Shrimp and Cheesy Grits - Pink Saturday

From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...One of the benefits of having family spread across the country is the opportunity to sample regional foods and meet with like-minded folks who also enjoy the kitchen. Today's recipe is the kidnapped offspring of one that was developed by chef Jon Bonnell for a side dish that was to be served in his Texas restaurant. Under normal circumstances, I would have nothing to do with a dish like this. Years ago, while traveling in the South, I developed an active dislike of grits which appeared, unrequested and unseasoned, on my breakfast plate - over and over again. I equated them with paste. Truth be told, I thought paste had more flavor. At any rate, this past year I was given a copy of Bonnell's book, on the condition I make a version of his shrimp and grits. I should be ashamed I know, but I wanted the book, so my version of shrimp and grits was born. For the uninitiated, grits are coarsely ground dried corn that's served boiled, or boiled and then fried. While they're related to corn meal, they are more coarsely ground. They can be found on the cereal aisles in all large food markets. I've used quick cooking grits in my recipe and my directions are based on those that come on the box of grits I buy. If you make this dish, check the instructions on your box to make sure there are not vastly different from the ones I give here. You may also want to increase the heat by adding more hot pepper sauce. Be careful if you do that. The dish can quickly turn to fire if too much is used. This is a wonderfully easy recipe. It is, unfortunately, high in calories because of the amount of cream used to assemble the dish. While you can cut back to half-and-half, the dish really is not the same. Despite my initial reservations, I've really come to love this dish and serve it as an entree for family and close friends. I think you might like it too. Here's the recipe.

Shrimp with Cheesy Grits...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite inspired by Jon Bonnell

Ingredients:
Grits
1/2 cup chopped yellow onion
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 teaspoon butter
1 teaspoon hot pepper sauce (i.e. Tabasco)
1 cup heavy cream
1 cup chicken stock
1 tablespoon Creole seasoning
1/2 cup quick grits
1/2 cup grated Monterey or Pepper Jack cheese
Shrimp
12 ounces Andouille sausage, cut in 1/2-inch dice
1 teaspoon butter
1 pound large (16 - 20) count shrimp, peeled and deveined
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 teaspoon hot pepper sauce (i.e.Tabasco)
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
1) To make the grits: Melt butter in a medium nonstick skillet set over medium heat. Add onions and saute until soft, about 3 to 5 minutes. Add garlic and saute until fragrant, about 30 seconds longer. Add hot sauce, heavy cream and chicken stock and bring just to a simmer. Whisk in Creole seasoning and grits. Cook, stirring constantly until mixture begins to thicken, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Fold in cheese and let sit, covered, for 5 minutes.
2) To make shrimp: Melt butter in a large nonstick skillet set over medium heat. Add sausage and saute in butter until lightly browned. Add shrimp and cook for two minutes. Pour in cream and add hot sauce. Reduce heat and cook until cream thickens slightly and shrimp is cooked through, about 3 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
3) To serve: Spread grits on a small platter. Pour shrimp and sauce over grits. Yield: 4 servings.

You might also enjoy these recipes:
Blue Corn Muffins - One Perfect Bite
Spoon Bread with Leeks and Gruyere Cheese - One Perfect Bite
Oven Baked Polenta - One Perfect Bite
Garlic Shrimp and Cheddar Grits - A Dose of Frosting
Shrimp and Andouille Sausage - Framed: My Life One Picture at a Time
Grits and Grillades - Deep South Dish

This post is being linked to:
Pink Saturday, sponsored by Beverly at How Sweet the Sound.

Shrimp and Rice Salad with Cucumbers

From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...The heat wave here has broken and we are again enjoying the more temperate weather that this area is known for. It is, in a word, beautiful. The days are pleasantly warm, but once the sun sets we cool down quickly. When the temperatures soared, I pulled out some of the recipes I used when we were living in Illinois and New Jersey. Summers in both areas could be unpleasantly warm, and this recipe and others like it were a godsend on hot nights when I was working. I should be ashamed to admit it, but when this was on the menu, I'd stop to pick up steamed shrimp and carry-out rice to make short work of the meal. Once home, I spread the rice on a cookie sheet and put it in the freezer for a quick cool down. It took all of five minutes to make the dressing and once it was done, I'd combine it with shrimp, cucumbers and rice and give it all a good toss. The salad went back into the freezer for another half hour to chill a bit more before before serving. It was a light, easy and delicious meal for blistering summer nights. It still is. While it's not necessary, I try to use day old rice to make this salad. The rice has more substance and holds it shape better than fresh rice when tossed. I'm not a fan of mayonnaise, so I've dressed the salad with oil and vinegar to cut back a bit on calories. I also use garden cucumbers, but remove the seeds before chopping and adding to the salad. The recipe can be doubled to feed a crowd or halved to feed just one or two, and you can, of course, substitute brown rice for white. I think you will like this easy summer entree. Here's the recipe.

