Spicy Tamarind Shrimp Recipes

SHRIMP, CILANTRO AND TAMARIND SOUP

Steps:

• Place the shrimp and the water in a medium saucepan. Cook over low heat until the shrimp turns pink, about 10 minutes for fresh shrimp and 15 minutes for frozen. Increase the heat to high, bring the liquid to a boil and immediately remove from heat. Separate the shrimp and the liquid, and reserve both.
• Wipe the saucepan dry with a clean paper towel. Heat the oil in the saucepan over medium. Add the onion and sauté for 3 to 4 minutes until it turns translucent. Add the garlic and sauté for 1 minute. Stir in the tomato paste and cook for another 3 to 4 minutes, until the tomato paste begins to deepen in color. Add the black pepper and tamarind paste, then stir in the reserved cooking liquid and mix until fully combined. Taste and season with salt.
• Increase the heat to high and bring the liquid to a boil. Remove from heat and fold in the reserved shrimp, cilantro and green chile. Serve hot.

GRILLED SHRIMP WITH SPICY TAMARIND DIPPING SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat grill on high. Thread 3 shrimp on each skewer; season with salt and pepper. Dipping sauce: Mix remaining ingredients in a bowl. Grill shrimp until cooked through, about 3 minutes per side. Serve with dipping sauce on the side.

SHRIMP IN SPICY TAMARIND SAUCE

Steps:

• To make the flavoring sauce, in a small bowl, combine the sugar, tamarind liquid, fish sauce, and chile sauce and stir to dissolve the sugar. Because tamarind liquid varies, taste the sauce and adjust the flavors, if necessary. Add extra sugar to reduce tartness, fish sauce for more savory depth, chile sauce for extra heat, or water to dilute.
• Refresh the shrimp by putting them in a colander and tossing them with a liberal amount of salt. Rinse immediately under lots of cold water and press gently to drain well.
• In a wok or large skillet, heat the oil over high heat until hot but not smoking. Add the shallot and garlic and stir-fry for about 30 seconds, or until fragrant. Add the shrimp and stir-fry for about 1 minute, or until they have turned pinkish orange and are half cooked. They will release juice and look shiny.
• Give the flavoring sauce a stir, pour it over the shrimp, and stir to coat the shrimp. Let the sauce come to a vigorous boil, stirring occasionally to keep the elements moving. The sauce will reduce to a thickish consistency in 2 to 3 minutes.
• Transfer the shrimp and sauce to a deep plate or shallow bowl. Garnish with the cilantro and serve immediately.
• Refreshing Peeled Shrimp
• Most shrimp sold in the United States are frozen, so whenever I use peeled raw shrimp in a recipe, I like to return a bit of the sea to them. I do this by tossing the shrimp with a liberal amount of salt, and then immediately rinsing them under cold running water. This simple step gives the shrimp a fresher flavor.

SPICY TAMARIND SHRIMP

Steps:

• Place tamarind in metal bowl; add enough boiling water to cover. Let stand 15 minutes to soften. Drain. Press pulp through sieve, reserving 3 tablespoons strained pulp.
• Using scissors, cut shell of each shrimp all the way to tail end, exposing vein. Remove vein. Loosen shrimp shells but do not remove.
• Mix shallots and garlic in small bowl; set aside 1 tablespoon shallot mixture. Tuck remaining shallot mixture under shrimp shells.
• Mix 3 tablespoons tamarind, broth, fish sauce, wine, and sugar in small bowl. Heat oil in heavy large skillet over high heat. Add reserved 1 tablespoon shallot mixture and onion wedges and sauté 1 minute. Add shrimp and sauté 1 minute. Add tamarind mixture and sauté until shrimp are opaque in center and sauce coats shrimp thickly, about 3 minutes longer. Mix in green onions and chile. Transfer to platter. Sprinkle with cilantro and serve.
• *Available at Asian markets.