Living in Southwest Florida has a lot of advantages. One big plus is our year-round access to fresh seafood. The Gulf of Mexico and the waters around Florida produce a bounty of seafood for our restaurants and markets. One item we get to enjoy virtually year-round is locally sourced shrimp. Here are a few ideas of what you can do with this seafood staple.
Shrimp and Beef Tacos
Ingredients:
· 24 ounces Florida beef (tenderloin, sirloin or your favorite cut of beef), cut into 1-inch cubes
· 1 pound large locally sourced shrimp, peeled and deveined with tail on
· 4 large bell peppers (your favorite color), cut into 1-inch squares
· 1 Florida avocado, sliced (for garnish)
· 4 large onions, cut into 1-inch squares
· 16 bamboo skewers (soaked in water for 1 hour) or metal skewers
· Cooking oil spray for grilling
· Sea salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste
· 1 cup Jack cheese, shredded
· 12 corn or flour tortillas
· Hot sauce, to taste
Skewer Marinade and Sauce
· 1/2 cup olive oil
· 2 tablespoons fresh garlic, minced
· 1 teaspoon cumin
· 1 teaspoon chili powder
· 2 tablespoons lime juice
· 1/4 cup fresh cilantro
· Sea salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste
Preparation:
Combine olive oil, garlic, cumin, chili powder, cilantro, and lime juice in a blender and puree until smooth. Taste and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper. Set aside.
Assemble skewers by alternating beef or shrimp, peppers, and onions. Do not put beef and shrimp on the same skewer since they have different cooking times. Cover the skewers with half of the marinade. Reserve the remaining half for sauce. Lightly season the assembled skewers with salt and pepper.
Preheat the grill to medium-high heat. Place beef skewers on the grill; cook to the desired temperature. When done, remove from grill and let rest for 5 minutes. While the beef skewers are resting, place shrimp skewers on the grill and cook until just done.
To serve as tacos, remove meat and vegetables from skewers and place them into corn or flour tortillas. Serve with avocado, shredded cheese, lettuce, and sauce.
Grilled Florida Shrimp with Mango and Sweet Chili Sauce
Ingredients:
· 20 large locally sourced shrimp, peeled and deveined
· 4 Florida mangoes, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
· 1 cup sweet chili sauce
· 1/2 lime, juiced
· 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
· 1 tablespoon fresh mint, chopped fine
· 1/4 cup scallions, sliced fine
· 20 small bamboo skewers
Preparation:
Soak the bamboo skewers in water for at least 1 hour (this reduces the chance of the skewers burning). Combine the sweet chili sauce, lime juice, ginger, and mint in a small bowl. Slice the scallions and set aside.
On a clean surface, place a mango cube in between the tail and top of a shrimp. Insert the bamboo skewer through the shrimp and mango. Repeat the skewering process until all shrimp are skewered and store in the refrigerator until ready to grill.
Preheat a charcoal grill (or indoor grill pan) and cook the shrimp and mango skewers. When the shrimp is close to being cooked through, glaze with the sweet chili sauce. Sprinkle with the sliced scallions and serve.
Florida Orange Glazed Shrimp
Ingredients:
· 1 1/2 pounds locally sourced pink shrimp, peeled and deveined
· 1 teaspoon seseme oil
· 2 cups Florida orange juice
· 1 teaspoon low-sodium soy sauce
· 1 teaspoon hot pepper, finely chopped
· 2 tablespoons parsley, finely chopped
· 1 tablespoon garlic, minced
· Sea salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste
Preparation:
In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook orange juice, soy sauce, sesame oil, and garlic until the liquid is reduced by half. Add pink shrimp and cook for approximately 6 to 8 minutes or until shrimp are opaque in the center and the liquid thickens again. Add the chopped pepper and mix well, then taste and adjust the seasoning as needed. Garnish with chopped parsley and serve immediately.
These are just a few dishes you can prepare using locally sourced shrimp. The Florida Department of Agriculture has other seafood recipes that you may enjoy. The Farmer Joe’s Seafood Department has a wide selection of fresh seafood, just waiting for you. Stop in today and see what we have for you.