Shrimp and Rice Salad with Cucumbers...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite

Ingredients:
2 cups cooked white or brown rice
1/4 cup finely chopped shallots or red onion
1 large cucumber, peeled, seeded and chopped
1 pound cooked shrimps, shelled, deveined and cut in half lengthwise
Dressing
Juice and julienned strips of peel from 1 lemon
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
2 teaspoons red wine vinegar
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley

Directions:
1) Place rice, shallots, cucumber, shrimp and lemon zest in a large bowl. Toss to combine.
2) Mash garlic and salt in bottom of a small bowl. Add mustard, lemon juice, vinegar and oil. Whisk to combine.
3) Pour dressings over salad and toss gently to mix. Add pepper and parsley and toss again. Chill slightly. Yield: 4 servings.

You might also enjoy these recipes:
Thai Tuna Salad - One Perfect Bite
Asian Chicken or Shrimp Salad - One Perfect Bite
Curried Turkey Salad - One Perfect Bite
Grilled Chicken Salad with Spicy Pineapple Dressing - For the Love of Cooking
Thai Beef Salad - The Cooking Addicts
Shrimp Salad with Lime Vinaigrette - Sauce and Sensibility

Chili Los Mariscos

From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...This chili is a great way to use frozen shrimp and scallops. In the grand scheme of things, it's not hard to do and its a great way to waken tired taste buds. I am always leery of recipes that put delicate seafood in heavy or spicy sauces that are bound to overwhelm its lovely briney taste. This is a mild chili and you can add heat using pepper flakes, cayenne pepper, hot sauce or chipotles in adobo sauce. I prefer to use red pepper flakes or a bit of mashed chipotles in this dish. There is a harshness to cayenne and hot sauce that I find unpleasant when used with seafood. There is a bit of chopping and some wait time required to make this dish. The fish is marinated in a seviche type dressing for about an hour. While it stews the chili in which the fish will cook can be made. Any type of firm fleshed fish can be used to make this dish. I prefer to use shrimp and scallops because I love their texture. The only trick to making this dish work is to have the vegetables and seafood in pieces that are approximately the same size to ensure even cooking. I serve this over a mound of white or yellow rice in shallow soup bowls. I think you'll like this dish. Here's the recipe.

Chili Los Mariscos...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite

Ingredients:
1/2 pound large raw shrimp, shelled and deveined
1/2 pound sea scallops
2 limes, peeled and thinly sliced
1 tablespoon + 1/2 teaspoon chili powder, divided use
1 tablespoon + 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin, divided use
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro, divided use
4 teaspoons minced garlic, divided use
1 fresh serrano chile, seeded and finely chopped
1/4 cup vegetable oil, divided use
1 medium onion, coarsely chopped
1 large red bell pepper seeded and roughly chopped
1 yellow bell pepper, seeded and roughly chopped
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
Pinch of cinnamon
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes or 1/2 teaspoon mashed chipotle in adobo sauce
Salt and pepper
1-1/2 cups fish stock
1 (14-oz.) can Mexican-style stewed tomatoes
1 (14-oz.) can red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
2 cups hot cooked rice

Directions:
1) Place shrimp, scallops and lime slices in a large bowl. Add 1/2 teaspoon chile powder, 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin, 2 tablespoon cilantro, 2 teaspoons minced garlic, chopped chile and 2 tablespoons oil and toss to coat. Cover. Let sit at room temperature for one hour. Set aside.
2) Meanwhile, heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet set over medium-high heat until it shimmers. Add onions, reserved 2 teaspoons garlic, red and yellow peppers
and cook over low heat until soft, about 5 minutes. Add remaining 1 tablespoon oil, reserved 1 tablespoon chile powder, reserved 1 tablespoon cumin, cloves, and pepper flakes or mashed chipotle. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Cook for 5 minutes. Add stock and stewed tomatoes and cook, partially covered, for 25 minutes.
3) Add beans to tomato mixture and spoon fish or shell fish on top. Cover and cook for 10 minutes longer, or until fish is cooked through. Divide rice between four bowls. Spoon chili over rice. Sprinkle with remaining cilantro. Yield: 4 servings.

