Cajun Shrimp And Crab Over Polenta Food

SPICY SHRIMP OVER CREAMY POLENTA

Steps:

• In a medium-sized mixing bowl add shrimp, olive oil, Cajun seasoning, smoked paprika, kosher salt, and optional cayenne pepper.
• Toss together until all the shrimp are coated.
• Place a large skillet over medium-high heat and add shrimp to the skillet.
• Cook until the shrimp turn pink and remove from the heat.
• Place shrimp on a plate and wipe out the skillet.
• The shrimp will also be warmed when added to the tomato mixture so keep that in mind when cooking the shrimp. It's ok for them to be slightly undercooked.
• In the skillet you cooked your shrimp (and wiped clean) add both can Rotel tomatoes, garlic, smoked paprika, and kosher salt to taste.
• Cook on medium heat until the mixture is hot.
• Add in shrimp, lower heat to low, and keep covered while you prepare polenta.
• In a large high-sided skillet set over medium-high heat add water and milk.
• Bring to a boil and slowly whisk in polenta.
• Once all the polenta has been added turn the heat down to low and slowly whisk until thick. On my stove, this takes about 7 minutes.
• Once creamy and cooked remove from heat and stir in butter, cheese, and salt.
• Add polenta to the bottom of a bowl and top with tomatoes and shrimp.

SHRIMP AND CRAB CAKES

Steps:

• Roughly chop the raw shrimp and place in a large bowl.
• In a small bowl, whip the egg whites with a fork until frothy. Stir in the cream, salt, pepper, and cumin seeds. Combine with chopped shrimp. Mix well with the jicama, green onion, cilantro, ginger, and kaffir lime leaves.
• Press any excess moisture out of the crab meat in a colander. Combine the crab with the shrimp mixture.
• Pour the panko into a wide, shallow dish. Scoop out a heaping tablespoon of the shrimp and crab mixture and drop it into the panko. Using your hands, shape the shrimp and crab mixture into round cakes and evenly coat with the panko. Repeat with the remaining mixture and place the crab cakes on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Refrigerate for 30 minutes until firm.
• Heat a deep fryer to 350 degrees F or heat 3/4-inch of vegetable oil in a skillet over medium heat, just until the surface of the oil begins to gently ripple. Fry the crab cakes, a few at a time, until crispy and golden, about 2 minutes per side. Remove from the hot oil with a slotted spoon or spider and place on absorbent paper to absorb any excess oil.
• Serve with Ginger-Lime Dipping Sauce on the side.
• Put sugar, water, ginger, and salt in a heavy-bottomed saucepan. Bring to a boil, then lower heat and reduce to a syrupy consistency (about 15 minutes). Strain through a fine sieve, discard ginger, reserve liquid, and let cool.
• In a small food processor, pulse cilantro, lime juice, chile, and green onion (about 30 seconds). Add ginger syrup and pulse until combined.
• Serve at room temperature.

CAJUN SHRIMP AND CRAB OVER POLENTA

Steps:

• Sausage -- In a large saute pan, add the sausage and cook 3-5 minutes until golden brown. Remove and put on a plate lined with a paper towel to drain. Reserve the drippings in the pan.
• Vegetables -- Add the onion, green pepper, jalapeno and garlic and cook another minute or so.
• Sauce -- Once the vegetables have cooked a minute or two, add the flour, add the chicken broth and bring to medium heat until it thickens slightly. Reduce to medium low and stir in the seasoning (celery seed, cajun seasoning, Old Bay and pepper flakes, salt and pepper to taste), shrimp and cook until they begin to curl and turn pink. Just 2-3 minutes.
• Then before the shrimp are done, add the sausage back in and mix well, then add the crab meat and lightly toss so you don't break up the crab too much.
• Polenta -- Whether it is quick cooking or regular cooking, just follow the directions according to directions. When done, just stir in the cheese and any salt and pepper if needed.
• Serve -- Top the shrimp and crab over the polenta and enjoy and great comfort food meal.

