Spicy Fennel Shrimp Recipes

SHRIMP WITH HOT FENNEL SAUSAGE AND POLENTA

Steps:

• Make the polenta: Bring 8 cups salted water to a boil in a heavy-bottomed pot over high heat. Whisk in polenta, continuing to whisk as mixture begins to thicken, about 1 minute. Turn heat to low and let polenta cook slowly, whisking every few minutes for about 10 minutes. Turn heat to very low and continue to cook for least 45 to 60 minutes, stirring occasionally. If polenta gets too thick to stir easily, add a bit of water to obtain a porridge-like consistency. (When finished, there should be no raw cornmeal flavor.) Taste a cooled spoonful, then correct seasoning with salt and pepper. Turn off heat, whisk in butter and keep warm.
• Meanwhile, prepare the topping: Heat olive oil in a large, wide skillet over medium-high heat. When oil shimmers, add shrimp in one layer and season with salt and pepper. Cook for 1 minute, until lightly browned. Using tongs, turn shrimp over, season and cook for 30 seconds more. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside. (Shrimp will not be fully cooked.)
• Add onion to pan and cook, stirring, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add sausage meat and cook, mashing with a large spoon to let sausage crumble into rough half-inch pieces. Continue cooking for 5 to 6 minutes, until mixture is lightly browned. Stir in garlic, red-pepper flakes and rosemary, and cook for 1 minute more.
• Add wine and tomato purée. Simmer for 1 minute and stir in crème fraîche. Turn off heat and check seasoning. Warm a large serving platter. In a small bowl, mix together scallions, capers, parsley and lemon zest.
• To finish, turn heat to high. Add reserved shrimp to sausage mixture and cook, stirring, for about 2 minutes, until shrimp are cooked through and sauce has thickened slightly.
• Mound polenta into middle of platter. Spoon shrimp and sauce around polenta. Sprinkle with scallion mixture and serve. (Alternatively, place a large spoonful of polenta into individual plates or soup bowls and top with shrimp and sauce.)

SHRIMP WITH TOMATOES, FENNEL AND OREGANO

Steps:

• Heat 4 tablespoons oil in heavy large skillet over medium heat. Add onion, fennel and red pepper. Sauté until vegetables are tender, about 6 minutes. Add tomatoes and oregano. Season with salt and pepper. Reduce heat to low and cook 5 minutes. Transfer to bowl. (Can be prepared 4 hours ahead. Cover and chill.)
• Heat remaining 2 tablespoons oil in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add shrimp and cook until just pink and opaque, about 3 minutes. Add vegetables and heat through. Stir in cheese. Season to taste with lemon juice, salt and pepper. Serve over orzo.

SPICY FENNEL BREAD

Steps:

• Combine water, yeast, and sugar in a measuring cup. Mix well.
• Combine flour, fennel seeds, salt, red pepper flakes, onion, and garlic in a large bowl. Mix well until combined and any flour clumps are broken up. Slowly pour in the yeast-water mixture and stir into the flour.
• Knead the bread by hand until dough is well combined and you have an even consistency. Transfer to an oiled bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and let rest on the countertop, 10 to 14 hours.
• Remove dough onto the counter and knead once more. Let rise, 30 minutes to 1 hour.
• While bread rises, preheat the oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). Sprinkle the bottom of an oven-safe Dutch oven with flour, cover with the lid, and place in the oven while it preheats.
• Remove the Dutch oven and carefully place the dough in the pot; cover with the lid.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes. Remove the lid and continue to bake until golden, about 30 minutes more. Remove from the oven and place on a rack to cool.

STIR-FRIED SHRIMP WITH FENNEL, LEMON AND ANGEL-HAIR NOODLES

Steps:

• Mix together the ingredients for the marinade in a medium-sized bowl until thoroughly combined. Add the shrimp, toss so they are coated with the marinade, cover and refrigerate for 8 to 36 hours.
• Whisk together all of the sauce ingredients, except the cornstarch and water, in a large bowl and reserve. Whisk together the cornstarch and water in a small bowl and reserve.
• Bring four cups of water to a boil in a medium-sized saucepan over high heat, then remove from the heat and add the shrimp. Leave them in the hot water just until they turn pink, about 20 seconds. Drain and reserve.
• Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil. Add the noodles and stir to separate, then cook until al dente. Drain, run under cold water to cool them and drain well. Toss in a large bowl with the chili oil and the minced lemon zest. Reserve.
• Heat one tablespoon of the peanut oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat until nearly smoking. Stir-fry the onions just until they turn golden at the edges, about one-and-a-half minutes. Add the bell peppers and stir-fry until they become slightly limp, about two-and-a-half minutes. Add the fennel and stir until it begins to turn limp but is still crisp, about three-and-a-half minutes. Transfer the vegetables to a plate and return the skillet to the heat.
• Add the additional oil to the skillet and, when the oil is nearly smoking, add the ginger, garlic, scallions and hot chili-pepper flakes and lower the heat to medium so they foam without browning. Cook just until they release their fragrance, about 30 seconds. Add the lemon zest and the hot pepper slices, stir, then add the Napa cabbage and stir-fry until it becomes glossy and is slightly cooked, about 30 seconds. Add the cooked noodles and stir-fry just until they are hot, about two minutes, then add the cooked vegetables and toss until all of the ingredients are mixed. Increase the heat to high and add the sauce mixture. Cover and bring to a boil, then add the shrimp and toss until they are incorporated into the mixture. When the mixture returns to a simmer, add the cornstarch mixture and stir, then cook just until the sauce becomes glossy and slightly thickened, about one minute. Transfer to a serving platter or bowl, garnish with the fennel sprigs and scallion rings and serve immediately.