You might also enjoy these recipes:
Camarones a la Mexicana - One Perfect Bite
Chocolate and Black Bean Chili - One Perfect Bite
Vegetable and Black Bean Chili - One Perfect Bite

Shrimp Enchiladas Verde

From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...I'm always on the lookout for meatless meals, especially at this time of year. I came across a recipe for shrimp enchiladas in Family Circle magazine last week. I had homemade salsa and really fresh shrimp in the refrigerator, so there was no reason not to give the recipe a try. It was easy to do and I was really happy with the results. I followed the original recipe to a tee, but I wanted to try it again using frozen shrimp and bottled salsa before I shared it with you. I wanted to make sure that the quality of the the ingredients I had originally used hadn't skewed the results. I made the dish again tonight and can report that the enchiladas are a really nice weekday meal. I don't think they'll ever become anybody last meal request, but you'll be pleased with the results. The enchiladas can be on the table in less than an hour, and most of that hour is cook time. Here's the recipe for shrimp enchiladas with salsa verde.

Shrimp Enchiladas Verde...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite, Coutesy of Family Circle Magazine

Ingredients:
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 medium-size red onion, peeled and thinly sliced
1/2 medium-size green bell pepper, seeded and thinly sliced
1-1/4 pounds medium shrimp, shelled, deveined and cut in half crossways
1 cup frozen corn, thawed
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
8 corn tortillas
1 bottle (16 ounces) tomatillo salsa (such as La Victoria)
3 tablespoons half-and-half
1 cup shredded reduced-fat Monterey Jack cheese

Directions:
1) Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and pepper; cook 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add shrimp; cook an additional 3 minutes, until shrimp is opaque. Stir in corn, 1/4 cup water, chili powder and cumin. Heat through.
2) Heat oven to 375 degrees F. Coat a 11 x 8 x 2-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
3) Wrap four tortillas in damp paper towels. Microwave 30 seconds. Brush one side of each tortilla with salsa. Spoon 1/2 cup shrimp mixture on each. Roll up and place seam-side down in prepared dish. Repeat with remaining tortillas and filling. Top with any extra filling.
4) Mix remaining salsa with half-and-half. Spoon over enchiladas. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake at 375 degrees F, uncovered, for 15 minutes or until bubbly. Yield: 4 servings.

You might also enjoy these recipes:
Camarones a la Mexicana - One Perfect Bite
Thai Tamarind Shrimp - One Perfect Bite
Shrimp Cakes with Sweet and Sour Tomato Sauce - One Perfect Bite

Shrimp Risotto - Daring Bakers - Blue Monday

From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...The March Daring Cooks challenge was hosted by Eleanor of Melbourne Food Geek and Jess of Jess the Baker. They challenged the Daring Cooks to make risotto. While they provided great instructions for the various components of risotto, leeway was also given to use another recipe, as long as the parameters of the challenge were followed. They requested that stock be homemade and the elements of their risotto base be honored. It happens that I have a wonderful risotto recipe that met those requirements. The original recipe came from Bon Appetit magazine a decade ago, and while it has been changed and massaged over the years, that recipe is the inspiration for today's shrimp risotto. If you like shrimp and risotto, I think you'll love this recipe.

Shrimp Risotto...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite, inspired by Bon Appetit magazine

Ingredients:
Shrimp
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 teaspoons minced garlic
1/4 teaspoon dried crushed red pepper
1/2 pound uncooked peeled shrimp deveined and shelled (reserve shells)
1/2 cup vermouth or dry white wine
Shrimp Stock
5 cups chicken broth
1/4 cup white vermouth or dry white wine
Shrimp shells from 1/2 pound shrimp
Risotto
4 tablespoons butter
3/4 cup finely chopped onion
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1-1/2 cups arborio rice
2 tablespoons + 2 teaspoons chopped fresh parsley

