Grilled Polenta with Shrimp & Escarole

From EatingWell: October/November 2006 — Subscribe Now!

Grilled polenta tops sweet shrimp tossed with a spicy tomato and escarole sauce for supper with panache. If sodium is a concern, make sure to use the “no-salt added” tomatoes we've called for and skip the optional oil-cured olives. Make it a Meal: Serve this dish with some crusty olive-studded bread, to soak up the sauce, and steamed green beans.

READER'S COMMENT:

"This is easy and good! I definitely recommend escarole if you can find it - nice texture and taste. I don't like oil cured olives and used regular pitted black olives instead. "

Grilled Polenta with Shrimp & Escarole Recipe

4 servings, 2 slices polenta & 1 cup sauce each

Active Time: 35 minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes

Nutrition Profile

Ingredients

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, plus 2 teaspoons for drizzling
4 cloves garlic, chopped
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper, or to taste
2 14-ounce cans no-salt-added diced tomatoes, drained
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1 pound peeled cooked shrimp, (31-35 per pound; thawed if frozen), tails removed if desired
6 cups thinly sliced escarole (about 1 small head; see Note) or spinach
1 16-ounce tube prepared plain polenta, sliced into 8 rounds
8 oil-cured olives, pitted and chopped (optional)

Preparation

Preheat grill to high.
Place 1 tablespoon oil and garlic in a large saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring, until the garlic is sizzling and fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. Add crushed red pepper; cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add tomatoes and oregano; bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook until juicy, about 3 minutes. Stir in shrimp and escarole; cook, stirring, until the escarole is wilted, about 2 minutes. Remove from the heat, cover and keep warm.
Oil the grill rack (see Tip). Grill polenta slices until hot and slightly charred, 3 to 4 minutes per side.
Divide the sauce among 4 shallow bowls or plates. Top with the polenta slices, sprinkle with olives (if using) and drizzle each serving with 1/2 teaspoon oil. Serve immediately.

Tips & Notes

Note: Escarole (a member of the chicory family) is a leafy green with a sweet-bitter taste. It's tender when cooked and can be used in braises, soups or stews. Look for it near other greens in the produce section, but do not confuse it with curly endive. Escarole has large, relatively broad leaves resembling densely packed leaf lettuce (curly endive has tight and finely ruffled leaves).
Tip: To oil a grill rack: Oil a folded paper towel, hold it with tongs and rub it over the rack. (Do not use cooking spray on a hot grill.)

Nutrition

Per serving: 293 calories; 8 g fat (1 g sat, 5 g mono); 229 mg cholesterol; 20 g carbohydrates; 32 g protein; 4 g fiber; 634 mg sodium; 552 mg potassium.

Nutrition Bonus: Vitamin A (60% daily value), Vitamin C (60% dv), Folate (27% dv), Potassium (16% dv)

1 Carbohydrate Serving

Exchanges: 1 starch, 1 1/2 vegetable, 4 very lean meat, 1 fat