Fast and Easy. Just the way we like it!
Garlic Shrimp Three Ways: Grilled Shrimp, Shrimp and Noodles and Shrimp Salad
Don’t let the title mislead you if you were hoping to read a story about Alisha’s younger days, you are on the wrong page. This is a recipe for three quick, delicious, and healthy dinners, all of which use the same quick shrimp marinade! I have been tending to lean toward comfort food these last few months (see previous Fried Chicken and Biscuits and Gravy Recipes). The other day I was looking for some shorts to wear and, although I do my kid’s laundry what seems like every hour, it turns out I hadn’t done my own laundry in a few weeks. So, the only thing left in my drawer were my maternity shorts from last summer. (Yes, I still have maternity clothes in my drawer, and probably will until my child is 18, because when do you have time to organize your clothes when you have a newborn/toddler?) I carry most of my weight in my stomach, so I threw those super stretchy mid-section shorts on and it was the most comfortable I have been in months! I’m definitely going to keep those in rotation for days when it is too hot outside to wear my go-to COVID super stretchy leggings.
Anyway, I could stand to eat a little healthier, for no other reason than just so I don’t feel like my torso is going to pop right off of my body when I put anything non-elastic around my waist. This shrimp recipe packs a ton of flavor, is filling because shrimp are high in protein but low in fat and calories, and is very simple to put together. My favorite way to cook them is on the grill, but they are great sautéed or broiled as well. You can serve them with a side of grilled veggies and I love serving them with zoodles if when I am trying to be healthy (but traditional angel hair spaghetti is amazing-- sometimes you just need those carbs!). You can also throw these shrimp on top of a salad with a simple and delicious homemade dressing.
Here is the recipe for the shrimp. Keep reading for two more easy ways to use them in a meal.
Fast and Easy Garlic Shrimp
3-4 Servings
Ingredients:
1 lb raw shrimp, shelled, deveined and tails removed
3 TBS olive oil
6 fresh garlic cloves, minced
1 ½ TBS lemon or lime juice
1 tsp cumin
½ tsp red pepper flakes
½ tsp salt
½ tsp pepper
Directions:
Thaw shrimp if frozen and pat dry with paper towels. Mix olive oil, garlic, lemon or lime juice, cumin, salt, and pepper together in a medium size bowl. Add shrimp and coat evenly. Cover and allow to sit in the refrigerator for at least 20 minutes. While the shrimp are marinating, prep your sides, or prep the ingredients for the meal options below.
Grill Method:
Skewer the shrimp and grill for three minutes each side.
Serve immediately.
Broil Method:
Pour the shrimp with marinade in a foil lined pan and broil for three minutes each side.
Serve immediately.
Sauté Method:
Sauté in a pan over medium heat for about three minutes each side, with marinade.
Serve immediately.
Shrimp and Noodles
3-4 Servings
Ingredients:
1 shallot (or half a red onion),diced
1 red pepper, small diced (about ¼ inch)
1 C corn (frozen or fresh)
2 medium tomatoes, diced
Shredded parmesan cheese for topping
Lemon wedges for serving
1 lb cooked angel hair spaghetti pasta or zoodles
Fast and Easy Garlic Shrimp Recipe
Directions:
Pour marinade and shrimp in a pan and sauté for two minutes on each side. Remove shrimp from pan keeping as much of the marinade in the pan as possible, put shrimp on a plate and set aside. Sauté shallot, red pepper, and corn over medium heat in the marinade for about five minutes. Add shrimp back in and finish cooking for about two more minutes, careful to warm them but not overcook them. Remove from heat and add tomatoes. Serve over pasta or zoodles and top with shredded parmesan cheese and juice from a lemon wedge.
Optional: My husband likes to slice up two links of Jalapeno Cheddar sausages into ¼ inch rounds and sauté with the shallots/red pepper/corn to give this dish a little more substance.
Shrimp Salad
3-4 Servings
Dressing Ingredients:
1 shallot, finely minced
2 TBS apple cider vinegar
1 tsp sugar
½ tsp fine sea salt
1 jalapeno, seeded and finely chopped
2 TBS good quality extra virgin olive oil
Directions:
In a small bowl, whisk together shallot, vinegar, sugar, salt, and jalapeno. Continue to whisk while slowly pouring in the olive oil so it emulsifies with the other ingredients. Set aside.
Salad Ingredients:
2 medium tomatoes, diced
1-2 medium avocados, peeled, seeded, and diced
½ of a 15oz can of black beans
½ C corn (frozen or fresh)
½ C feta cheese
Package of your favorite salad greens (I like arugula, spinach, kale or romaine)
Fast and Easy Garlic Shrimp Recipe
Directions:
In a large bowl, combine greens, tomatoes, avocado, black beans, corn, and feta.
Slowly broil or grill shrimp for three minutes each side and add to the salad. Pour dressing over salad and toss. Serve immediately.
