Shoot the Moon Southwestern Shrimp

Are there people out there who don’t like shrimp?

Good, then more for us!

I love shrimp, and I loved shrimp on the grill better than any other way. With a strong enough taste, they can stand up to some mighty sharp flavors paired with them.

This is one of those.

Those who don’t like spicy and hot need not apply.

The heat is however adjustable, but if you don’t like cumin and cilantro, well, my deepest  condolences, and MORE FOR US!

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 pound shrimp
• 1/2 bunch cilantro, rinsed and coarsely chopped
• 2-4 jalapeno peppers, seeded and coarsely chopped (for hotter shrimp, leave the seeds in)
• 1/2 bunch scallions, both white and green parts, trimmed and coarsely chopped
• 3 cloves garlic (2 cloves coarsely chopped, 1 clove minced)
• 1 teaspoons coarse salt (kosher or sea)
• couple of turns of your pepper grinder
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/2 – 1 lime
• Lime wedges, for serving

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Clean your shrimp and place in a plastic bag or bowl.
2. Place all the rest of the ingredients into a blender or food processor and whirr up until it is a paste.
3. Add this to the shrimp, mix well and place covered in refrigerator for a couple of hours.
4. When ready to go, heat up the grill to sizzle.
5. Skewer the shrimp on wooden skewers, touching but not jammed together.
6. Place on the direct heat and cook just until done, about 3 minutes per side. When they pink up, they are done.
7. Eat!

SERVES: 4

NOTES: I love shrimp done like this on a bed of pasta, but with this dish, I think I might do some Spanish rice.

SOURCE: Inspired by Griffin’s Grub

Related articles

• Grilled Shrimp “Souvlaki” (baptisthealthforyou.com)
• Grilled Cilantro Lime Shrimp Kebabs (gethealthygazette.com)

 

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Garlicky Baked Shrimp

Seafood is cheap here in southern New Mexico. I assume it’s because we aren’t so terribly far from the Gulf. No matter. I love shrimp and this is a very nice recipe that is easy and tastes good.

I have tweaked it a bit but you can see the original at LaaLoosh. It’s supposed to be a leaner version of Shrimp Scampi. I found it delicious and I didn’t miss a bit of all the butter you usually find.

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 lb shrimp, peeled, and deveined.
• 2 tbsp butter, melted
• Juice of 1/2 lemon
• 2 tbsp fresh parsley
• 2 tbsp good quality Parmesan cheese
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 tbsp lemon zest
• 3 cloves garlic, microplaned
• 1 c of panko crumbs or fresh bread crumbs
• salt and pepper

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 425°
2. In a bowl, combine shrimp, lemon juice, garlic, paprika and salt and pepper. Mix gently and place in a baking dish, small enough that the shrimp is touching.
3. Mix in another bowl the rest of the ingredients, mixing until it is evenly blended.
4. Sprinkle the crumbs over the shrimp and place in oven.
5. Bake for 10-12 minutes until shrimp is cooked through.

Serves: 2

NOTES: This is lovely served over pasta such as angel hair or fettuccine. Have more fresh Parmesan at the table, and some great crusty bread and a salad and you have a great meal that is good for company yet easy to prepare. You might consider sprinkling the plate with some toasted walnuts as a final elegant finish.

Related articles

• Garlicky Beer Shrimp (kokolikes.com)
• Shrimp Scampi (betterspines.com)
• Butter and Garlic Oven Baked Shrimps (iamdelicious.typepad.com)

 

Shrimp and Andouille Cajun Alfredo

I believe that my favorite fusion cooking is Cajun and Italian. I mean they just sing together.

This recipe is simply perfect. I changed nothing except made about a half recipe. I owe it all to Patrick Johnson at JustaPinch who put this together.

This is quite spicy and you may want to tone down the heat a bit, that is up to you. I used chipotle powder for the “hot chili powder” and that stuff is a big on the hot side, so be forwarned. We really did love it though.

We had I think enough for 3 people easily, so this full recipe is probably good for 6 people I think. Those were very big servings too!

So do please splurge now and then and make this delight. It’s heavy on calories and fat of course, but then you only eat a meal like this every couple of weeks or so, right?

