Langostino Scampi and Polenta
Last time I went to Costco, I found a new item – frozen (cooked) Langostino tails. What are “langostinos“? Here in the U.S., “langostinos” refer to the Squat lobster (which is not what we think of as a real “lobster” – it’s actually a species related to hermit crabs). Do not confuse “langostino” with “langoustes” (which are spiny lobsters), “langoustines” (Norway lobster), or “langosta” the Spanish name for lobster. Confused yet? Yeah, I know… it’s hard to keep it all straight, but just think of langostinos as little shrimp-like crustaceans that taste like lobster.
What did I do with my newly purchased frozen langostinos? Well… I was inspired by two recent meals: “Shrimp and Grits” (a regional specialty from the American South of shrimp sauteed in spices, served over a hominy/corn porridge) and “Shrimp Scampi” (an Italian dish of shrimp sauteed in butter, garlic, and wine – served over pasta or rice). I decided to create an amalgam of these two dishes – making a “Langostino scampi” served over polenta.
Polenta is a cornmeal porridge that originates from the Italy/France/Switzerland area of Central Europe – it makes an really good starchy base for a variety of dishes (just like mashed potatoes). There are many traditional ways to make polenta – but I prefer to use the microwave because it is so simple – all you need is cornmeal, chicken broth, Parmesan, and a little bit of butter… and it’s done in less than 5 minutes, making it an very quick side dish! While polenta and grits are very similar – the difference is that grits are typically made with hominy (“dent corn” treated with alkali to remove the hull in a process called nixtamalization), while polenta is typically made with medium or coarse ground yellow cornmeal of “flint corn”. The other main difference – “polenta” is of European origin, while “grits” are of New World origin. Other than that, many will say they are essentially the same, as both polenta and grits are a type of “cornmeal porridge”.
*If you can’t find langostinos, just use shrimp instead.*
For this recipe, I used frozen cooked langostinos (thawed), but it would probably be easier to avoid overcooking the seafood if you use raw langostinos or shrimp instead. In step 4 below, I have provided instructions for making this dish with both cooked and raw langostino/shrimp. Makes 2 servings:
Langostino (or Shrimp) Scampi:
Langostino
- 10-12 oz. langostino (or shrimp)
- 3 T. unsalted butter
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 2 cloves garlic, minced or crushed
- 2 T. chopped parsley
- 1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
- 1/4 c. white wine
Microwave Polenta:
- 1/2 c. yellow cornmeal
- 14.5 oz. can (1 3/4 c.) chicken broth
- 2 T. grated Parmessan
- 1 T. unsalted butter
1. Stir all the polenta ingredients into a 2 c. pyrex measuring cup until combined (It’s ok if the butter isn’t mixed in). Microwave for 2 minutes.
2. Stir the polenta, breaking up any lumps, then microwave another 2 minutes. Stir again, and set aside.
3. Melt the butter into a frying pan over medium heat. Add the garlic and salt, saute for a minute so that the garlic flavor infuses the butter.
4. Add the raw langostino (or substitute with shrimp), parsley, and cayenne pepper. Saute for 1-2 minutes until cooked and opaque. (If you are doing this with frozen cooked langostino (thawed), as I did here, then this step will only be 30 seconds – you don’t want your seafood overcooked.)
5. Add the white wine. Heat for 30 seconds until bubbly.
6. Pour the scampi over the cooked polenta and serve immediately.
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