This recipe is inspired by a dish served at one of my favorite local St. Louis restaurants and is the only item on the menu I order when I go there. The combination of the wonderfully briny and beautifully black squid ink pasta, delicate scallops, tender lobster meat, and sweet, succulent prawns immediately draw you in, then you’re surprised with the perfect finish of an added layer of acidity using lemon-infused olive oil, lemon juice, fresh parsley, and just a bit of heat from the chili flakes. Sweet, salty, acidic, and spicy!
Tag Arvhies: Shrimp
Shrimp and Lobster Pot Pie
I was never a huge fan of the vegetables I found in my pot pie when I was a kid, mainly the peas and carrots. However, I absolutely loved, loved, loved the flaky crust, the tender chunks of chicken and the rich, flavorful gravy.
This recipe is a more adult version of my childhood favorite, instead, I used sweet, tender lobster, delicate shrimp and briny crawfish as the proteins, and replaced the chicken broth with clam juice. The clam juice adds another layer of that great briny seafood flavor without it tasting too fishy. And much to my mother’s delight, I now have no qualms eating peas and carrots, in fact, they’re an absolute must for that nostalgic look and flavor.
Coconut-Lime Shrimp with Forbidden Fried Rice
I was first drawn to forbidden rice due to its health benefits and beautiful deep purple hue, but after one bite, I quickly fell in love with its flavor. For those of you who haven’t discovered forbidden rice yet, keep reading!
Thai-Style Mussels and Prawns in Coconut Broth
I had a lot of fun creating this recipe because I had never cooked with fresh coconut before but had always wanted to. I had no idea what to expect as far as the availability of fresh coconuts in St. Louis, so, fortunately, my local grocer sells whole coconuts which have been previously scored. After only a few firm taps with a hammer on the score lines, the shells broke open, and the room was filled with the wonderful aroma of fresh coconut. When I saw the gorgeous interior of the shells, I knew that was going to be the vessel for serving.
The flavors in this dish are classic Thai with an intricate blend of texture, color, strong aromatic components, delicate seafood, and a spicy edge at the finish.
Pepper Shrimp with Pad Thai Salad
Shrimp is one of my favorite seafood proteins. It has a sweet, unique flavor, a gorgeous color when cooked, and is the most versatile seafood ingredient available.
For this recipe, I kept the flavors on the shrimp simple with a touch of salt, and garlic powder, plus a bit more black pepper to pull in the spicy flavors from the pad thai dressing. So what you taste is a perfect ratio of sweet, spicy, crunchy and salty.
Butterflied Cilantro-Lime Baked Shrimp with Salted Margarita Aioli
My favorite cocktail during the summer is a generous pour of silver tequila, fresh lime juice, a pinch of salt and a few ice cubes. It’s a tart drink, but it’s very refreshing. In fact, I just happened to be sipping on one of those delicious drinks while preparing this dish.
I had already planned to use the lime zest and cilantro to mix in with the panko coating but I hadn’t yet decided what to serve with the shrimp. Then I saw the bottle of tequila and the fresh limes and I had an epiphany. I was going to turn my drink into an aioli!
Shrimp Cakes with Papaya and Mango Salsa
I love seafood cakes but find many restaurants add too much breadcrumbs in the mix and they end up dry and closer to a fishy hush puppy. So for this recipe, I chose panko breadcrumbs which is a Japanese-style breadcrumb made from bread without crusts. Using the interior of the dried bread results in airy, large flakes that give fried foods a light, crunchy coating without absorbing as much oil. So when you take your first bite of these shrimp cakes, you’ll taste the sweet, tender shrimp first, not the breading.
Honey and Smoked Chipotle Butter Grilled Shrimp
This week’s tantalizing dish is using the honey and smoked chipotle butter recipe I posted last week, which has become my family’s favorite flavor. Even my daughter, who is picky about eating shrimp, absolutely loved these grilled, glazed beauties. They were tender, sweet, smoky, and had just the right level of spicy.
Bayou Seafood Dinner
I had a craving for some Cajun spiced shrimp last weekend, which quickly evolved into this tasty seafood dish. The sweet, tender shrimp, buttery scallops, and mild, flaky cod picked up all the delicious spices of the smoky Cajun seasonings, and the crisp sweetness of the corn along with the unique flavor and texture of the okra added a bright, crunchy finish.
I loved this meal so much, I was thankful there were leftovers for lunch the next day!
Burning Desire Creole Shrimp and Grits
Looking for something hot and steamy to heat up your Valentine’s Day? How about tender shrimp dusted in Creole seasonings, spicy pan-seared Andouille sausage and sliced fiery jalapeno?
Still not enough heat for you? Add a generous helping of blazing Sriracha and Monterey Jack infused grits to your plate, and get ready to feel the love…and the burn!