If shrimp recipes are off your radar because they seem too complex, revamp your mindset. By learning the basics of preparation, you can add shrimp recipes to your weekly menu without flinching.
Go beyond opening a box and putting it in the microwave. When you try a simple shrimp scampi recipe at home just once, and your family sits in awe, it will be a short step to adding grilled shrimp recipes or a shrimp pasta recipe. A simple grilled shrimp recipe can bring restaurant fare to the suburban kitchen.
The main ingredient for shrimp recipes can be easily mastered.
All shrimp are not shrimps in size. The colossal tiger shrimp is an eye catching main attraction and contrasts with popcorn and bay shrimp found in tacos and salads. In between are medium pasta shrimp and large shrimp for the well-known shrimp cocktail. Grilled shrimp recipes frequently call for jumbo prawn. When shopping for shrimp and price is a consideration, you will find that larger shrimp cost more per pound.
Across the spectrum, fresh shrimp should be firm, moist, with clear flesh, and devoid of any ammonia odor or black spots on the shell. If your shrimp recipes call for 1 pound of shrimp, you will need 1 ½ pounds of shrimp in the shell. Any connoisseur of shrimp recipes knows that the closer to the source when you buy shrimp, the better the flavor. Frozen shrimp is most common on the market and the same maxims hold true as for all frozen foods. Be sure the product is thoroughly frozen and that there is no freezer burn. Thawing is best accomplished by leaving it in the refrigerator overnight or placing under running cold water. If the shrimp you purchase is previously frozen, the flesh should be firm and with a sheen.
To ready the shrimp for the recipe, you will need to peel and devein it, unless it is preprocessed and these steps have been completed for you. The flavor will suffer however if you do purchase deveined and shelled shrimp. To begin preparing the main ingredient of your shrimp recipes, get a sharp paring knife to begin peeling the shell. A light incision down the back from the head end to the tail end allows the shell to be peeled away, revealing a black vein known as the sand vein. The tip of the knife can be used to remove the vein for discarding.
Then immerse the shrimp in cold water, keeping all the shrimp at the same temperature as you proceed through your catch. It is simple to split the shrimp in half at this point by placing each face down on the cutting board and slicing through. If you are not excited yet, then once you boil, bake, steam, sauté, or broil your batch of seasoned shrimp, you will be. Especially when your weeknight audience cheers when served this classy fare. To be certain of success, never overcook the shrimp, which makes it tough. With delicious shrimp recipes, be ready for applause and roses.
The Best Shrimp and Fish Soup Recipe.
I have been asked many times which one of my great shrimp recipes is my favorite. Ah, how I hate that question! But if someone really needed to have just the one answer then I would say to them:
"If it is summer time, then go for a good shrimp salad recipe. If, it is a cold day or winter time, then definitely try this shrimp and fish soup recipe as it is the best I have ever tasted in my entire life."
There is a whole history surrounding this particular shrimp recipe. Not long ago I really fancied having a home made style shrimp soup. I remember enjoying it so much when I went to visit my grandmother in Spain; she used to be famous in the village for her shrimp recipes! I wanted my grandma to tell me the secret to her style of cooking. Little I knew at the time I could actually beat her with the final results, as I had been experimenting myself with different shrimp recipes for a long time.
I sure got my grandmother to tell me about her secret ingredients over the phone - alongside many other shrimp recipes I always wanted her to pass on to me. Now, my grandma comes from a very particular little island near North Africa, so I thought to myself: if I combine this shrimp and fish soup recipe with the famous Spanish fish soup I am bound to come up with something really spectacular... And I surely did.
Here are the results. Just try for yourself. You will not be disappointed.
Ingredients:
100 grams uncooked shrimp
2 fresh cod fillets
120 grams belly of pork cut in small pieces
5 good quality potatoes cut into small to medium pieces
A handful of frozen garden peas
1 medium chopped onion
1 tsp smoked paprika
2 ripe tomatoes
1 bay leaf
1 tbsp virgin olive oil
2 chopped garlic cloves
A handful chopped parsley
Salt and pepper
- Boil the shrimp in a pan until the shells turn pink and place on a separate bowl. Peel accordingly. Dry the cod fillets with kitchen towel to get rid of any moist.
- Put a frying pan on medium heat and add the olive oil. Place the cod fillets in the pan with salt and pepper and pan-fry for two minutes on each side. Put the fillets on the side next to the peeled shrimp.
- Add the garlic, onion, tomatoes and belly of pork to the frying pan. Cook for one minute or until the belly of pork releases the fat. Keep on the side.
- Place a medium size pan with 2 litres of water on high heat. Add the bay leaf, parsley and paprika. Turn the heat down when it starts to boil.
- Add the fried belly of pork and the rest of the ingredients to the boiling water together with the potatoes. Boil for a further half an hour.
- Add the frozen peas
- Cut the cod fillets in big chunks and add to the mix. Keep boiling until the potatoes are cooked. Take off the stove and add the peeled shrimp.
- Salt and pepper to taste.
When it comes to fish and shrimp recipes, it doesn't get any better than this. The soup should have a thick consistency but still enough broth to be served with a ladle. Garnish with fresh parsley. Enjoy, and don't forget to tell your friends and family where you get your shrimp recipes from!
- Expert Sophia Truman has contributed with tips and ideas to some great articles on delicious shrimp recipes. Be sure to check them out!
Tags:
cocktail, cod fillets, delicious shrimp recipes, fish soup, garlic, grilled shrimp, onion, salad, secret ingredients, shrimp pasta, shrimp recipes, shrimp scampi recipe, tiger shrimp, tomatoes
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