Cheesy Shrimp Tacos

Encamaronadas

 (Loren’s recipe)
From Season 9, Mexico—One Plate at a Time
Servings: 15 tacos

INGREDIENTS

  • 12ounces (2 medium-small round or 4 or 5 plum) ripe tomatoes, cut into ¼-inch pieces
  • Fresh serrano chiles to taste, (roughly 3 to 5), or even more if you like it really picante), stemmed, seeded if you wish, and finely chopped
  • 1/4cup chopped cilantro, thick bottom stems removed
  • 1large garlic clove, peeled and very finely chopped
  • 1small white onion, finely chopped
  • 1tablespoon Mexican hot sauce (such as Valentina or Tamazula), plus extra for serving
  • 1tablespoon ketchup
  • 2teaspoons fresh lime juice (optional, but you might like the zing it adds)
  • Salt
  • About 1/3cup vegetable oil, divided use
  • 1pound small shrimp, peeled, deveined if you wish, and chopped into pieces a little smaller than ½ inch
  • 15 corn tortillas
  • 8ounces shredded Mexican melting cheese (full-flavored Chihuahua or Jack cheese work best)

INSTRUCTIONS

Making the” salsa. Scoop the tomatoes, chiles, cilantro, garlic and white onion into a bowl and mix well. Stir in the hot sauce, ketchup and optional lime juice. Taste and season with salt, usually about a scant teaspoon.

Making the shrimp filling. Heat a very large (12-inch), heavy skillet—nonstick works really well—over medium-high. Pour in 2 tablespoons of the oil and when it is hot, add the “salsa” vegetables. Cook, stirring regularly, until everything softens together, about 5 minutes. Scoop in the shrimp and stir until they are barely cooked through (they can still be slightly translucent at the center)—about 3 minutes. Scoop the shrimp mixture into a bowl, wash and dry the skillet, and return it to medium heat.

Assembling the encamaronadas. Heavily film the bottom of the skillet with oil. When hot, lay in a tortilla. After a few seconds, flip it, then scatter a couple of tablespoons of shredded cheese over one side, top with a generous tablespoon of the filling. Use tongs to fold the uncovered part of the tortilla over the filling, forming a turnover. Gently press flat. Continue to make encamaronadas in the same fashion until the skillet is full, frying them until crisp—2 to 3 minutes per side. As they become crisp, remove them to a plate lined with paper towels. Serve right away with more Mexican hot sauce.

Julia Child’s Shrimp Quiche or Quiche Aux Crevettes

(note for future – Loren made this)

This recipe comes from Julia Child’s The French Chef Cookbook,

Quiche Aux Crevettes (aka Shrimp Quiche)

For the “quiche”

1 cup grated Swiss Cheese
an 8 inch partially baked pie shell
1 1/4 cup milk
3 eggs
pinch each of pepper and nutmeg

Shrimp

1 12 oz bag of cooked, shelled and “de-tailed” shrimp
2 T butter
salt and pepper
pinch of tarragon
1/3 cup white vermouth (or white wine)
1 T tomato paste
1/4 cup grated Swiss Cheese

Preheat oven to 375 degrees

Melt the butter in a large pan and add the shrimp.  Cook over moderate heat for about 2 minutes.  Season with pepper and tarragon, add the vermouth – boil rapidly until the liquid has evaporated.  Spread the shrimp on the bottom of the pie shell.

Mix together the milk, eggs, cheese and tomato paste.  Pour over the top of the shrimp.  Sprinkle the 1/4 cup of the remaining cheese of the top of the quiche.  Bake for 30 to 40 minutes.

Wonderful with a tossed salad!  ENJOY!!  (or as Julia would say “Bon Appetit!!)

Copycat Cheesecake Factory Bang Bang Chicken and Shrimp

cheesecake-factory-bang-bang-chicken-and-shrimp-2

Serves: 4
Ingredients
Curry Coconut Sauce

  • 1 tsp olive oil
  • 1 tsp sesame oil
  • pinch of crushed red pepper flakes
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 small onion, chopped
  • 1 tsp ginger, minced
  • ½ cup water
  • ½ tsp ground cumin
  • ½ tsp ground coriander
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • ¼ tsp allspice
  • ¼ tsp turmeric
  • 1 can (14 fl oz, or 400 ml) coconut milk
  • 1 medium carrot, julienned
  • 1 small zucchini, julienned
  • ½ cup frozen peas

Peanut Sauce

  • ¼ cup creamy peanut butter
  • 2 tbsp water
  • 1 tbsp sugar
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce, reduced salt
  • 1 tsp rice vinegar
  • 1 tsp lime juice
  • pinch of crushed red pepper flakes

Chicken and Shrimp

  • 1 chicken breast, cut into bite size pieces
  • 10 medium shrimp, shelled
  • ¼ cup cornstarch
  • 2 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 2 cups cooked rice

Garnish

  • ½ cup flaked coconut, toasted
  • ¼ cup peanuts, chopped
  • 2 green onions, julienned or chopped
  • sesame seeds (optional)

Instructions
Chicken and Shrimp

  1. Heat the 2 tbsp of vegetable oil in a large skillet. Season chicken pieces and shrimp generously with salt and pepper. Sprinkle the cornstarch over chicken and shrimp and toss, making sure each piece is fully coated in cornstarch. Add the coated chicken to the skillet and cook for a couple minutes per side, until slightly golden. Remove from skillet and add shrimp. Cook shrimp for a couple minutes until slightly pink and remove from skillet. Set aside.
Peanut Sauce
  1. To make the peanut sauce add all ingredients in a small sauce pan and heat just until the mixture begins to bubble; cover and remove pan from heat.
Coconut Curry
  1. In a medium sauce pan heat the olive oil, sesame oil and crushed red pepper flakes over medium heat. Add chopped onion, garlic and ginger and cook just until onion is translucent. Add spices and water and stir well. Bring to a boil, then add coconut milk and bring the mixture back up to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for about 20 minutes or until sauce thickens. Add julienned carrots and zucchini, then peas. Cook for another 10 minutes or until carrots are tender.
Assemble plates
  1. Divide the rice into 4 plates. Add chicken and shrimp, dividing them equal among the 4 plates. Spoon the coconut curry over chicken and shrimp. Drizzle peanut sauce over the dice. Top with crushed peanuts, sesame seeds if desired, green onions and some of the flaked coconut.