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shrimp and polenta

Shrimp and Polenta With Cajun Lemon Butter Recipe

Shrimp and Polenta With Cajun Lemon Butter is shrimp sautéed in bacon drippings, whisked quick-cook polenta till creamy, bathed everything in Cajun-lemon-butter bliss. Thirty minutes = fancy dinner without the stress that everyone will fall in love with!
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Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Keyword: 30 minute meal, lemon, polenta, shrimp
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 729kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 4-6 slices bacon, chopped
  • 1 lb shrimp, peeled and deveined
  • 1 teaspoon cajun seasoning recipe below or use your favorite
  • 1 teaspoon Old Bay
  • 1 bunch green onions, diced whites and greens separated
  • juice of 1 lemon half for the Cajun lemon butter, half for the polenta
  • 1 9.2 oz box instant polenta
  • 4½ cups chicken or vegetable broth
  • 1 cup parmesan, grated
  • 2 tablespoon salted butter
  • ½ cup heavy cream
  • kosher salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste

Cajun Lemon Butter

  • 2 tablespoon salted butter
  • ½ teaspoon cajun seasoning
  • juice of half of the lemon from above

Instructions

  • Render the bacon on medium-high heat until crisp. Remove bacon from sautè pan.
  • Toss the shrimp in the cajun seasoning and Old Bay. Add shrimp, whites of the green onions to the sautè pan and cook until shrimp is just done. Remove shrimp from heat.
  • Bring the broth to a boil in a large pot. Slowly pour polenta into the pot, whisking to prevent any clumps. After 3 minutes, remove from the heat and stir in the butter, heavy cream, and parmesan cheese. Add the juice of the remaining half of a lemon to the polenta and stir to combine.
  • To plate the shrimp and polenta, start with a base of the polenta, top with a pile of the cooked shrimp. Top with a sprinkle of the bacon and the green onion tops. Add salt and pepper, to taste.
  • In the same skillet you used to cook the shrimp, melt the last 2 tablespoons of butter and stir in ½ teaspoon of Cajun seasoning and remaining lemon juice. Spoon over the plated shrimp and polenta and enjoy!

Notes

Cajun Seasoning
  • 2 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon granulated garlic
  • 1 teaspoon granulated onion
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
  • ½ teaspoon dried oregano
  • ½ teaspoon cayenne, optional

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 729kcal | Carbohydrates: 59g | Protein: 45g | Fat: 35g | Saturated Fat: 18g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 268mg | Sodium: 853mg | Potassium: 766mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 1292IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 338mg | Iron: 2mg
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