Shrimp Scampi

 

Shrimp Scampi
Shrimp Scampi

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shrimp Scampi

Many moons ago I worked in a restaurant where this version of Shrimp Scampi was one of our signature dishes.  It’s fairly easy to prepare and yet makes an exceptionally elegant meal for a special occasion.

No real secrets to this dish, but you do need a fairly good sharp knife, a boning knife works very well. You’ll also need  large shrimp ,U-15 or larger ( the U designation is to indicate the approximate number of shrimp you will get in a pound ). You’ll also, depending on how many people you’ll be serving, need one or more large saute/fry pans with a lid.

For a dinner portion 6-7 U-15 shrimp will suffice , which equates to about half a pound per person.  We usually serve that approximate number with a large baked potato and it does seem to satisfy most people.

The ingredients for the recipe are approximate, we like to serve a lot of extra sauce in a side ramiken with sliced baguette to sop up the sauce.  It’s really all about taste, once you find the perfect proportions for you, you’ll know the taste you want, but you really want the garlic and lemon to stand out.

Ingredients for Shrimp Scampi

This recipe is for four persons and will need two saute pans with lids.

  1. 21-28 U-15 shrimp butterflied and cleaned
  2. 1 1/2 cups butter melted
  3. 6-8 garlic cloves minced
  4. juice of 2-3 lemons
  5. zest of 1 lemon
  6. 5-8 Tbs small capers
  7. 1/4 cup of equal amounts of flavored bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese

Directions for Shrimp Scampi

 In a sauce pan melt the butter with the lemon juice, zest and garlic.  Once all is melted taste, it should have a distinct garlic and lemon taste.

Butterfly and clean the shrimp by standing up on the cutting board and running your knife along the top side of the shell all the way to the tail.  Continue to slice through the shrimp until it will lay flat on the board.  Now under running water clean and devein the shrimp and carefully pull the shrimp away from the shell ( this is a very important step, if you don’t separate the shrimp and the shell they will stick together when cooked) leaving the shrimp and shell attached only at the tail.  Place the shrimp lightly back into the shell.

stand shrimp on cutting board
stand shrimp on cutting board

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

butterfly shrimp until it lays flat
butterfly shrimp until it lays flat

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

separate shrimp from shell leaving only attachment at tail
separate shrimp from shell leaving only attachment at tail

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Once all the  shrimp are prepared, cover and refrigerate until ready to use.

In a small bowl mix equal amount of parmesan cheese and flavored bread crumbs thoroughly.

When you are ready to cook place the shrimp into the saute pan around the outer edge in a single layer with the tails slightly above the rim. Ladle the scampi butter over each of the shrimp in the pan, dividing the sauce equally between the pans you are using, then lightly dust with the parmesan bread crumb mixture.  Sprinkle capers around and then place the lid over the pan so that it traps the tails.  Cook on medium high for 6- 10 minutes until the shrimp are cooked thru.  When the shrimp are done remove the lid baste with the garlic butter and capers, very lightly redust with the Parmesan bread crumbs and plate.  Pour excess scampi butter and capers into ramekins and serve on the side.  Add thinly sliced baguettes to sop up the butter and your all set!

 

Here are a few items to help make this recipe:
Zwilling J.A. Henckels Twin Four Star II 5-1/2-Inch Stainless-Steel Boning Knife
Cuisinart 722-30G Chef’s Classic 12-Inch Skillet with Glass Cover
Prepworks from Progressive International CRR-6 Porcelain Stacking Ramekins, Set of 6

 

The Offical taste Tester
The Offical taste Tester

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oh dear another of those not really for me type dishes, and this one was a party!  Lucky for me the kids don’t like shrimp so I did get a little chicken.  Rule #1 applies.  Every one else seemed to gobble it up, so for them I guess it was OK!

