Seafood Recipes Collection (R)

Red−Eye Shrimp and Grits

1 tablespoon olive oil
4 ounces country ham or other smoked ham, chopped
8 ounces sliced fresh mushrooms
1/2 teaspoon seasoning salt
1/2 teaspoon dried minced thyme
1/2 cup chopped green onions
2 teaspoons minced garlic
1 cup strong coffee
1/4 cup sherry
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 teaspoon hot pepper sauce, or to taste
1 pound peeled and deveined medium shrimp
Cooked grits or cheese grits

Sauté ham in olive oil in a large saucepan over medium high heat until golden. Add mushrooms, seasoning salt and thyme and sauté until mushrooms are golden, about 3 to 5 minutes. Add green onions and garlic and sauté 3 minutes more.



Combine coffee, sherry, cornstarch and hot sauce in a small bowl. Add to the sauté pan and bring to a simmer. Add the shrimp and simmer until cooked, about 2 minutes.
Spoon grits onto dinner plates, then divide the red−eye shrimp over the grits. Makes 4 servings.

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Red Snapper Veracruz

2 pounds red snapper fillets
Salt
Pepper
4 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 medium onion, thinly sliced into half slices
1 1/2 pounds red ripe tomatoes, peeled and finely chopped
1 cup water
8 or 9 peppercorns
2 bay leaves
2 garlic cloves, finely mashed

Heat a little oil in a large skillet and sauté the fillets after salting and peppering them lightly. Turn only once and do not overcook. Lay fillets in a large oblong ovenproof dish and set aside.

In a large saucepan heat the 4 tablespoons oil until hot, but not smoking, and sauté the sliced onion 1 minute, until limp but not brown, stirring constantly. Add tomatoes and water, season with salt, and add the peppercorns, bay leaves and garlic. Cook, covered, over medium heat for 5 minutes.

Pour sauce over fish fillets. At this point you can scatter a few stuffed green olives or drained and rinsed capers over the fish. Seal dish in foil. Heat a few minutes in the oven at 325 degrees F before serving.

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Ritzy Shrimp

Large shrimp
1 tube Ritz crackers
Butter
Fresh garlic, minced

Split the shrimp through the shell on the rounded part as you would a lobster. Do not remove the shell. After all shrimp are split, pull to separate the meat from the shell (only pull the meat to the tail), then lay them back in the shell.

Lay the opened shrimp on a baking pan and brush with a mixture of fresh garlic and butter. Crush the Ritz crackers finely. Sprinkle the crackers on the buttered shrimp, then pour more garlic butter over them. You may freeze them at this point or place in the refrigerator. Place the pan in a 400 degree F oven, and bake until the crumbs start to brown.