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Harissa Shrimp with Creamy Polenta

Meaty shrimp cooked in a ton of garlic, harissa, and herbs, this shrimp dish is served over creamy polenta to soak up all the sauce.
Course Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine Moroccan
Keyword Harissa, Seafood, Shrimp, Spicy, Weeknight Dinner
Prep Time 10 minutes
Servings 3 people

Ingredients

Harissa Shrimp

  • 1 lb shrimp de-shelled and de-veined
  • 3 tbsp harissa separated
  • 5 tbsp butter
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 8 garlic cloves minced
  • 1 shallot minced
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • 1/4 cup cilantro roughly chopped
  • 2 tbsp fresh mint

Creamy Polenta

  • polenta
  • milk or chicken broth amount will vary
  • 1/4 cup heavy cream
  • 1 tbsp butter
  • 4 oz white cheddar cheese freshly grated

Instructions

Harissa Shrimp

  • Prep the shrimp by peeling and deveining. If starting with frozen make sure they are fully defrosted before cooking. Pat dry.
  • Once cleaned and dry, season with a generous pinch of salt, 1 tsp of olive oil, and 1 tbsp of harissa. Toss to coat and place on the side.
  • In a large pan over medium-low heat, melt the butter and add the 1 tbsp of olive oil. Once melted and hot, add the garlic and shallot, and cook for 1-2 minutes until soft and fragrant, but not brown
  • Add in the harissa and cook for an additional minute.
  • Add in the shrimp. Cook time will vary on size. Medium-large shrimp approx. 2 minutes on each side where as jumbo shrimp will be closer to 3-4. You are looking to par cook them. Do not overcook.
  • Add in the chicken broth and cilantro. Simmer for 2-3 minutes, until the sauce thickens slightly. If the shrimp released a lot of moisture you can remove the shrimp and continue to reduce the sauce. Finish the shrimp with the chopped mint.

Creamy Polenta

  • In a large pot over medium heat, bring the instructed amount of milk or broth (in place of water) to a simmer.
  • Once simmering add the polenta and cook as per the instructions, mixing occasionally to prevent clumping.
  • When the polenta is almost done turn off the heat and add in the butter, heavy cream, and cheese. If by the end you want a looser consistency feel free to add more milk or chicken broth.
  • Serve the harissa shrimp with sauce over the polenta immediately.