Prawns and Polenta
I have always been curious about polenta and how you cook it. There are so many cooking shows around and everyone is eating polenta.
It’s researched it thoroughly before I bought a bag of it and have come to realise that it’s mielies. So it’s a carb, but a very low carb. I must admit that I am pleasantly surprised with how similar it is in texture and taste to mielie meal.
This meal was delicious. I was very tired today and wanted something quick and easy with simple flavours. You will notice that I don’t use a lot of my Indian spices in this dish. Instead I use three spices and a herb to flavor my dish. I really am trying to keep it simple.
Fun facts about polenta - It is an Italian cornmeal. It’s often called grits and in the US, people there love to eat it for breakfast with a lot of butter. Polenta is low in calories but it remains a carb and is considered low GI. To make polenta you use a 2 1/2 cup to 1/2 cup polenta ratio. You add the polenta to a pot of boiling water, turn the stove of and whisk for 2 minutes. Close the lid and let the polenta cook for another 5 minutes before taking it off the stove and letting it cook in it’s own steam for a little while.
Ingredients
1 tsp olive oil
1 tbsp grated garlic and ginger
1/2 cup cooked polenta
1/2 kg prawns
1 can peeled, whole tomatoes
1/2 tsp dry thyme
2 tsp chili podwder
1 tsp jeera powder (cumin)
1 tsp garam masala
salt to taste
1 onion diced
1 tsp sugar
fresh basil for garnish
Method
In a large pan, heat oil and add garlic and ginger.
Fry onions until translucent.
Add spices and mix well for 1 minute.
Add thyme and then the prawns.
Fry until there’s a bit of color on the prawns and then add your can of tomatoes.
I add a pinch of sugar with my salt to get rid of some of the acidity from the tomatoes.
Let everything simmer until the gravy becomes thick.
Spread the polenta on a plate. I usually eat 1/3 of a cup.
Top with prawn chutney and garnish with basil.
Serve hot.