Tapas! I love these little bites!
On a trip to Oaxaca, Mexico, a group of friends and I went to an incredible and authentic tapas eatery where I first enjoyed Spanish tapas. It was an amazing experience, both culinary and culturally! I was thrilled to be able to experience these wonderful little plates in 1994 when few Americans had heard of these little dishes yet. Tapas were not yet a mainstream food item!
Although tapas are beloved by many today, a lot of people don’t know that Venice, Italy also has a culinary tradition of tapas known as ‘Cicchetti’ — aka: Italian tapas!
Cicchetti are simple, small ‘little bites’, and are often quite salty since Venetian cuisine was founded on salt because of it’s location on the Adriatic Sea (think: salt-cured sardines, anchovies, cod, and more). So for Italian tapas, or ‘chicchetti’, you need a strong salt element to excite the taste buds . . . freshly ground sea salt is my favorite to use in the kitchen. The custom of Italian cicchetti is similar to Spanish tapas – appetizers eaten to offset drinking alcohol in the afternoon or early before the evening meal. There is a strong Mediterranean influence in all tapas: olives, anchovies, sardines, and garlic served on little breads, such as Italian crostini. It’s easy to understand why Venetian ‘cicchetti’ are often compared with the much-loved tapas from Spain.
For this week’s dinner theme of “Tapas” I prepared some flavor-packed Polenta Crostini Bites with Caramelized Mushrooms. I bet you can’t eat just one! These are absolutely delightful! Enjoy!
Polenta Crostini Bites with Caramelized Porcini Mushroom Cicchetti
Ingredients
For the polenta
For the mushrooms
Instructions
Cook the polenta
Saute the mushrooms

When I was in Venice, I shot this photo of a typical ‘bacari’ where Venetians go to nibble on ‘cicchetti’ with a glass of wine or cocktail.
I am going to want an entire bowl of that, not just one spoon!
That’s about what I did after I took this photo, Dorothy!
What a great recipe! I simply love it! The photos are beautiful!
Thank you for your kindness Jennifer; so nice to ‘meet’ you through Sunday Supper!
I have been looking forward to this recipe! I love polenta and have a wheat allergy. Now I want to turn all of my ideas for crostini into polenta bites!
thank you Brianne! I’m glad that this recipe is helpful to anyone who needs a gluten-free appetizer. What a great point! xo
What a simply STUNNING recipe! Thank you for sharing it for the theme today!
I love y our ‘bites’ too . . . gruyere is such a fantastic cheese, Constance! xo
Great recipe!!! I could eat this allll dayyyy!
Thanks so much Samantha! I actually did eat them all day!
Ooooh, this one is definintely goin’ into the to-make pile!
You’re so sweet Mindy! I hope you enjoy and that you’ll let me know what you think after you make these.
xo
Roz
Roz these are so FABULOUS !! Great for entertaining any gathering!! We love tapas, and so many Tapas restaurants are opening up all over the country! I very first time I went into a Tapas place was in Austin, Texas in 2006 when my daughter Annalisa worked there as the 5 pm. News Anchor for CBS in Austin. The second time, I really became familiar with tapas was when my husband and I took a trip to Barcelona, Spain in 2008. Nowadays, we find these wonderful little tapas places opening everywhere. It’s funny, going to Italy and visiting Venice, so many times, I never really looked at the Italian bars as little tapas places ( as Italian tapas style! )…But they are!! LOl…. Grazie per la ricetta!
Yes Anna and Liz, Italians have their own tapas too, but specifically to Venice. I’d love to experience tapas in Spain someday!
Now I have to go to Venice so I can compare the two! I’m also adding polenta to my meal plan for next week!
Amanda, oh yes, do check out the little cicchetti bars in Venice! Love your stuffed green olives too!
Love that you used fontina cheese, it is so yummy!
Shaina, I’m addicted to Fontina!
WOW, these crostinis look incredible! You nailed it 🙂
Thanks Megan! Love your bacon-wrapped dates too!
wow this looks amazing
Thanks Rebecca, it’s also very easy!
Wow what beautiful photos and this recipe looks delicious!
Thanks Tammy, your “hellfire” wings wowed me too!
These tapas are stunning! Love, love them.
Velva, Velva, Velva! I’ve missed you! Thank you for your kindness and your visit! Can’t wait to see what you’ve been cooking in the kitchen!
Such beautiful photos! I wonder if the term cicchetti comes from cicchetto, which in colloquial Italian means “drink/shot”? Maybe they are called cicchetti as they would be eaten with a drink as aperitivo? In any case, I wish I could reach one of those crostini through the screen and eat it right now! 🙂
I’m not sure what the name is derived from Manu….interesting question!
Oh, what fabulous food! It looks so tasty, and with the texture of the polenta and the depth of flavor of the mushrooms, they must be great. I say yes, please! Complimenti!
Grazie Adri! Baci!
Polenta is my childhood comfort food. =)
But I can’t get my husband to like it. I ought to try your recipe and maybe I ll finally get him to switch to the polenta side of life =)
My husband isn’t fond of polenta either. However, he will eat it fried once in a while! They don’t know what they’re missing!
I hadn’t heard of cicchetti before, though I’m not surprised because Europeans have a different way of eating. And your dish looks and sounds amazing. Thanks for sharing!
I’m glad you stopped by Martin . . . if you try this recipe someday, let me know what you think!