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 1/2 lb of shrimp (I used medium) peel, deveined
• 6 TBSP Cajun seasoning, this recipe or commercial
• 2 TBSP EVOO
• 1 pkg Andouille sausage (or another if you have a preference)
• 1/2 medium onion, diced
• 1 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
• 5 cloves garlic, micro-planed
• 1 TBSP Worcestershire sauce
• 1 lb of linguine (personal preference here too)
• 2 c cream
• 1 c whole milk
• 1 TBSP black pepper
• 1/2 tsp hot chili powder
• 1/2 tsp kosher salt (I didn’t use any–the cheese and sausage have plenty)
• 1 stk butter, sliced
• 1 1/2 c parmigiano-reggiano or a very high-grade parmesan
• 1/3 c chopped parsley

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Place the shrimp in a bag and use 1/2 of the Cajun seasonings. Shake and refrigerate for an hour or so. (I went ahead and cooked the shrimp early and just placed it in a bowl. Once cooked you just want to reheat it in the finished sauce at the end. The recipe is somewhat busy and so having this done ahead allowed me to pull a salad together and so forth and not be rushed.)
2. To cook shrimp, place in a saute pan with half of the EVOO and cook, for a minute or two on each side. Remove from pan, and use this same pan to do the sauce in.
3. Get a pot of water heated for the pasta to cook in.
4. To the saute pan, add the rest of the EVOO,  and the sausage, cut into slices. Just saute lightly. Add the onions, and then the pepper flakes, garlic, and Worcestershire sauce. Cook just until onions are softened.
5. Add the cream, milk, rest of the Cajun seasoning, pepper and chili powder and salt if using. Stir until well mixed.
6. Bring to a soft boil, add the butter and melt it in, and then the cheese, shredded, stirring and reducing the temperature to a very low heat. You can leave it here, stirring now and again, for as much as 20 minutes if need be.
7. Cook the pasta al dente, drain and pour into the saute pan and mix until all is coated.
8. Then add the shrimp back in and mix until just heated. Place in a serving dish and cover with the parsley.

Serves: 6 generously

NOTE: This really is good. I urge you to try it. We had it with a nice salad and some very good french bread. Perfect.

Holy Trinity Jambalaya Stew

Oh, yeah, give me some Cajun.

This is one of those recipes that you can find everywhere, some more authentic than others. This makes no real attempt to be so, but goodness we loved it to death.

And because I don’t cook the rice IN the dish, you can make huge batches of this and freeze up meals for those wintry days when you are tired from fighting the elements and want a great meal in minutes.

Of course you can substitute other seafood for the shrimp, or add crawfish or fish if you wish. All should be added late in the game and just cooked. Sticking them in too early will result in rubbery tasteless crustaceans.

The same is true of the sausage. I buy cooked sausage and love the taste, so I don’t let it sit and cook out it’s flavor. Do as you wish about this. 

Okra is up to you. I like it. Some don’t.

Filé gumbo powder is not to be added during cooking, but only at the end. I use it as a table condiment and let folks sprinkle it on if they like it.

So get busy, and go Cajun!

INGREDIENTS:

• 4 chicken thighs (or other chicken parts to equal about 2 – 4 c cooked)
• 5 tbsp canola oil, divided 2 and 3
• 1 1/2 lg sweet peppers (I used 1/2 of a red, green, and yellow)
• 1 med. onion, diced
• 3-4 ribs of celery diced
• 1 c of diced okra (optional)
• 1 tsp salt (adjust depending on whether you use salted tomatoes and stock)
• 2 tsp each black and cayenne pepper (again, adjust given what you want in heat)
• 3 cloves garlic, microplaned
• 2 15 oz cans of stewed tomatoes
• 2 bay leaves
• 2 cups (at least) chicken stock
• 1 lb andouille sausage cut into chunks (or other sausage you like)
• 1/2 lb shrimp, cleaned
• 3 tbsp flour
• 4-5 scallions, chopped
• filé gumbo powder
• 2 c dry rice (for 4 cups cooked)

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Heat 2 tbsp oil and add the thighs, browning well and turning to brown the other side. Remove to a separate plate.
2. Add the trinity: onions, bell peppers and celery, reducing heat to medium and sauteing until fairly softened.
3. Add the seasonings, garlic and tomatoes, and bay leaves. Return the chicken to the pot, and cook on a simmer for about 30 minutes until the chicken is done.
4. Remove the chicken pieces to cool.
5. Make the roux: 3 tbsp canola oil and flour in a small pan. Cook while stirring often until it is a medium brown. Set aside.
6. You can cover the pot and let it all sit now until near dinner time. I typically cook what I can in the morning, and stop here.
7. When you are getting ready to eat, turn on the burner and begin reheating the jambalaya. Add your sausage now.
8. Remove the meat from the chicken bones, discard the skin, chop the meat or shred. Return it to the pot now too.
9. When its bubbling, add the roux in chunks and stir to thicken. When it’s all incorporated, then add the shrimp on top and cover for 5 minutes.
10. Serve! Over rice, with the chopped scallions and filé powder on the side

Serves: 6 easily

Related articles

• Shrimp & Andouille Jambalaya (eggandtwinkie.wordpress.com)
• Mardi Gras for Your Mouth: Jambalaya (winemeariver.com)
• Gulf Shrimp Jambalaya (cookingwithkatie.wordpress.com)