! They’re colorful and flavorful! Thanks so much for pinning! Happy Monday!
These look so good!! I loooove chorizo. Perfect!
Me too Natasha! The colors and flavors remind me of the warm days of summer!
These bites are so perfect for every holiday get together!
Thanks Naomi! I like to squeeze in a healthier one during the holiday season! And this one is healthy AND delicious!
What a gorgeous holiday appetizer! Would devour these!!
Thanks Leigh Ann!
I love those little peppers and buy them whenever I can. Your polenta bites look so good and would make great appetizers for the healthy crowd.
So do I Gerlinde! I make all kinds of things with them! Yes, this perfect for a healthy crowd!
Bruschetta is delicious any time of year! I loooove those mini peppers and with chorizo! I’m so in!
You’d totally LOVE it Kelsie! Happy Monday! XO
These are gorgeous, so much pretty color. And I love those little peppers. They’re so sweet and super delicious but my favorite part might be that there are so few seeds. That makes working with them so… easy!!
Yes, I agree Chris. I love that they have fewer seeds! So much easier! Happy Monday!
What an awesome appetizer! They look SO flavorful!
Thanks Gina!
How pretty! And love that these are a healthy option :) Love all the flavours here!
Thanks Jennifer! I think we all need a healthy option at holiday parties! At least I do!
Love this spin on bruschetta! I’m also a huge fan and miss it this time of year. It’s just not the same when the tomatoes aren’t fresh. A healthier appetizer for the holidays is a great idea. And there are such beautiful colors profiled in this recipe!
I miss those summer tomatoes, so subbing in the peppers is such a delicious swap! The colors remind me of summer!
This is so pretty! I love the bright colors and bold flavors!
Thanks Tieghan. This recipe is so easy and flavorful and helps me feel a bit better about all the holiday indulging!
These would look so pretty on a holiday table!
A pop of color!
I just love using polenta for bruschetta instead of bread. It’s a fun change up! Love all these brightly colored peppers on top. Beauties!
So do I Liz. Something a bit different from the usual! The peppers are a fabulous change up too!
The colors of these peppers are fantastic. They remind me a bit of summer time – which I need during these gray days of winter! These look like a delicious and healthy appetizer! I think you’ve got a winner here! :)
I NEED these colors too Kathy! I bet you’d love this one!
I love having healthy appetizer options like these for the holidays! They look so delicious! They’re a must make for sure!
Thanks Lindsay! Hope you give them a go!
As usual, I’m loving everything about this!! Those sweet peppers are the perfect compliment to the chorizo. Yum!!
Thanks Katherine! These are delicious, healthy bites for the holiday!
I absolutely can’t wait to make this!
Yay! Hope you enjoy them Jennifer!
Yasss! My friends made a dish with polenta awhile back and I loved it. However, it was a long time ago and oddly I kind of forgot how much I like polenta because I rarely make it. Your post just inspired me because your recipe looks insanely delicious! I can’t wait to make this appetizer for my friends this year!!!
I’m so happy you like it Christina! Polenta is one of my favorites too. And this bruschetta is the perfect zesty topping to go along with it. Enjoy!
These look super delicious! Perfect for appetizing!I would love these eat at once! SLurp! SLurp!
You’ll love them Abby!!
Such a great festive appetizer!
I need a little healthy for the holidays Alida!
What perfect little bites for the holidays! Seriously mouthwatering (because we all know appetizers are the next best thing after desserts ;))
Something nice and healthy for the holidays! Absolutely Laura!
Genius idea, Mary Ann! Love the idea of swapping in polenta for bread.
These are really so delicious Marissa! Didn’t really even miss the tomatoes. The peppers subbed in perfectly!