Directions:
1) Bring broth, shrimp shells and 1/4 cup vermouth or white wine to a simmer in a medium saucepan. Simmer gently for 15 minutes. Remove shells. Keep stock warm.
2) Warm olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Saute garlic and red pepper flakes until garlic is fragrant. Add shrimp and saute just until shrimp begin to color, about 2 minutes. Add vermouth or white wine and simmer for 2 minutes longer. Drain shrimp reserving liquid. Drain shrimp, reserving cooking liquid.
3) Melt 4 tablespoons butter in heavy large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and saute until limp and a pale golden brown, about 4 minutes. Add garlic and saute until garlic is fragrant. Add rice and stir to coat, about 2 minutes. Add 2 cups broth mixture. Simmer until liquid is absorbed, stirring often. Continue adding broth mixture 1 cup at a time, stirring often and simmering until liquid is absorbed before adding more, about 20 minutes total time. Stir in reserved shrimp cooking liquid. Cook until rice is just tender and mixture is creamy, about 5 minutes longer. Remove from heat.
4) Stir shrimp and 2 tablespoons parsley into risotto. Season risotto to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer to bowls. Sprinkle with 2 teaspoons parsley. Yield 2 to 4 servings.

You might also enjoy these recipes:
Yangzhou Fried Rice - One Perfect Bite
Calas - Sweet Rice Fritters - One Perfect Bite
Warm Asian Style Rice Salad - One Perfect Bite

This post is being linked to:
Smiling Sally - Blue Monday

Shrimp Omelet from the Pearl River Delta - Pink Saturday

From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...Over the years, I've tried at least a thousand recipes and, of that number, only a hundred or so have survived and regularly appear on my table. This homely and unlikely candidate is one of them. The dish comes from Southern China and has several virtues to commend it. It has wonderful flavor and a play of textures that will appeal to almost any palate. It is also easy to prepare. It uses no exotic ingredients and its beautiful play of pink on yellow can be table ready in about 30 minutes. The two primary ingredients are eggs and shrimp. The Chinese rub the shrimp with a paste of cornstarch and salt to whiten them. If you are in a hurry this step can be omitted. The eggs are flavored with a very small amount of sesame oil. The trick to this dish is in the way it is cooked. In China the omelet is cooked in lard. We'll forego that and use canola or peanut oil to cook ours, but you'll need a cup or so of oil. Don't stint on that measure. The shrimp are quickly fried in the oil and then drained. Because they have no coating to absorb the oil, you'll find that almost all the oil remains in the pan after cooking. The shrimp will subltely flavor the oil and add a unique taste to the finished eggs. Omelets made in this fashion are easy to assemble because they are not rolled and require no special techniques to get them from the pan to the table. The eggs are gently cooked in a bit of the flavored oil and as they begin to set the shrimp are added to the pan. The only caution is to make sure you can serve these while they are still hot. This is a lovely, light dish that is perfect for those who avoid meat during the Lenten season. Here's the recipe for this treasure.

Shrimp Omelet from the Pearl River Delta ...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite

Ingredients:
1/2 pound medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon cornstarch
2 scallions (white part only), finely chopped
6 large eggs
3/4 teaspoon salt
Pinch of pepper
1/3 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
1 cup canola or peanut oil for frying

Directions:
1) Place shrimp in a dish with salt and cornstarch. Add a litlle cold water and gently rub shrimp to whiten them. Rinse thoroughly, drain and pat dry.
2) Beat eggs with salt, pepper and sesame oil.
3) Heat oil in a wok or heavy skillet and fry shrimp just until they turn bright pink, about 2 minutes. Remove and drain.
4) Pour off all but two tablespoons of oil. Add scallions and fry just until softened. Add the egg mixture. Cook gently, stirring slowly, until eggs begin to set. Add shrimp and continue to cook over gentle heat until the eggs are just firm. Transfer to a serving plate and serve immediately. Yield: 2 to 3 servings.

You might also enjoy these recipes:
Oven-Baked Scrambled Eggs - One Perfect Bite
Individual Baked Omelets - One Perfect Bite
Tortilla Espanola - One Perfect Bite

This post is being linked to:
Pink Saturday, sponsored by Beverly at How Sweet the Sound

Brined Shrimp with Jalapeño and Garlic - Pink Saturday

From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...I like to serve these shrimp as a prelude to a simple steak or roast dinner. It's not my favorite appetizer, but the jalapeño adds zip and the shrimp adds texture to what could otherwise be a boring meal. The dish also has remarkable pink color. I found the recipe, developed by Melissa Jacobson, at Food and Wine where it received rave reviews. The recipe is simple and straight forward and my only caveat is not to marinate the shrimp for more than two hours. While the shrimp have a nice sweet and spicy flavor, they become too vinegary, for my taste anyway, if allowed to chill for longer than that. This first course can be assembled in 30 minutes, but it does need a full 2 hours to marinate and chill. Here's the recipe for a quick and easy starter.

