It's a Keeper: Ham Steak with Chili Gravy and Cheesy Polenta

I get a little bit excited when I know my husband will be out of town because it means that I get to watch whatever I want on TV, stay up really late reading, and make whatever I want for dinner.  Five minutes after he leaves, I am miserable, but I still tried to make the most out of it. 

When he was out of town this time, I made Ham Steak with Chili Gravy and Cheesy Polenta (that link also has video of Rach making the recipe on her talk show).  This is from the Meals for One section of BOB.  I liked this recipe so much that I made it for both of us again when he got home!  That's a big deal for me - I hardly ever repeat recipes (there are certainly enough out there to keep me going for years).

I served this with green beans sauteed with garlic on the side.  Here's the recipe with my comments in brackets:

1 tablespoon vegetable, peanut or canola oil, divided
1/2 pound ham steak
1/4 small onion, finely chopped
1 garlic clove, finely chopped
1/4 bell pepper, finely chopped
Salt and pepper
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 tablespoon chili powder
1/2 cup beef stock
1/2 cup milk
1/3 cup quick-cooking polenta
1 tablespoon butter
1/2 teaspoon (a few dashes) hot sauce
1/2 cup shredded extra-sharp cheddar cheese

Yields: 1 serving

Heat 1/2 tablespoon of the oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the ham steak for 3 minutes on each side to brown and heat through, then remove to a plate and cover to keep warm. [I took a little longer than 3 minutes for me - I really wanted it browned.]

Add the remaining 1/2 tablespoon of oil to the pan and add the onion, garlic, and bell pepper. Season with salt and pepper, and cook 4-5 minutes, until soft.

Once the vegetables are tender, stir in the tomato paste and chili powder, and cook for a minute. Stir in the stock and simmer for a couple minutes more.

While the gravy is working, bring the milk and 1/2 cup water to a boil in a small pot. Add the polenta and whisk for 2-3 minutes, until thickened. Melt the butter into the polenta and stir in the hot sauce and cheese. Remove from heat. [Polenta is so easy to make that I want to make it all the time - probably not a good idea with all that cheese though....]

Top the ham steak with the chili gravy and serve the polenta alongside.