 

Shrimp Scampi
Serves 4
a very elegant main course
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Prep Time
30 min
Cook Time
10 min
Total Time
40 min
Prep Time
30 min
Cook Time
10 min
Total Time
40 min
Ingredients
  1. 21-28 U-15 shrimp butterflied and cleaned
  2. 1 1/2 cups butter melted
  3. 6-8 garlic cloves minced
  4. juice of 2-3 lemons
  5. zest of 1 lemon
  6. 5-8 Tbs small capers
  7. 1/4 cup of equal amounts of flavored bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese
Instructions
  1. In a sauce pan melt the butter with the lemon juice, zest and garlic. Once all is melted taste, it should have a distinct garlic and lemon taste.
  2. Butterfly and clean the shrimp by standing up on the cutting board and running your knife along the top side of the shell all the way to the tail. Continue to slice through the shrimp until it will lay flat on the board. Now under running water clean and devein the shrimp and carefully pull the shrimp away from the shell ( this is a very important step, if you don't separate the tail and the shell they will stick together when cooked) leaving the shrimp and shell attached only at the tail. Place the shrimp lightly back into the shell.
  3. Once all the shrimp are prepared, cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
  4. In a small bowl mix equal amount of parmesan cheese and flavored bread crumbs throuoghly.
  5. When you are ready to cook place the shrimp into the saute pan around the outer edge in a single layer with the tails slightly above the rim. Ladle the scampi butter over each of the shrimp in the pan, dividing the sauce equally between the pans you are using, then lightly dust with the parmesan bread crumb mixture. Sprinkle capers around and then place the lid over the pan so that it traps the tails. Cook on medium high for 6- 10 minutes until the shrimp are cooked thru. When the shrimp are done remove the lid baste with the garlic butter and capers, very lightly redust with the Parmesan bread crumbs and plate. Pour excess scampi butter and capers into ramikins and serve on the side. Add thinly sliced baguettes to sop up the butter and your all set!
Rants Raves and Recipes https://www.rantsravesandrecipes.com/

 

 

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Tuna and Pasta Salad with Tomato and Green Chilies and Olives

Tuna and Pasta salad
Tuna and Pasta salad

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tuna and Pasta Salad with Tomato and Green Chilies and Olives

Another easy to make anytime dish good warm or cold.  Like my other recipe for tuna and pasta you can substitute chicken if you’re not a fish person.  There are no set rules, add items or delete what you don’t like, it’s a recipe not a blueprint for a rocket.  I always keep a number of these items in the larder in case I need to make a quick dish to fill in for lunch or dinner.  Any type of shaped pasta will work elbows, shells, orecchiette, small penne.  The only real musts are make sure you have a good italian dressing ( for this one I like to use Wishbone).

Ingredients for Tuna and Pasta Salad

  1. 1 -2 large cans Tuna or Chicken
  2. 1 red onion diced
  3. 1 small can green chilies diced
  4. 1 cup green olives chopped
  5. 1-2 tomatoes diced or 1 can diced tomatoes drained
  6. 1 recipe of Good Seasons Italian Dressing
  7. salt and pepper to taste
  8. Parmesan cheese to taste (optional)
  9. 1 box shaped pasta

Directions for Tuna and Pasta salad

Boil the pasta in salted water, once done, drain.

Prepare all the rest of the ingredients and putting the pasta into a large bowl to mix, add the rest of the ingredients and combine thoroughly. If making it ahead of time make sure you have extra dressing to moisten the pasta before serving.

 

Here are a few items to help make this recipe:
New Professional Commercial Grade 12 QT (Quart) Heavy-Gauge Stainless Steel Stock Pot, 3-Ply Clad Base, Induction Ready, With Lid Cover NSF Certified Item
Good Seasons Salad Dressing & Recipe Kit, Cruet with 2-Count Italian Dressing Mix (Pack of 2)
(Set of 6) Mixing Bowls Standard Weight Stainless Steel *Mirror Finish* ¾, 1½, 3, 4, 5, and 8 Qt.

 

 

The Official                       Taste Tester
The Official Taste Tester

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oh well another of those recipes that really aren’t pup friendly.  Too many onions and spicy stuff for me, I can’t even get a taste, but surprisingly it does smell quite good, so 3 paws, and let’s hope there is steak for dinner!

