Firecracker Shrimp

From The Whole Foods Market Cookbook

This shrimp is spicy and vibrantly flavored with a fiery almond pesto made from cilantro, jalapeños and scallions. It's a quick flash in the pan before you're ready to enjoy this delicious dish. Try serving it with steamed basmati rice or Orange Cashew Rice (recipe can be found in the Cookbook

Serves 6

Firecracker Spice Mash

1/3 cup sliced or whole almonds
2 jalapeño peppers, seeded and halved
1 bunch cilantro, stems removed
6 scallions, cut into 2-inch lengths
3 cloves garlic
2 teaspoons cumin
1/8 cup olive oil
1/4 cup water

2 pounds medium to large shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/8 cup lemon juice
sea salt, to taste

Garnish

1 small avocado, thinly sliced
6 sprigs fresh cilantro
6 cherry or grape tomatoes, halved

To prepare the firecracker spice mash, place the almonds, jalapeno peppers, cilantro, scallions, garlic, cumin, olive oil, and water in the bowl of a food processor or in a blender, and blend for 1 minute, until a smooth paste is formed.

Marinate the shrimp in the refrigerator in a covered container for at least 1 hour in the paste.

Heat the olive oil over moderate heat in a large sauté pan. Sauté the shrimp, stirring continuously for 4 minutes, until pink and opaque. Deglaze the pan with the lemon juice, and season with the salt.

Garnish the shrimp with the sliced avocado, cilantro sprigs and the cherry tomato halves.

Nutrition Info

Per Serving: calories 320; calories from fat 160; calories from saturated fat 25; protein 33g; carbohydrate 8g; total fat 18g; saturated fat 2.5g; cholesterol 230 mg; sodium 240 mg; 50% calories from fat

Recipes

Firecracker Shrimp

Serves 6

Nutrition Info