I’ve not yet had anything called cicchetti but after looking at these beautiful photographs and reading through your recipe, I know it’s what I must have!
Smart lady that you are indeed Maureen!
Oh, my, Roz! Your crostini bites sound incredible! I could pop a whole lot of these babies in my mouth 🙂 So happy to have you join the SS group this week!!!
Thanks Liz….wish I wasn’t so busy, I’d participate more often if I could! xo
I would definitely be eating a few of these bites.. then come back for more!
I think I did that too, and gained a few pounds as a result Pamela! Thanks for your compliment!
Roz these look amazing! Polenta instead of bread sounds delicious!
The polenta really makes a huge difference Cindy! Thanks for your visit!
What a great idea of putting polenta on crostini to make little cicchetti. They sound absolutely delicious.
Oh thank you Karen. We really enjoyed them; I think the porcini mushrooms topped them off perfectly!
Oh Roz – this is my favorite way to eat – small bites. Unfortunately, husband likes complete meals. I’d rather graze on these polenta bites all days. Love polenta with mushrooms – what a grand pairing. Happy New Year to you and congratulations on the new addition to the family A baby does change everything – in the best possible way.
Eating smaller bites and more often is even healthier for us too Claudia! I’d love to change my lifestyle around smaller bite-based meals!
I never understood the purpose of utensils. All good food can be made as fingerfood. 🙂 If these were on the menu, I would order at least two plates. I love the way you used the polenta on the toasts and the way you cooked the mushrooms is perfect!
I agree! Who needs utensils! Dig in and eat!
I had no idea about Italian tapas! Big shame on me. These polenta bites look lovely. Such a fun handheld appetizer.
Cool huh, Joanne? Italian tapas!
A great appetizer! Those polenta bites must taste wonderful. I love the idea.
Cheers,
Rosa
Thanks Rosa!
I love using fried polenta instead of bread for bruschetta, Roz, as then the gluten free members of my family can also enjoy eating it. This would be a wonderful appetizer for Superbowl Sunday!
Fried polenta rocks doesn’t Pat?
Babe! I adore your blog soo much!! I’m your newest follower on Bloglovin’ :-).. Hope you can follow back!
Love,
Noor
http://queenofjetlags.com
Will do!
Hi dear, very nice recipes!! 🙂 I’m your newest follower on Bloglovin’ :-).. Hope you can follow back!
Love,
Noor
http://queenofjetlags.com
Following ya!
What a mouthwatering post! I love tapas too, and these crostini bites sound divine.
Thanks Beth!
Hi dear, you have nice blog and great post, can we follow each other? if you decided to follow me on BLOGLOVIN please let me know so I can follow you back, thank you
http://www.love-joice.com
Will do Joice! Thx for the invitation!
I’m sure I couldn’t eat just one! They look and sound fantastic!
I was just a little piggie with these Susan!
What a beautiful recipe Roz. I’d really like to learn a lot more about authentic tapas. I wish I could have participated in this #SS event. It’s been a hectic couple of weeks.
Lea Ann, I know that life just gets so busy doesn’t it? I’m trying to blog more and glad to visit with my friends more!
i often slice up polenta thin and bake them for crispy bites but never thought to add a topping to them. It makes them more hearty and even more delicious! You always have the best ideas
Mama mia, Roz! I love this!!! Polenta is the best and I can’t wait to try these bites! Thanks for the recipe, nt friend!
MY friend!
Thanks sweet Jessica! YOU are the one that inspires me with your creativity!
Oh my! This looks amazing!! You had me at caramelized. Thank you for sharing this wonderful recipe. I am pinning it and hope to make it soon. I’ve never tried making polenta before so that will be a fun new experience. I have been thinking about you today as we have been hearing about all the snow there. I hope all is well with you and your family.
I am so humbled, Shari, that you thought of me in Arizona during this unusual winter storm in the South! Blessings to you for your kindness
Roz
This is wonderful, I may have a problem with self control around this yumminess. xo
I know what you mean, Katherine. Self-control is a necessity with so many great recipes on our favorite blogs, isn’t it?
I’m just catching up on my blog reading and found this winner of a recipe Roz. Question – did you use dried or fresh porcini? The fresh ones are impossible to find here, and when you do find them, they cost a fortune.
Hi Linda, This time I used dried because it’s so difficult finding fresh in the market and as you said they cost a fortune!
Can’t wait to try these! I have been trying to give up my obsession with pasta and polenta has helped me with that! I recently topped mine with broiled tomatoes, capers, and asparagus! Great blog!
Thanks so much Jennifer! Nice to meet you and happy to have you stop by! I’ll come over and visit your blog now too!
Thank you everyone for visiting my blog and commenting so positively on these cicchetti! They are beautiful and delicious!
A friend made these last night for a dinner party. They were delicious but the recipe makes too much polenta for the amount of crostini and mushrooms. I would make one forth of the polenta, at most. Thanks for the recipe 🙂
Thanks so much Dragna! I always make extra polenta for the next day to “fry” and ladle bolognese sauce over it for dinner . . . it has to be a day old. But I’ll make note of that in the post and thank you again. I’m glad that the dinner party guests enjoyed the crostini!
Roz
I love your recipe, this simple bites of yours look delicious and stunning. Thank you for sharing this one, I will try this one soon.