Description
Grilled shrimp meet a vibrant tomatillo salsa with grapes and a hint of brandy. A zesty appetizer with a sophisticated kick.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 bunch fresh cilantro
- 1 bunch red seedless grapes, halved
- 6 tomatillos, husked and chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, chopped
- 2 red chili peppers, chopped and seeded
- 1 shallot, chopped
- 1 fresh lime, juiced (reserve about 1 tsp for shrimp)
- 4 tbsp (59 ml) French brandy or cognac
- 1 tsp (5 ml) olive oil
- 1/2 tbsp (7 ml) Cambodian lemongrass curry seasoning
- 1/2 tbsp (7 ml) cumin
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 12 raw colossal shrimp, peeled and deveined, tail on
- 1 tbsp (15 ml) olive oil
- Splash of French brandy
- 1 tsp (15 ml) lime juice
- 1-2 pinches cayenne pepper
- Pinch of salt
- 1 shallot
- 4 skewers
Instructions
- Prepare the Salsa:
- Roughly chop the cilantro, tomatillos, garlic, chili peppers, and shallot.
- In a large food processor, add the chopped produce. If using dry chilies, reconstitute them in warm water until soft.
- Reserve a few halved grapes to add to the processed salsa if desired.
- Slowly add the lime juice, brandy, and olive oil while the processor is on, adding more if needed.
- Add cumin and Cambodian lemongrass curry seasoning, continuing to blend until fully incorporated.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste. Set aside and stir occasionally.
- Prepare the Shrimp:
- Preheat the grill to 375°F (190°C).
- In a large bowl, combine the shrimp, olive oil, brandy, lime juice, cayenne, and salt. Toss until shrimp are well coated.
- Alternate between shrimp and shallot on skewers.
- Grill for about 4-5 minutes on each side or until the shrimp begin to char slightly and turn pink.
Notes
- For a smokier flavor, grill the shrimp over charcoal instead of gas.
- If you don’t have a food processor, finely chop all salsa ingredients by hand.
- To make this a complete meal, serve the shrimp cocktail with crusty bread or grilled vegetables.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: Fusion
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3 shrimp skewers
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 5
- Sodium: 300
- Fat: 15
- Saturated Fat: 4
- Unsaturated Fat: 10
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 10
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 20
- Cholesterol: 150