 

Capture 3a

 

 

 

 

 

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Tuna & Pasta Salad with Tomatoes, Green Chilies and Olives
Serves 6
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Ingredients
  1. 1 -2 large cans Tuna or Chicken
  2. 1 red onion diced
  3. 1 small can green chilies diced
  4. 1 cup green olives chopped
  5. 1-2 tomatoes diced or 1 can diced tomatoes drained
  6. 1 recipe of Good Seasons Italian Dressing
  7. salt and pepper to taste
  8. Parmesan cheese to taste (optional)
  9. 1 box shaped pasta
Instructions
  1. Boil the pasta in salted water, once done drain.
  2. Prepare all the rest of the ingredients and putting the pasta into a large bowl to mix, add the rest of the ingredients and combine thoroughly.
Notes
  1. You can substitute chicken if you don't like tuna. If making ahead of time have extra dressing to moisten the pasta before serving.
Rants Raves and Recipes https://www.rantsravesandrecipes.com/

 

 

 

 

Smoked Scottish Salmon Christmas Tree Hors D’Oeuvre

Smoked Salmon Christmas Trees
Smoked Salmon Christmas Trees

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Smoked Scottish Salmon Christmas Tree Hors D’Oeuvre

Going through old photos we found a number of old recipe shots from parties and dinners long ago.  This one was a huge hit at one of the Christmas parties we held.  Took a bit of work but they came out great.

Ingredients for Smoked Salmon Hors D’Oeuvre

  1. Smoked Scottish Salmon thinly sliced
  2. Onion (red or white) very thinly sliced
  3. cream cheese softened (Whipped preferred)
  4. capers
  5. diced pimento
  6. thinly sliced pumpernickel bread

Directions for Hors D’Oeuvre

For the trees

Take the pumpernickel bread and using a Christmas Tree cookie cutter cut out as many trees as you are going to be making.  Spread a very thin layer of cream cheese onto one side of the trees.  Using an aspic cutter star shaped cut stars or what ever other design you want out of the leftover pieces of pumpernickel.

Take the Salmon and lay it out flat and using the same cookie cutter , cut tree shapes of salmon and place onto the cream cheese side of the pumpernickel.  Take left over pieces of salmon and group into rectangles slightly larger than the tree and cut out and using  spatula place onto pumpernickel. *

Now taking the thinly sliced onion crisscross it down the tree to resemble garland.  Place a few capers and pimento to resemble decorations, and place the star shaped bread at the top of the tree.  Arrange on a platter to serve.

For Wreaths

Using wreath cookie cutter, cut out the pumpernickel bread,  layer with salmon or spread cream cheese or  a pâté  and decorate.  Use small aspic apostrophe cutter to make the bows.  For a more decorative touch pipe the pâté onto wreaths and then decorate.

 

IMG_0002

 

 

 

 

 

 

*Note that salmon doesn’t have to be all in one piece, You could also make a pâté to spread on the pumpernickel out of the salmon and cream cheese, to save time..  It doesn’t even have to be salmon you can alternate with a dill cream cheese spread or really anything else you can think of or any shape you want ie: round or bell shaped cookie cutters etc. and decorate as Christmas balls.  You can also add fresh chopped dill to the cream cheese to spread under the salmon or any other spice you think might compliment it.

Here are a few items to help make this recipe:
Wilton Holiday 18 pc Metal Cookie Cutter Set #2308-1132
Sterlingcraft Oblong Serving Tray

 

 

The Official Taste Tester
The Official Taste Tester

 

 

 

 

 

 

Although this was way before my time it certainly sounds like a very interesting dish, Anything “Scottish” has got to be good!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 If you enjoy our site and are thinking of purchasing anything from Amazon, please use the link to Amazon from our site.  It doesn’t cost you anything and we profit from the ads and purchases .  

 Please help us keep our blog going by letting your friends know we’re here and by checking out the links on our front page.

  copyright © rantsravesandrecipes 2014 all rights reserved