Garlic Shrimp with Sauteed Greens →

Garlic Shrimp (Gambas al Ajo) is one of my favorite Spanish tapas. Paired with sauteed bitter greens or baby spinach and pine nuts, it's a delicious light meal you can have on the table in less than a half-hour. Place a couple of shrimp on a small mound of greens and serve as the first course to a larger meal. Add a thin pasta like Capellini, tossed with the sumptuous garlicky-sherry-olive oil sauce, topped with the shrimp and the sauteed greens on the side for a more substantial meal. As an appetizer, the shrimp can be served warm or at room temperature. Don’t forget the crusty bread to dip in the rich spicy sauce. Buen provecho! 

Serves 4 as a light meal or 6-8 appetizers
Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup olive oil

• 4 cloves garlic, cut into thin slices

• 1 bay leaf

• 1/4 teaspoon dried red pepper flakes

• 1 pound large shrimp, shelled

• 1 1/4 teaspoons salt

• 1/4 teaspoon fresh-ground black pepper

• 3 tablespoons dry sherry

• 2 tablespoons lemon juice

• 3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

Preparation:

1. In a large frying pan, heat the oil over moderate heat. Add the garlic, bay leaf, and red pepper flakes and cook for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.

2. Add the shrimp, salt, and black pepper to the pan and stir to combine. Cook, stirring occasionally until the shrimp are just done, 4 to 5 minutes.

3. Stir in the sherry, lemon juice, and parsley.

FISH ALTERNATIVES: Squid would be delicious with the garlic sauce. Cook it quickly (for about two minutes), or it will become tough and rubbery. Sea scallops are another alternative; cook them for about two minutes per side, without stirring, so they brown nicely.

Wine pair: sauvignon blanc, rosé, Vermentino, or an albariño would work nicely.

Adapted from: https://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/shrimp-in-garlic-sauce

Grilled Shrimp →

This savory, flavorful grilled shrimp recipe is adapted from the baked Spicy Cajun Shrimp recipe on this site. Serve the grilled shrimp with refreshing Water Melon Salsa and marinated grilled veggies. Summertime and the grillin’ is easy!

Serves 4
Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup olive oil

• 1 tablespoon Cajun or Creole seasoning (this yields a mildly spicy marinade)

• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (or cilantro)

• 1 teaspoon minced serrano or jalapeño chile

• 1 tablespoon honey

• 1 tablespoon soy sauce

• 1 pound uncooked large shrimp, shelled, deveined

• lemon wedges (optional)

Preparation:

1. Combine the first 7 ingredients in a baking dish. Add shrimp and toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour.

2. While the shrimp are marinating, soak some bamboo skewers (figure about 4-5 shrimp per skewer)

3. Preheat your grill while you thread the shrimp on the skewers by piercing through the head end and through the tail end.

4. Oil the grill grates and grill the shrimp 2 minutes per side.

Adapted from: https://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/spicy-baked-shrimp