12 Delicious Sauces for Polenta That Will Make You Drool

I’m a lover of polenta – it’s one of my favorite dishes to make and eat.

But let’s face it, sometimes it’s just a little too plain on its own.

That’s why I’m so excited to share with you my favorite sauces for polenta that will make your mouth water!

From classic Italian flavors to more unique creations, I’m confident you’ll find something you love in this article.

Whether you’re looking for a creamy béchamel or a savory mushroom sauce, I’m sure you’ll find something to make your polenta dish even more delicious.

1. Mushroom Sauce

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I’ve always loved mushroom sauce on polenta, and this recipe is one of my favorites.

It’s creamy, cheesy and packed with flavor from the garlic, thyme leaves, and white wine.

1. Start by sautéing the mushrooms in butter and olive oil until they’re golden brown and caramelized.
2. Then add the garlic, salt, pepper, and white wine to deglaze the pan.
3. Add your broth (or even a splash of cream) for extra liquid if needed before stirring in the cream, parmesan cheese, and thyme leaves.
4. Serve it over freshly cooked polenta for a delicious dinner that everyone will love.

Pro Tip: If you want to make this sauce vegan-friendly, swap out the butter for coconut oil or vegan butter; use vegetable broth instead of chicken; omit parmesan cheese; use almond milk instead of heavy cream; and skip the white wine – just use more broth!

2. San Marzano Tomato Sauce

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Simple yet delicious, San Marzano tomato sauce is the perfect topping for a bowl of polenta.

The key to making it taste amazing is to use high-quality ingredients – like San Marzano tomatoes which have a sweeter flavor profile than regular tomatoes.

How to make this sauce:

1. Start by heating the olive oil in a pan over medium heat and add the garlic, basil, and crushed red pepper (if using).
2. Once fragrant, add the can of San Marzano tomatoes and break up with a wooden spoon, then season with salt & pepper plus sugar to balance out the acidity.
3. Simmer for 15-20 minutes until it’s thickened and reduced.

Make sure to adjust seasoning if needed before serving on top of your polenta!

3. Blue Cheese Sauce

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Treat yourself to this creamy blue cheese sauce.

It’s an easy, delicious, and comforting way to level up a simple dish.

All you need is butter, plain flour, milk, and stilton (or other blue cheese) which you can chop or crumble into the mix.

The butter and flour form a roux base which helps thicken the sauce as it cooks – add in the milk and stir until smooth.

Finally, fold in your chopped-up blue cheese for that extra kick of flavor!

Pro Tip: For a lighter version of this sauce, swap out the full-fat milk for semi-skimmed or skimmed milk instead.

4. White Wine Lemon Caper Sauce

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When nothing but the best will do, this white wine lemon caper sauce is sure to satisfy.

It’s a creamy and flavorful sauce that goes great with polenta.

1. To make it, heat olive oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat.
2. Add minced shallot and sauté for 1–2 minutes until fragrant.
3. Pour in the dry white wine and let simmer for 2 minutes until reduced by half.
4. Then add lemon zest, juice, chicken broth (reserving 1 tablespoon), capers, parsley, salt and pepper.
5. Bring to a boil then reduce heat to low and let simmer for 5 minutes until the sauce starts to thicken slightly.
6. In a small bowl whisk together cornstarch with remaining 1 tablespoon of chicken broth until blended then pour into the pan with the sauce while stirring continuously for about 1 minute or until desired thickness is reached.
7. Finally, stir in butter – serve immediately over your favorite dish!

5. Puttanesca sauce

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Surely, the classic Italian combination of garlic, anchovies, olives, and capers is a classic in its own right – but when served on top of polenta it’s truly mouthwatering.

Puttanesca sauce is an incredibly versatile recipe that can be used for more than just pasta dishes.

This particular recipe has a generous mix of sweetness from tomato paste and sugar as well as salty notes from the olives and capers – making it especially delicious with polenta!

Pro Tip: Always season your sauces at the end to ensure you achieve your desired flavor.

6. Creamy Garlic Sauce

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Creamy and garlicky (in the best way possible) is how I would describe this sauce.

It adds a nice creamy texture to your polenta, and with just a few ingredients you can easily make it in no time!

