Shrimp And Tomatoes Over Soft Polenta Food

SHRIMP AND TOMATOES OVER SOFT POLENTA

Steps:

• Season shrimp generously with salt and pepper. In a large skillet over medium-high, heat 1 tablespoon oil. Add shrimp; cook until opaque throughout, turning occasionally, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to a bowl; set aside.
• Reduce heat to medium. Add remaining tablespoon oil to pan; cook garlic and red-pepper flakes until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add tomatoes and their juice along with 2 cups water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, stirring occasionally, until tomatoes have broken down and become saucy, about 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, make Soft Polenta. Just before serving, stir reserved shrimp into tomatoes. Divide polenta among four bowls; spoon shrimp and tomatoes over polenta. Serve with Basic Green Beans, if desired.

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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HERB AND TOMATO POLENTA

Steps:

• Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil and tomatoes. Cook the tomatoes, stirring occasionally, until they start to blister and release some of their juices, 8 to 10 minutes. Toss in the garlic and season generously with salt and pepper. Cook another 1 minute, then remove from the heat.
• In a saucepan over low heat, stir the Parmesan and butter into the Cooked Polenta, thinning with milk as desired. Turn off the heat, stir in the lemon zest, taste for seasoning and add salt if necessary.
• Transfer the polenta to a serving bowl. Use a spoon to create a shallow well and top with the tomatoes, torn basil, some black pepper and a drizzle of olive oil.
• Bring 6 cups of water to a rolling boil in a heavy-bottomed 4-quart saucepan over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to the lowest possible setting, add the baking soda and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and pour the cornmeal into the water in a very slow stream from a measuring cup, all the while whisking in a circular motion to prevent lumps.
• Cook, vigorously stirring the polenta with a wooden spoon for about 10 seconds once every 5 minutes and making sure to scrape clean the bottom and corners of the pot, until the polenta has lost its raw cornmeal taste and becomes soft and smooth, about 30 minutes. If the polenta looks like it's drying out too quickly, continue cooking with the lid on. Cooked Polenta recipe courtesy of Jeff Mauro.

SAUTEED SHRIMP OVER POLENTA

Steps:

• Heat 2 cups chicken stock and half-and-half until nearly boiling. Add polenta and stir constantly until no clumps remain, 3 to 4 minutes. Reduce heat and simmer until tender and thickened, 20 to 30 minutes. Add additional stock or water if polenta is too thick.
• Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add tomatoes, bell pepper, onion, and garlic. Saute for 3 to 5 minutes. Add 1/2 cup chicken stock, oregano, thyme, and ancho chile powder. Simmer until vegetables reach desired texture, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, stir Parmesan cheese into the polenta. Add shrimp to the vegetable mixture; cook until pink and heated through, 3 to 5 minutes more. Spoon polenta onto serving plates and top with shrimp mixture.

GRILLED SHRIMP WITH TOMATO AND FETA

Steps:

• For the shrimp: Prepare a charcoal grill for high direct heat. Skewer a few shrimp onto 2 skewers so the shrimp lay flat. Do the same with the tomatoes. Brush the skewers with canola oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Grill the tomatoes first, until slightly charred on both sides and soft, about 2 minutes each side. Reserve the shrimp skewers to the side.
• Heat a few tablespoons of olive oil in a large saute pan over medium heat. Cook the garlic and shallots until soft, about 2 minutes. Add the grilled tomatoes, wine, paprika, cinnamon, red pepper flakes and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer. Crush the tomatoes with a spoon. Cook until the sauce thickens. Taste; add some honey if the tomatoes aren't sweet. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Stir in the mint, oregano and lemon zest.
• Grill the shrimp until just cooked through and slightly charred, about 1 1/2 minutes each side. Remove the shrimp from the skewers and add to the tomato mixture. Toss the shrimp just to coat and transfer to a platter. Top the shrimp with the feta and mint sprigs and drizzle with olive oil. Serve with the pitas to dip in tomato juices.

SHRIMP AND TOMATOES

Steps:

• Season the shrimp generously with salt and pepper.
• In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat 1 Tbs oil.
• Add the seasoned shrimp and cook until opaque throughout, turning occasionally, 2-3 minute.
• Transfer to a bowl and set aside.
• Reduce the heat to medium.
• Add remaining Tbs of oil to the pan, and cook the garlic and red pepper flakes until fragrant, about 1 minute.
• Add the tomatoes and their juice along with 2 cups water, and bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat to a simmer, and stir occasionally until the tomatoes have broken down and become saucy, about 15 minute.
• Serve over warm polenta.