SPICY SHRIMP AND TOMATOES WITH SCALLION RICE

Steps:

• Melt 2 tablespoons of the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat; add the scallion whites and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft and translucent, about 3 minutes. Add 1 1/2 cups water, the rice, 1/2 teaspoon salt and the bay leaf, increase the heat to medium high and bring to a simmer. Stir a few times, cover, reduce the heat to low and simmer until the rice is tender and the water is absorbed, about 17 minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside.
• Meanwhile, zest the lemon into a large mixing bowl and add the remaining 4 tablespoons butter, the hot sauce and a pinch of salt. Stir until well combined. Gently stir in half of the parsley, reserving the remaining parsley for garnish. Cut the zested lemon into wedges and reserve.
• Sprinkle the shrimp liberally with salt and pepper. Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the tomatoes and some salt and cook, shaking the skillet frequently, until the tomatoes just start to pop, about 5 minutes. Transfer to the mixing bowl with the butter. Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil in the skillet. Add the shrimp and cook until the bottoms turn pink, about 1 1/2 minutes; flip and cook until just cooked through, about 1 minute more. Add the shrimp to the tomatoes and toss gently to coat everything with the butter and mush the tomatoes a bit more.
• Fluff the rice and stir in the scallion greens. Divide the rice among 4 dinner plates, top with the shrimp, tomatoes and sauce, scatter the remaining parsley leaves over the top and put a lemon wedge on each plate. Serve immediately, with extra hot sauce.