Shrimp Scampi with Quick Preserved Lemon and Fennel on Polenta

A luxurious Italian-inspired dish featuring succulent butterflied shrimp served over creamy polenta, enhanced with fennel, preserved lemon, and a rich anise-flavored cream sauce.

4 servings
30 min

Ingredients

  • bottles clam juice
  • cups water
  • ¾ cup heavy whipping cream
  • cups polenta
  • ¾ teaspoon hot pepper sauce
  • 1 to taste coarse kosher salt
  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 12 pieces uncooked extra-large shrimp
  • 1 cup fresh fennel
  • ½ cup plum tomatoes
  • cup shallots
  • 4 teaspoons Quick-Preserved Lemon
  • ¼ cup Pernod
  • ½ cup heavy whipping cream
  • Ingredient Info
  • cooking note

Cooking Instructions

  1. 1.

    Bring clam juice, 2 1/4 cups water, and cream to boil in heavy large saucepan over medium-high heat. Gradually whisk in polenta. Reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer polenta until thick and tender, stirring constantly, 15 to 20 minutes. Add hot pepper sauce; season with salt and freshly ground pepper. Cover to keep warm (if polenta becomes firm, add 1/3 cup water and stir over low heat to loosen and rewarm).

    20 min

  2. 2.

    Heat oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Sprinkle shrimp on 1 side with coarse salt and pepper. Add to skillet; sear 1 minute per side. Transfer shrimp to plate. Add fennel, tomatoes, shallots, preserved lemon, and garlic. Sauté until fennel is tender, about 4 minutes. Add Pernod; boil 1 minute. Add cream; boil 1 minute. Return shrimp to skillet. Toss until just opaque in center, about 1 minute.

    8 min

  3. 3.

    Spoon polenta onto plates. Top with shrimp and sauce.

    2 min

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