Seafood
Cajun Shrimp, Corn & Zucchini over Polenta
Paprika-spiced shrimp, sweet corn, zucchini, and peppers sit over soft polenta for a quick Southern-inspired dinner that uses vegetables rather than a heavy cream sauce.
Inspired by Southern-inspired shrimp and vegetable suppers
Prep
15 min
Cook
20 min
Serves
4 servings
Difficulty
Easy
Pantry match
Uses the current servings and temporary recipe changes.
Missing 15 ingredients
- • 1 cup quick-cooking polenta
- • 4 cups water
- • 1 1/4 pounds raw shrimp, peeled and deveined
- • 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- • 2 small zucchini, diced
- • 1 cup frozen corn
- • 1 red bell pepper, diced
- • 1 small onion, diced
- • 2 cloves garlic, minced
- • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
- • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- • 1/4 cup chopped parsley
View ingredient-by-ingredient match
- 1 cup quick-cooking polentaMissing
- 4 cups waterMissing
- 1 1/4 pounds raw shrimp, peeled and deveinedMissing
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, dividedMissing
- 2 small zucchini, dicedMissing
- 1 cup frozen cornMissing
- 1 red bell pepper, dicedMissing
- 1 small onion, dicedMissing
- 2 cloves garlic, mincedMissing
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprikaMissing
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thymeMissing
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepperMissing
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, dividedMissing
- 2 tablespoons lemon juiceMissing
- 1/4 cup chopped parsleyMissing
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Method
Recipe notes
Quick-cooking polenta is important to the stated timing; coarse traditional cornmeal may need much longer. The pan should be wide enough to brown shrimp rather than steam them in vegetable moisture.
Planning, storage, and serving
Storage and reheating
Refrigerate cooked shrimp and polenta within two hours in separate covered containers and use within 2 days. Reheat polenta with water and warm shrimp gently until hot; avoid prolonged recooking.
Make-ahead tips
Chop the vegetables and measure spices earlier in the day. Cook shrimp close to serving; any next-day lunch should be chilled promptly and reheated gently to preserve the seafood texture.
What to serve with it
- - Crisp green salad
- - Roasted green beans
- - Fresh lemon wedges
Equipment needed
- - Saucepan and whisk
- - Wide skillet
- - Instant-read thermometer
Difficulty explained
Polenta simmers while vegetables cook; moving vegetables aside gives shrimp enough space and makes their short cooking time easier to control.
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Nutrition facts
Updating nutrition…
Alternatives
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Bottled 100% lemon juice
Use slightly less bottled lemon juice, then adjust after tasting.
Meyer lemon juice
Use the same amount of Meyer lemon juice.
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Pitfalls to Watch Out For
- Ordinary coarse cornmeal does not reliably cook in the quick-polenta time listed here.
- Wet or crowded shrimp steam and become rubbery before developing color.
- Polenta thickens as it stands; loosen with hot water rather than assuming it needs cream or butter.
Nutrition Context
- Shrimp provides the main protein and polenta the starch, with corn, pepper, and zucchini contributing varied vegetables.
- The rounded estimate uses plain polenta, measured olive oil, and unbrined shrimp; added salt and treated shrimp can change sodium considerably.
FAQ
Can I use frozen shrimp?
Yes. Thaw fully in the fridge, drain, and pat dry before seasoning.
Does polenta contain dairy?
Plain corn polenta does not; this recipe uses water and oil, not milk, cheese, or butter. Check packaged products.
How spicy is it?
A quarter teaspoon cayenne across four portions gives mild warmth; omit it when cooking for heat-sensitive eaters.
What if my polenta package needs less water?
Follow its liquid ratio and cooking directions, adding hot water gradually to reach a soft spoonable consistency.
Can I cook the shrimp ahead?
For the best texture cook them near serving. Chopped vegetables and measured spices are better make-ahead tasks.
What sides pair best with this dish?
Good pairings include Crisp green salad; Roasted green beans; Fresh lemon wedges. Choose one or two based on how substantial you want the meal to be.