Since shrimp are so easy to cook, they work perfectly in all kinds of dishes, especially during the warm months of spring and summer. Here, we pickled tender Louisiana shrimp to highlight their sweet flavor and served them with a blend of red quinoa and couscous for some additional protein and fiber.
With minimal cooking time and a punch of citrus flavor, this grain salad is a keeper you’ll come back to again and again.
Pickled Shrimp With Red Quinoa And Couscous Salad
Yields: 4-6 Servings
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons Creole seasoning
- 1½ teaspoons kosher salt, divided
- 1½ pounds peeled and deveined fresh shrimp (tails left on)
- ¾ cup white wine vinegar
- ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon whole black peppercorns
- 1 tablespoon mustard seeds
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper
- ½ fennel bulb, thinly sliced
- 2 shallots, thinly sliced
- 2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
- 2 lemons, sliced and seeded
- ¼ cup loosely packed fresh dill
- Red Quinoa and Couscous Salad (recipe follows)
- Garnish: fennel fronds
Instructions
- Fill a large bowl with ice and water to create an ice bath. Set aside.
- Fill a large Dutch oven or stockpot halfway full with water. Add Creole seasoning and 1 teaspoon salt, and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Add shrimp; cook until just pink, 2 to 3 minutes. Drain shrimp. Immediately transfer to ice water bath to stop the cooking process. Drain shrimp.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together vinegar, oil, peppercorns, mustard seeds, sugar, red pepper, and remaining ½ teaspoon salt. In a large resealable plastic bag, combine shrimp, fennel, shallot, garlic, lemon slices, dill, and vinegar mixture. Seal bag, and refrigerate for at least 8 hours, turning occasionally.
- Serve shrimp over a scoop of Red Quinoa and Couscous Salad. Garnish with fennel fronds, if desired.
Red Quinoa and Couscous Salad
Yields: 5 cups
Ingredients
- 2½ cups water, divided
- ½ cup red quinoa
- 1 cup couscous
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
- In a large saucepan, bring 1 cup water to a boil over medium-high heat. Add quinoa; reduce heat to medium-low. Cover and simmer until quinoa is tender and water has been absorbed, 15 to 20 minutes.
- In another large saucepan, bring remaining 1½ cups water to a boil over medium-high heat. Add couscous; remove from heat. Cover and let stand until couscous is just tender and water has been absorbed, 5 to 7 minutes.
- In a large bowl, combine quinoa and couscous. Add oil, lemon juice, and salt, stirring to combine.