CAJUN SHRIMP AND GRITS

Steps:

• In a large skillet over medium heat, sauté bacon until brown and crisp this may take about 3-5 minutes.
• Remove bacon from skillet and transfer to a plate. Some bacon drippings will be left in the pan (about 3 tablespoons).
• Add about a tablespoon of oil or butter to the pan, followed by shrimp. Then season with Cajun salt, and sauté shrimp for about 3-4 minutes. Set aside.
• Then add garlic, paprika, bell pepper, parsley, and green onions to the pan. Add about ¼ cup of broth or more - adjust to preference. Continue cooking for another 3 minutes.
• Add shrimp towards the last minute with lemon juice if desired, and adjust to taste. Throw in the crisp bacon, and adjust seasonings with salt and pepper.
• Remove the mix from the heat and serve over your grits.
• Start by adding water, milk, bay leaf, and salt to a heavy saucepan. Bring to a boil.
• Gradually whisk in the grits until you have added them all to the pot. Keep stirring with a whisk to prevent lumps. You may need to remove the saucepan from heat while getting rid of lumps.
• Reduce heat and cook grits at a bare simmer, covered, frequently stirring, until water is fully absorbed and grits thickened. This will take you about 15 minutes.
• Then remove grits from heat; add butter and cheese. Stir with a whisk until cheese melts.
• Assemble the dish by placing the grits at the bottom of a shallow bowl, then the Cajun shrimp and sauce on top. Enjoy piping hot!

26+ CAJUN RECIPES FROM THE BIG EASY (+CAJUN AIOLI WITH GARLIC)

Steps:

• Stir everything together in a bowl until smooth.
• Refrigerate until you're ready to serve with fries.

CAJUN SHRIMP & CRAB WITH ALFREDO SAUCE

Steps:

• In your main saucepan, sauté garlic and 1/2 yellow onion with butter do not burn. Cook until onions become transparent.
• In a separate pot, cook down your can of Rotel until soft. Then add to main saucepan.
• Stir in whipping cream, reduce heat to low and continue stirring about 2 minutes.
• Add Shrimp & Crab. Cook till shellfish is done.
• Season to your liking. I used Slap Ya Mama Cajun Seasoning and salt & pepper.
• Add Parmesan cheese, stirring after about 1 minute. Stir in your cooked noodles. Mix all together.

GRILLED SHRIMP AND POLENTA

Steps:

• Zest the lemon into a mixing bowl and add the butter, hot sauce and a pinch of salt. Stir until well combined. Gently stir in half of the parsley, reserving the remaining parsley for garnish. Cut the zested lemon into wedges and reserve.
• Prepare a grill or grill pan or for high heat. Lightly oil the grill grates. Thread the tomatoes on the skewers, about 7 tomatoes per skewer. (If using wooden skewers, leave just 1/2 inch of the skewer sticking out on each end so you do not have to soak them). Brush 1 tablespoon of the oil on the tomatoes and sprinkle them liberally with salt and pepper.
• Brush both sides of the polenta rounds with 1 tablespoon of extra-virgin olive oil. Sprinkle liberally with salt and pepper.
• Arrange the skewered tomatoes on the hot grill and cook, turning occasionally, until they are lightly charred in spots and have started to burst, 12 to 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, arrange the polenta on the grill and cook until lightly charred with distinct grill marks, about 5 minutes per side, flipping once using a flat metal spatula. (Be careful not to flip the polenta too early because it will stick to the grill if it is not ready.) Remove from the heat and reserve.
• Toss the shrimp with the remaining 2 tablespoons oil and sprinkle liberally with salt and pepper. Grill until lightly charred in spots on both sides and just cooked through, 2 to 3 minutes total. Remove from the heat and reserve.
• By this time, the grape tomatoes should be ready to take off the grill as well. Carefully remove the tomatoes from the skewers and place directly into a small bowl. Use the back of a pair of tongs or a spoon to lightly smash the tomatoes so that they release their juices.
• Place 3 pieces of polenta on each plate. In the center of the polenta, spoon a quarter of the tomatoes along with their juices, one quarter of the shrimp and a large dollop of the reserved butter mixture (if it doesn't melt, touch the business end of a pair of tongs to the grill, and then to the butter to finish melting). Garnish with the reserved parsley and wedges of lemon for squeezing on top of each serving.
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