Shrimp in Vodka Sauce with Polenta & Bacon Seared Collard Greens

Shrimp in vodka sauce with polenta and bacon-seared collard greens

Did I really never post this photo? Remember back in March when I enjoyed this dish at Hyde Park Bar & Grill, and I said that I wanted to make it at home? Well, I made it pretty soon thereafter, but I never posted about it.

Apparently, I have this problem with blogging. I have so much information that I want to post and share, there is an actual backlog of stuff, and occasionally I'll just skip over something. Not often, but it's happened once or twice. I guess I need to work on that.

Anyway, this dish was just as yummy at home. I used Giada De Laurentiis' vodka sauce, and her Basic Polenta recipe, too, which I then cut into triangles and pan fried after it was set. I used Lamb's Stone Ground Cornmeal from Converse, TX for the polenta, by the way.

For the bacon-seared collard greens, I washed and cut them in a chiffonade, diced two bacon strips and cooked them in a pan until they were browned and the fat had rendered, then I threw the greens in and let them wilt a bit in the heat, turning them around in the bacon fat. Add a bit of salt and maybe some chopped tomatoes, and you're done. Simple stuff.

(I just sautéed the shrimp in a bit of oil and added salt and pepper.)

Vodka Sauce

Basic Polenta

Enjoy!

And I'll make an effort to keep up with my information overload a little better in the future.

Shrimp in Vodka Sauce with Polenta and Collard Greens

Texas shrimp in vodka sauce with crispy polenta and bacon seared collard greens at Hyde Park

Another visit to a neighborhood favorite, Hyde Park Bar & Grill. Okay, it's not in our neighborhood, but it's close to Shane's office at KLRU, so it makes for a pleasant and reliable spot to grab a bite before a show or event. This isn't a great photo. I forgot my camera and had to use my iPhone, but although I didn't capture its charms, believe me, this dish was almost shockingly good, managing to be both comfort food and just the right amount of food at the same time, which is no easy feat. I love a plate that leaves me perfectly satisfied without the guilt of leaving food or the hassle of getting a to-go box. After much trial and error at Hyde Park, I've found a handful of gems that I know I can turn to for a reliably good meal, including the home style meatloaf, New York Strip, grilled salmon fillet, asian chicken salad, and now this shrimp and polenta dish. In fact, I enjoyed this one so much, I think I can feel a copycat recipe coming soon. To be continued . . .