Shrimp Boil - A One Pot Meal

This is one of my favorite summertime recipes. It's quick and simple, full of local flavors and good for you too! Top it off with an ice cold beer and it's pretty much the perfect meal on a steamy summer evening (or a cool one too)!

My sister is visiting from VA (by way of New London, CT) and brought some shrimp from Captain Scotts Lobster Dock. The corn is "local" from the grocer (which means it's probably from Hadley, MA) and the new potatoes are from the farm stand on Tamarack Road - just around the corner.

Ingredients:
1 lemon, quartered
5 T Cajun seasoning
2 1/2 tsps. cayenne
2 bay leaves
4 garlic cloves
8 small boiling potatoes (about 2")
4 ears of corn, shucked and halved
1 1/2 pounds large shrimp in the shell (but deveined)
1/3 cup ketchup
1/3 cup mayonnaise
1 1/2 T horseradish

Preparation:
Squeeze lemon juice into 4 qt. water in a 6-8 quart pot, then stir in lemon quarters, cajun seasoning, 2 tsp. cayenne, bay leaves, garlic, potatoes, and 2 T salt (omit salt if it is the first ingreident in seasoning).

Bring to a boil, then simmer, partially covered, until potatoes are almost tender, 10-12 minutes.

Increase heat to high, then add corn and simmer, partially covered, 4 minutes.

Stir shrimp and cook until just cooked through, 2-3 minutes.

Meanwhile, stir together ketchup, mayonnaise, horseradish and remaining 1/2 teaspoon cayenne. Drain shrimp, potatoes and corn and serve with sauce.

This recipe from epicurious came to me by way of Cate Robichaud McLean. As you can see, I served this up with a side of snap peas sauteed in a bit of olive oil with a pinch of Borsari seasoning.

Bon Appetit!

Shrimp Egg Rolls and Scallops over Wilted Tatsoi

Shrimp Egg Rolls

Ingredients:

1 lb precooked shrimp, coarsely chopped
1/2 head Chinese cabbage, stems removed and leaves coarsely chopped (I probably should have used a whole head, especially since I have no idea what to do with the other half a head)
1/4 cup shredded carrots
1/4 cup diced water chestnuts
1 radish, cut into small papersticks (probably could have used 2 radishes...I wasn't sure how it would go but threw it in since I had it)
6 ounces baby bella mushrooms, finely diced
3 cloves garlic, finely diced
1 tsp sesame oil
2 tablespoons olive oil
Splash rice wine vinegar
2 Tablespoons soy sauce
2 Tablespoons oyster sauce
Egg Roll wrappers (I used 12 egg roll wrappers...your mileage may vary depending on how stuffed you make your egg rolls)
Vegetable oil for frying

Directions:

Heat the sesame and olive oils in a large skillet over medium high heat (oil amounts are approximate). Saute garlic and mushrooms until slightly tender, about 2 minutes. Add the carrots, water chestnuts, and radish. Saute an additional 2 minutes. Add the Chinese cabbage, rice wine vinegar, soy sauce, and oyster sauce. Stir well until cabbage begins to wilt. Add the shrimp, stir well, then remove from the heat.

Once filling has cooled slightly, fill egg roll wrappers. If you don't know how to do that, no worries. The directions are on the package of egg roll wrappers.

Add about 1/4" oil to a skillet and heat over high heat until a wooden chopstick dipped into the oil causes bubbles to appear. Carefully add egg rolls (there will be spatters unless you're a far better egg roll roller than I am). Turn once the first side has browned. I find it best to use a spatula in one hand and a chopstick in the other to turn the egg rolls. When the other side has browned, remove to paper towel lined plate to drain.

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As if that wasn't enough, I also made:

Pan Seared Scallops over Wilted Tatsoi


The wilted tatsoi was really outstanding. I very loosely followed this recipe, except that I only used tatsoi rather than assorted Asian greens. Also, I only had seasoned rice vinegar (which they say specifically not to use), so I used it and omitted the sugar. I added some garlic, because, come on. How could you not use garlic in this? And I just eyeballed all the ingredient quantities since I wasn't using anywhere near the same quantity of greens. Anyway, it was delicious. I'm so glad we decided to try the tatsoi. We had a choice at our CSA of tatsoi or arugula, and I'm really happy we decide to go with the one we'd never heard of.

For the scallops I tried something a little different from my normal bread-and-fry-in-garlic-butter method I employ for most seafood. We had some lemon thyme that I didn't have any plans for, so I used that as my inspiration. I mean, it wasn't a big stretch to pair lemony flavors with seafood, but anyway :)

Ingredients:

1 lb sea scallops
1/2 teaspoon fresh lemon thyme
1 teaspoon lemon pepper
zest from 1/2 lemon
Oil for frying

Directions:

Rinse scallops in cold water and remove that little tough piece on the side. I don't know what it's called (anyone want to help me out?) It peels right off, though. Gently pat excess water off with paper towel.

Toss scallops with thyme, lemon pepper, and lemon zest until all scallops are lightly coated.

Add enough oil to thinly coat the bottom of a skillet. Heat over high heat. Add scallops (don't overcrowd...do it in two batches if your pan is small). When the bottom of the scallop is lightly seared, turn over and cook the other side until it's seared. I'm hesitant to give cook times as it really depends on the size of your scallops, but it's quick...1 or 2 minutes per side approximately.