Grill/Barbecue

italian-style grilled shrimp and polenta

June  1, 2015
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0 Ratings
  • Serves 6
Author Notes

Plump marinated shrimp and cheesy polenta are delicious when grilled. Serve with a tangy blend of fresh and marinated vegetables. —garlic and zest

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • for polenta and shrimp
  • 1 teaspoon olive oil
  • 2 cups chicken broth
  • 1 1/2 cups water
  • 1 cup instant polenta cornmeal (such as Colavita)
  • 1 tablespoon fresh thyme or 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 teaspoon granulated garlic
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper to taste
  • 1/3 cup parmesan cheese
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced, divided
  • 1 lemon, zested
  • 1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1/4 teaspoon sea salt or kosher salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 1/2 pounds extra large shrimp (U12-15), peeled and deveined
  • for the vegetable topping:
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 lemon, zested and juiced
  • 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/3 cup capers, rinsed and drained, patted dry with a paper towel
  • 1/3 cup sun-dried tomatoes, drained and thinly sliced
  • 1/3 cup thinly sliced red onion
  • 1 cup grape tomatoes, quartered
  • 1 10-ounce jar baby artichokes or artichoke hearts, rinsed, drained, patted dry
  • 1/2 cup fresh parsley, chopped
Directions
  1. Add olive oil to a small loaf pan and use a paper towel to coat the bottom and sides of the pan. Set aside.
  2. Add chicken broth, water, thyme, garlic and salt to a medium saucepan and bring to a boil. Slowly add the polenta into the chicken broth, whisking constantly. Continue to whisk and cook polenta for 4-5 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in the parmesan cheese.
  3. Pour the polenta into the loaf pan and smooth the top. Cover with plastic wrap and let cool to room temperature. Then refrigerate until firm, several hours or overnight.
  4. In a medium bowl, combine 2 cloves of the garlic, the lemon zest, red pepper flakes, salt, pepper, and olive oil. Stir to combine. Add the shrimp and toss to coat. Set aside for 15 minutes to marinate.
  5. In a medium bowl combine the garlic, lemon zest and juice, dijon mustard, olive oil, salt and pepper. Whisk to combine. Add the capers, sun-dried tomatoes, red onion, grape tomatoes, artichokes and parsley. Toss to combine. Set aside.
  6. Thread the shrimp onto skewers.
  7. Turn the polenta out onto a cutting board. Slice polenta into 1/2" thick slices. Lightly brush them with olive oil. Lightly oil the grill grates and make sure the grill is hot before adding the polenta - it can have a tendency to stick. Grill the polenta for about 3-4 minutes per side. Transfer to a serving platter.
  8. Grill the shrimp for about 1 1/2-2 minutes per side, until pink and opaque. Transfer to a serving platter.
  9. To serve: Arrange the polenta on a serving platter. Spoon the topping over the polenta. Arrange the shrimp skewers over the topping. Serve.
  10. Notes: special equipment for this recipe: bamboo or metal skewers -- if using bamboo, soak in water for an hour before grilling. If artichoke hearts are larger than bite size, cut them into smaller chunks before adding to the topping. You may want to do a test run of grilling the polenta. Use one slice and see how it reacts to your grill. If it sticks, take extra precaution by using "Pam for grilling" or "grill" the polenta on an oiled grill pan inside.

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