Shrimps have a very delicate flavor and can be perfectly combined with a wide variety of spices and sauces. Having the advantage of cooking very quickly, they are ideal for a midweek dinner or for any occasion when you need to prepare a quick and simple meal. Shrimps are great boiled, sautéed or grilled.
Ingrediants
- Shrimp
- Waterfall
- Olive oil
- salt
- pepper
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Preparation
Step 1. Choose whether to use them fresh or frozen
Many supermarkets always have both versions available, even of different varieties.
- If you buy fresh ones, the pulp will appear translucent and the shell will be a light gray color. Always check that the shrimp are not leaking fluids.
- Frozen shrimp can be both pre-cooked and raw. In this recipe we will refer to the raw ones.
Step 2. Choose whether to buy pre-cleaned (peeled) or whole shrimp
You can buy them fresh already peeled, otherwise you will have to clean them yourself.
- Shrimps can be peeled both before and after cooking. Some people find cleaning them after cooking is easier; in addition, shrimp cooked in their shells have a tastier pulp.
- To clean the shrimp you simply remove the legs, cut the shell in the abdominal part and remove it with your hands.
- After cleaning them, you can use the scraps to make a great broth.
Step 3. Eliminate the intestines
Do this only after having deprived them of the carapace. It will be much easier if you remove it before cooking the shrimp.
- Use a sharp knife and lightly carve the dorsal part of the animal, along its entire length. You should clearly see the intestinal tract of the shrimp appear as a dark colored filament. Remove it with your fingers, or the tip of the knife, and throw it away.
- The gut of shrimp is entirely edible, but many prefer to eliminate it.
Method 2 of 4: Boil it
Step 1. Prepare the shrimp
Take them out of the refrigerator about 20 minutes before cooking. Rinse them with cold water and put them in a sheltered place at room temperature.
You can boil the shrimp with or without the shell; try both versions and choose the one that suits you the most
Step 2. Take a large pot and fill it with water to completely cover the shrimp
Step 3. Put it on a high heat and bring the water to a boil
Step 4. Add the shrimp, making sure they are all completely submerged in the water
Step 5. Cook for 1-2 minutes
When the water begins to boil slightly again, producing small bubbles on the surface, remove the pot from the heat. Normally this will take 1 or 2 minutes.
Step 6. Cover the pot with the lid and cook the shrimp in the residual heat of the water
Depending on the size of the prawns it will take a cooking time between 5 and 10 minutes. The prawns are cooked when they take on the classic orange color.
Step 7. Drain the shrimp
Use a colander or pasta drainer. Serve them hot.
If you have boiled whole prawns, serve them directly on the table and let your guests clean them; alternatively, clean and serve them ready, just to taste
Method 3 of 4: Stir-fried
Step 1. Prepare the shrimp
Remove them from the refrigerator and rinse them with cold water. Drain them carefully to get rid of excess liquid.
- If you wish, you can clean the shrimp to cook without shell.
- Alternatively, cook them in their shells for a more natural and intense flavor.
Step 2. Take a suitable sized skillet and heat it over medium heat
Add a tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil to grease the bottom of the pan.
Step 3. Pour the shrimp
Try to arrange them in a single layer, avoiding them overlapping.
Step 4. Let them cook for 2-3 minutes; observe the side of pulp in contact with the pan to notice the change in color
Step 5. Turn the shrimp to the other side
Cook for another 2-3 minutes or until all the shrimp have turned a nice orange color. Check that the pulp is dull white and free from translucent areas.
Step 6. Remove the pot from the heat and serve the shrimp to the table
Method 4 of 4: Grilled
Step 1. Prepare the grill
Turn on the barbecue for a fairly high heat intensity.
Step 2. Prepare the shrimp
Remove them from the refrigerator and rinse them with cold water. Drain them carefully to get rid of excess liquid.
Step 3. Prepare shrimp skewers by sticking them into the tail and the thickest part of the pulp behind the head
- You can use metal or wooden skewers. In the second case, soak them in water for 10 minutes before piercing the shrimp. This will prevent the wood from catching fire during cooking.
- If you wish, you can alternate the shrimp using onion slices, peppers or other vegetables of your choice.
Step 4. Grease all the skewers with extra virgin olive oil on both sides
Season them to your taste, with salt and pepper.
Step 5. Place the skewers on the grill
Cook them for 3-4 minutes on each side, turning them only once. The prawns will be cooked when they have taken on a nice orange color, while the pulp has become opaque.
Step 6. Remove the shrimp from the grill, remove the skewers and serve them still hot
Step 7. Finished
Advice
- Do not defrost the shrimp by soaking them in water.
- If you want to defrost the shrimp quickly, dip them still packaged in a large bowl filled with water at room temperature and wait until they are softened. Transfer the shrimp package to the refrigerator to complete defrosting.
- If you use electric plates for cooking, move the pan to a cold surface after cooking, otherwise the residual heat from the plate will continue to cook them.
