Asian flavors · Fish · Whole30 compliant

Stir-fried sesame shrimp and spinach

More clean-eating recipes, this one from Martha Rose Shulman

The classic Chinese way to clean shrimp and ensure a succulent flavor and crisp texture is to use a combination of salt and water, either dousing the shrimp in two rinses of heavily salted water or rubbing the shrimp with salt, then rinsing with water. I recommend bunch spinach for this; you don’t have to stem it, just cut away the base of the leaves and rinse well.

Screen Shot 2019-01-05 at 12.53.36 PM

1lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined
Salt to taste
⅛ tsp sugar (leave out if on Whole 30)
2 tbsp light sesame oil
1 tbsp minced ginger
1 tbsp minced garlic
¼ to ½ tsp crumbled dried red chili
2 tbsp sesame seeds
1 generous bunch spinach (about 1 pound), stems trimmed at the end, rinsed in 2 changes water
2 tsp dark sesame oil

Place the shrimp in a large colander and rinse with water. Sprinkle generously with salt and toss together for about a minute. Rinse with water and repeat. After rinsing one more time, drain on paper towels. Pat dry with more paper towels.

Combine 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon salt (to taste) and the sugar in a small bowl and place close to your wok.

Heat a 14-inch flat-bottomed wok over high heat until a drop of water evaporates within a second or two when added to the pan. Swirl in 1 tablespoon of the oil by adding it to the sides of the pan and swirling the pan, then add the garlic, ginger and chili flakes and stir-fry for no more than 10 seconds. Push to the sides of the pan and add the shrimp in one layer. Let cook undisturbed for 1 minute, then add the remaining oil and stir-fry for 1 minute.

Add the sesame seeds and spinach and stir-fry for 1 minute, until it has begun to wilt but the wilting is still uneven. Add the salt and sugar, sprinkling it evenly over the spinach, and continue to stir-fry until the spinach has wilted but is still bright and the shrimp are cooked through and bright pink, about 2 more minutes. Remove from the heat, drizzle on the sesame oil, toss together and serve, with rice, noodles or other grains.

Fish · Gluten Free · Whole30 compliant

Shrimp in garlicky green sauce

Mark Bittman came up with this super recipe that can serve 4 as a main course or 8 as a starter.
The dish draws its color from parsley and its impact from chilies, scallions, and mostly garlic. (Can’t have too much garlic!)

Shrimp is the perfect candidate for this green sauce: it can withstand high heat, it gives off some juices while it cooks, and its pink hue is absolutely gorgeous when surrounded by the flecks of green.

You can serve this with pasta, rice or bread to mop up the sauce, or just a simple green salad if you’re Paleo/Whole 30.

Screen Shot 2019-01-05 at 12.43.30 PM

6 cloves garlic, peeled
⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil
6 scallions, trimmed and chopped
1 cup parsley, leaves and thin stems
2 pounds shrimp, peeled
Salt and pepper to taste
4 dried chilies or a few pinches of crushed red chili flakes, or to taste
⅓ cup stock (shrimp, fish or chicken) or white wine or water

Heat the oven to 500 degrees.
Combine the garlic and oil in a small food processor and blend until smooth, scraping down sides as necessary. Add the scallions and parsley and pulse until the mixture is minced. Toss with the shrimp, salt, pepper and chilies.
Put shrimp in a large roasting pan. Add the liquid and place the pan in the oven.
Roast, stirring once, until mixture is bubbly and hot, and shrimp all pink, 10 to 15 minutes. Serve.

Appetizers · Do-ahead · Soup

Mexican shrimp cocktail

Another beauty from the food blog, “Spoonforkbacon”

Screen Shot 2018-08-26 at 10.29.16 AM

Makes 4 (6 ounce cups)

1lb peeled, deveined and cooked jumbo shrimp, halved crosswise
1/2 seedless cucumber, chopped
3/4 cup fresh corn kernels (from 1 cob of corn)
1/4 red onion, diced
2 1/2 cups tomato juice (can use a mix of clam juice and tomato juice if preferred)
1/2 cup fresh lime juice (from about 3 limes)
1 large avocado, peeled, seeded and chopped
Salt and pepper to taste
queso fresco for garnish
saltine crackers for serving

Place the shrimp, cucumber, corn, and red onion into a large mixing bowl and toss together.
Pour the tomato juice and lime juice over the shrimp mixture and gently fold together.
Cover and refrigerate mixture for 30 minutes. Fold in the avocado and lightly season with salt and pepper.
Scoop the mixture into 4 cups, spooning any extra liquid over each cup.
Top with a light sprinkle of queso fresco and serve with saltine crackers.