Brined Shrimp with Jalapeño and Garlic...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite

Ingredients:
1 pound shelled and deveined large shrimp
1 small red onion, halved and thinly sliced
1 jalapeño, thinly sliced crosswise
1 cup red wine vinegar
1/2 cup water
2 tablespoons sugar
3 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed
1 bay leaf
1/2 teaspoon black peppercorns
1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

Directions:
1) In a large pot of boiling salted water, simmer the shrimp until just white throughout, about 2 minutes. Drain and transfer to an 8-by-11-inch glass or ceramic dish. Scatter onion and jalapeño over shrimp.
2) In a small saucepan, combine vinegar, water, sugar, garlic, bay leaf, peppercorns and mustard seeds and bring to a simmer; stir until sugar is dissolved. Pour pickling liquid over shrimp and let cool. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or up to 6 hours. I think 2 hours is plenty.
3) Using a slotted spoon, transfer the shrimp with onion and jalapeño to a medium bowl. Toss with olive oil and salt. Transfer equal portions to 4 individual lettuce lined salad plates. Serve cold. Yield: 4 servings.

This post is being linked to:
Pink Saturday, sponsored by Beverly at How Sweet the Sound

Spiced and Pickled Shrimp

The weather outside is frightful. Come inside and join us by the fire for one of our favorite finger foods - spiced and pickled shrimp.






From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...I love to serve these shrimp to friends at informal gatherings. This dish is one I wish I could claim as my own. I can't. I found the recipe, developed by Peggy Towbridge, at About.com Home Cooking and it's been a favorite of mine ever since. Don't be put off by the ingredient list. Chances are you have everything needed to make these shrimp in your refrigerator or pantry. I've made two slight changes to the original recipe. I think balsamic vinegar muddies the glorious color of this dish, so I've opted to use white wine or white balsamic vinegar instead. I've also added small amounts of red and yellow bell pepper to provide more eye candy in the final presentation. While I've served these shrimp as a first course for an informal dinner, I am more likely to set out bowls of them to entertain a large number of people for cocktails or an open house. When I serve these as finger food, I remove all trace of shell from the shrimp. I know that runs contrary to conventional wisdom, but I hate to see folks trying to balance drinks and plates of discarded shells or toothpicks. Shrimp, once a luxury item, is relatively inexpensive these days. So, you'll be happy to know the recipe can be doubled or tripled for those occasions when you're feeling particularly generous or are feeding the immediate world. I let the shrimp marinate for 24 hours before serving them. Discard uneaten, unrefrigerated shrimp at the end of the evening. The brine used to pickle the shrimp is not strong enough to kill organisms that might developed after the shrimp has been sitting unrefrigerated for several hours. Here's the recipe for a terrific party appetizer.

Spiced and Pickled Shrimp...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite

Ingredients:
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon lemon pepper
1 teaspoon sweet Hungarian paprika
1/4 teaspoon celery seed
Juice of 1 lemon, rinds reserved
2 pounds large or jumbo raw shrimp, peeled and deveined
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup cider vinegar
1/4 cup white balsamic or white wine vinegar
2 tablespoons fresh dill weed, finely chopped OR 2 teaspoons dried
2 cloves garlic, pressed
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon honey
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes or hot sauce to taste
1 small sweet onion, finely sliced
1 small red bell pepper, cored and thinly sliced
1 small yellow pepper, cored and thinly sliced
1 small green bell pepper, cored and thinly sliced

Directions:
1) Combine garlic powder, onion powder, lemon pepper, paprika, and celery seed until mixed.
2) Sprinkle lemon juice over the shrimp, top with the spice mixture, and toss to coat.
3) Place sliced reserved lemon rinds in about 1 inch of water. Cover with a steamer basket. Place spiced shrimp in the basket, cover pot, and gently steam until shrimp is just barely done and opaque, about 2 minutes. Do not overcook or the shrimp will become rubbery. Remove from heat, uncover, and place shrimp in a large bowl of ice to stop cooking.
4) For the marinade, place olive oil, cider vinegar, balsamic vinegar, dill weed, garlic, Dijon mustard, honey, salt, and pepper flakes or hot sauce in a large heavy bag with a zip top. Squish to thoroughly combine.
5) Add drained shrimp, sweet onion, and bell pepper to the marinade in bag. Seal with air in bag and toss to coat. Open bag, squeeze out air, and re-seal. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight. Serve cold. Yield: 12 to 16 appetizer
servings.

This is being linked to:
Outdoor Wednesday - A Southern Daydreamer