1. To make it, first mix together ¼ cup of water with the garlic powder and cornstarch in a small bowl until smooth.
2. Then heat the remaining ¼ cup of water in a medium-sized pan over medium heat.
3. Add garlic and cook for about 1 minute before adding cream, parsley, salt and pepper.
4. Bring to a boil then reduce heat to low; gradually whisk in cornstarch mixture until thickened (about 3 minutes).
5. Serve warm over your favorite cooked polenta dish – enjoy!

7. Red Onion Gravy

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Just because it’s simple doesn’t mean it can’t be tasty!

This red onion gravy is the perfect accompaniment to polenta.

The sweet and savory flavors compliment each other really well, and the thyme gives a nice earthy flavor.

1. Start by heating up some olive oil in a pan, then add your chopped onions and garlic.
2. Let that simmer for about 10 minutes or until soft, then stir in the Worcestershire sauce and demerara sugar.
3. Next comes the plain flour – mix this around to combine before gradually adding your stock so you don’t get any lumps!
4. Finally, add the thyme bundle before letting it simmer for another 10 minutes or so until thickened.

Pro Tip: If you like things extra spicy, feel free to throw in some chili flakes as well!

8. Marinara Sauce

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Why not try adding a classic marinara sauce to your polenta for a twist on this traditional Italian dish?

1. Start by sautéing garlic, onion, and oregano in olive oil until the onion is softened.
2. Then add the canned tomatoes, breaking them up with your spoon as you go.
3. Simmer for about 10 minutes or until thickened slightly.
4. Finish it off with some red pepper flakes (optional) and salt to taste if needed.
5. Serve over the cooked polenta and top with Parmesan cheese and fresh basil leaves for extra flavor.

Pro Tip: For an even better-tasting sauce, use fresh tomatoes instead of canned!

9. Pesto

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Grab your food processor and get ready to make a delicious pesto sauce.

This recipe is perfect for when you want to jazz up your recipe.

1. Start by adding the basil leaves, Parmesan cheese, pine nuts, garlic, salt, and pepper into the food processor and pulse until it’s all combined.
2. Add in the olive oil with the food processor running on low speed.
3. Taste and adjust the seasoning if needed.

And voila – you’ve got yourself a tasty pesto sauce that’s perfect for polenta (or even pasta!).

Pro Tip: If you’re not a fan of pine nuts, feel free to use chopped walnuts instead

10. Sriracha Hot Sauce

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A little spice can really elevate a bowl of polenta, and this Sriracha hot sauce is just the thing.

It’s easy to make: all you need to do is blend the peppers, garlic, sugar, salt, and vinegar together until it forms a smooth paste.

If you’re sensitive to spice, use fewer peppers or add more water – that’ll help tone down the heat.

Adding this sauce will definitely take your dinner game up a notch!

11. Chili Tahini Lime Sauce

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Once you go chili tahini lime sauce, you never go back!

This is one of my favorite ways to dress up plain food.

The chili powder and smoked paprika give it a nice kick of heat that’s balanced out by the tangy lime and creamy tahini.

1. It’s also simple to make – just mix together all the ingredients and add water as needed until you get your desired consistency.
2. Then spoon or drizzle over your polenta dish for an extra flavor boost!

Pro Tip: If you want to really take this sauce up a notch, try adding some roasted garlic or fresh herbs like cilantro!

12. Hollandaise Sauce

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I bet you’ve tried this sauce before, but maybe never on polenta.

Hollandaise sauce is a classic French sauce typically served over eggs or vegetables, but it can add so much flavor to any dish.

It’s easy to make and you probably already have the ingredients in your kitchen.

1. All you need are egg yolks, lemon juice, dijon mustard, salt, cayenne pepper, and butter or ghee. Just whisk everything together until it emulsifies into a creamy consistency!
2. Serve warm over your favorite polenta for an amazing dinner experience.

Check out some more sauce recipes:

15 Must-Try Sauces for Ricotta Gnocchi Lovers

15 Deliciously Different Sauces for Sweet Potato Gnocchi

15 Irresistible Sauces for Pumpkin Gnocchi You Must Try

25 Simple Sauces for Gnocchi That Everyone Will Love

15 Spectacular Sauces for Chicken and Waffles