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Menu Plan for Summer II: Week 11, Day 1
Barbecued Shrimp
Spanish Couscous
Green Beans with Prosciutto and Garlic Chips
Cooking time: 35 minutes Cooking schedule: see below for instructions
Dinner with a Spanish influence. Serve a chilled Rosado... Of course, in Spain the Gambas (shrimp) would be cooked on a slate tile, with the heads on (the best part) and dinner would be at midnight....
Barbecued Shrimp (Prawns)
Total time: 15 minutes, longer if you have to clean the shrimp
Shrimp cook very quickly on the barbecue grill so be careful not to overcook, lest they be dry. They should just curl and be opaque. The marinade helps retain moisture. We cook them on a silicone grill mat, but a mesh pan will work, as well.... or skewers.
Ingredients:
- 12oz (360gr) large shrimp (prawns)
- 3 cloves garlic
- 2 tbs olive oil
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 1 tbs soy sauce
- 1 tbs Balsamic wine vinegar
- 1 tbs molasses
- 1/2 tsp dry mustard
Instructions:
- Clean shrimp if needed, if not just rinse and let drain.
- Finely mince garlic and add to olive oil in medium bowl.
- Add shrimp and toss to coat. Set aside until ready to cook.
- Mix ketchup soy sauce, vinegar, molasses and mustard, whisking well to combine.
- Just before cooking add about half of the barbecue sauce to shrimp and toss well.
- To cook on barbecue either put shrimp on skewers or cook in perforated grill pan or on a mat for 5 - 8 minutes, until done.
- To cook on stove add a little olive oil to a large frying pan and sauté over medium-high heat for 3-5 minutes, until done. Shrimp are done when they curl and turn opaque.
- When done, remove from heat, toss with remaining sauce and serve.
Spanish Couscous
Total time: 15 minutes
Couscous is so flexible, almost any liquid can be used to flavor it. The peppers are not cooked, just warmed with the couscous to soften a bit.
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup (3oz, 90gr) couscous
- 3/4 cup (6oz, 180ml) tomato juice,
- 1/4 cup chopped green pepper about 1/4 average pepper
- 1/4 cup chopped green olives or black olives
- 1 tbs snipped chives substitute 1 tsp dried
- 1 tbs fresh oregano substitute 1 tsp dried
- 2 tsp salad olive oil
Instructions:
- Chop pepper and olives.
- Snip chives and oregano.
- Heat tomato juice to boiling in medium saucepan.
- When juice is hot remove from heat and add peppers, olives and couscous.
- Stir once or twice, cover and let stand for 10 minutes. Do not stir again.
- When time is up add herbs and olive oil to couscous, fluff gently with a fork to combine and serve.
Green Beans with Prosciutto and Garlic Chips
Total time: 20 minutes
I used the flat, Italian beans for this but any tender green bean will work. Garlic chips are not as strong as you might think, and they get lovely golden and crisp. You can just used the garlic-infused oil if you think the chips might be too strong.... but, taste one.... Sage is good with beans, a change from the more traditional savory.
Ingredients:
- 6oz (180gr) green beans
- 2 slices Prosciutto (2oz, 60gr) optional
- 10 - 12 fresh sage leaves substitute 2 tsp dried, rubbed sage
- 4 cloves garlic
- 2 tbs olive oil
Instructions:
- Put an inch of water in the bottom of your steamer and bring to a boil, covered.
- Cut the stem end off of the beans, leave whole, with tail on. Add beans to steamer, cover and steam for 10 minutes.
- Remove beans and place on serving dish.
- While beans steam, peel and slice the garlic cloves as thinly as you can.
- Roughly chop the Prosciutto.
- Heat oil in small skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and fry until golden, turning once, about 5 minutes total.
- Add ham, sage leaves and sauté until starting to crisp, another 3 - 5 minutes.
- To finish: Spoon ham, sage and garlic chips on the beans, then drizzle the oil over all and serve.
Note: If making in advance, when beans are done plunge into cold water to preserve color. Remove and drain. When ready to finish put beans on a baking sheet and into a warm oven, 220F (100C) to warm for 5 - 10 minutes.
Cooking schedule: 35 minutes |
Chop pepper |
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