Honeyed Prawns and Polenta
I was planning on a simple shrimp cocktail supper when I say this recipe. Unanimous decision that it was fantastic . My variations were what I had on hand.
4 servings
- For the prawn marinade:
- 4 tablespoons tomato paste
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon hot sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- Sea salt
- 1 pound large, peeled, and deveined prawns (used cooked)
- For the polenta:
- 1 cup polenta (I used stone-ground yellow grits and less water)
- 1 1/4 cups (10 ounces) corn kernels, fresh or frozen (I used canned)
- 1/4 cup currants (I used raisins)
- 1 tablespoon honey 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme, or 1/2 teaspoon dried
- Sea salt
- Black pepper
- For the topping:
- 1/3 cup feta cheese, crumbled (I used Asiago)
- 2 to 3 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons capers
- Hot sauce (optional)
1. Preheat the oven to 400°F (204°C). Butter an 8 x 10-inch (20.3 x 25.4 cm) baking dish. Oil a rimmed baking sheet with olive oil. Set the pans aside.
2. To make the marinade: Combine the tomato paste, honey, lemon juice, olive oil, hot sauce, garlic powder, and a pinch or two of salt in a medium bowl. Toss the prawns with the marinade. Set the bowl aside, giving it a stir every few minutes.
3. For the polenta: Bring 3 cups cold water to a boil in a medium stainless-steel pot. Add the polenta. Cook seven minutes, stirring often. Remove the pot from the heat, cover, and let sit for 10 minutes.
4. In a large bowl, mix the corn (completely thawed if frozen), currants, honey, butter, and thyme. Stir in the polenta, and season with salt and pepper to taste.
5. Add polenta mixture to the buttered baking dish. Spread evenly with a spatula, and place in the oven to bake for 35 minutes.
6. Spread the prawn mixture evenly onto the oiled baking sheet. After the polenta has baked for 25 minutes, add the prawns to the oven, alongside the polenta. Place both pans on same rack if possible; otherwise, place the baking sheet on the lower rack.
7. Bake the prawns for five minutes. Remove the baking sheet from the oven, and flip all of the prawns over. Return to the oven and bake an additional five minutes, until the polenta is slightly browned and the prawns are pink and firm.
From Epicurious.com