Calzagatti (Crisped Polenta with Beans)
Calzagatti (Crisped Polenta with Beans) brings together creamy cornmeal set with hearty cranberry beans, aromatic rosemary, and bits of guanciale for a rich, porky depth. Once cooled and pan-fried, the slabs turn golden with crunchy edges and a tender center, accented by a hint of tomato. Serve warm as an appetizer or a rustic snack alongside a simple salad or aperitivo.
- Prep15 mins
- Cook25 mins
- Serves8
- DifficultyMedium
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Calzagatti (Crisped Polenta with Beans), not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 53 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 0 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityGood
- 93 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Unprocessed or minimally processed
- 1 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 50
- Heart Health
- 45
- Metabolic
- 27
- Digestive
- 24
- Inflammatory
- 17
- Performance
- 44
- General Wellness
- 1
Bring 3 cups of water to a boil in a large pot. Add 1/2 teaspoon salt. Gradually sprinkle in the polenta while whisking constantly to prevent lumps. Reduce the heat and simmer, stirring often, until the polenta is creamy and no longer gritty, 15 to 20 minutes. Turn off the heat.
- 2
While the polenta cooks, heat 1 teaspoon olive oil in a skillet. Add the guanciale and sauté until crispy. Add the minced onion, garlic clove, and rosemary, and cook until the garlic is lightly browned and fragrant but not burned, about 1 minute. Remove and discard the garlic clove. Stir in the cranberry beans and tomatoes and simmer until slightly thickened, about 5 minutes.
- 3
Fold the bean mixture into the polenta and mix well. Pour into a 9-inch square glass dish or silicone cake pan and let it cool, about 30 minutes.
- 4
Flip the cooled polenta out and set it, covered with cheesecloth, to air-dry until most of the moisture has evaporated, 8 hours to overnight.
- 5
Cut the dried polenta into 2x3-inch rectangles.
- 6
Heat a pan over medium-high heat and add 2 tablespoons oil. Add a few polenta rectangles to the hot oil and cook, without disturbing the calzagatti, until browned and crisp, 3 to 4 minutes. Flip and cook until browned and crisp on the other side. Remove and drain on paper towels. Repeat with the remaining calzagatti, adding more oil as needed.
- Calories 130.31 kcal Moderate 7%
- Protein 0.74 g Low Source 1%
- Carbohydrate 15.32 g 6%
- Total Fat 7.5 g Moderate 10%
- Saturated Fat 1.1 g Moderate 6%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 0.0 mg Low Source 0%
- Sodium 91.18 mg Low Source 4%
- Dietary Fiber 3.41 g Moderate 12%
- Total Sugars 5.24 g --
- Added Sugars 3.72 g Moderate 7%
- Calcium 25.02 mg Low Source 2%
- Iron 0.29 mg Low Source 2%
- Potassium 56.14 mg Low Source 1%
- Vitamin A 27.72 mcg Low Source 3%
- Vitamin C 8.41 mg Low Source 9%
- Vitamin D 0.0 mcg Low Source 0%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Tomatoes 🍅
- Garlic 🧄
- Onions 🧅
About This Recipe
Calzagatti (Crisped Polenta with Beans) is made with 11 ingredients and serves 8. It takes about 40 mins and is rated medium. Key ingredients include Cranberry Beans, Diced Tomatoes, Fresh Rosemary, and Garlic. Each serving provides about 130.31 kcal.
Recipe Questions
- What is Calzagatti (Crisped Polenta with Beans) made of?
- The main ingredients are Cranberry Beans, Diced Tomatoes, Fresh Rosemary, Garlic, Minced Garlic. The full list of 11 is above.
- How long does it take to make Calzagatti (Crisped Polenta with Beans)?
- About 40 mins in total: 15 mins to prepare and 25 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 130.31 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Calzagatti (Crisped Polenta with Beans) easy to make?
- This recipe is rated medium, with 11 ingredients and 6 steps.
- Is Calzagatti (Crisped Polenta with Beans) healthy?
- Calzagatti (Crisped Polenta with Beans) has an easyChef Pro health score of 45/100. Per serving, it provides 130.31 calories and 0.74 g of protein, or 1% of the Daily Value. Worth noting per serving: saturated fat at 1.1 g (6% of the Daily Value) and added sugars at 3.72 g (7% of the Daily Value). It contains Tomatoes, Garlic and Onions, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
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