Monday, December 19, 2011

SHRIMP OMELET WITH HOT GLAZED FRUIT

We’re in a supermarket walking through the frozen seafood section where my eyes view a package of cooked, peeled and deveined shrimp. I mutter disdainfully “who would want that?” The tipster counters derisively: “who wouldn’t; it’s cooked, peeled and deveined and all the work is done for you.”  I retort that the head and shells are where the flavour lies. You can make a wonderful stock with them, or at least boil the headless shrimp in the shells, otherwise the shrimp don’t have much taste. I know that you can add zip to precooked shrimp with clam juice but I like using the shells.

My beloved convinces me to purchase a package of the aforementioned crustaceans because they were heavily discounted and I thought I would highlight the taste of the shrimp with a tasty fruit accompaniment. I decided to make a shrimp omelet.

We both agreed that the dish was very tasty in a lip-smacking sort of way. I hope you will try it; it is delicious and easy to prepare because you don’t have to peel and devein the shrimp.

Shrimp Omelet with Hot Glazed Fruit          Serves four

Hot Glazed Fruit

Ingredients

  • 3 cups (750ml) assorted sliced fruit (such as apples, pears, peaches, bananas, mangoes and pineapples, your choice)
  • 4 tablespoons (60ml) butter
  • ¼ cup (50ml) light brown sugar
  • ½ teaspoon (2ml) grated gingerroot
  • ½ teaspoon (2ml) salt
  • 2 tablespoons  (30ml) lemon juice

Method

  • Prepare the fruit, then slice approximately ½ inch (1cm) thick
  • Melt the butter over medium heat in a large skillet
  • Add the next 3 ingredients and stir till sugar melts
  • Add the lemon juice and stir in the fruits
  • Fry, stirring gently for 1 or 2 minutes until fruit is hot and glazed

This will stay warm for at least 30 minutes, giving you ample time to make the omelets.

Shrimp Omelets (4)

Ingredients

6 (90ml) tablespoons butter
1 lb (450gm) small shrimp, cooked, peeled and deveined
1 teaspoon (4 ml) lemon juice
8 large eggs, beaten
¼ cup (50ml) milk
¼ teaspoon (1ml) garam masala (use a commercial product or see below)
½ teaspoon (2ml) salt
¼ teaspoon (1ml) black pepper
Hot glazed fruits

Method

  • Melt 2 (30ml) tablespoons of butter in a small pan or skillet
  • Add the shrimp and sprinkle lemon juice over them
  • Stir quickly just to heat and then remove from fire and keep warm

  • Combine the eggs with the next four ingredients and beat well
  • Melt 1 (15ml) tablespoon of butter in the omelet pan or skillet over high heat
  • Before the butter turns brown, pour in  1/4th of the eggs
  • Let the eggs settle for a few seconds, then gently stir a couple of times with a fork
  • Spoon into the centre of the eggs 2 heaping tablespoons (40ml) of warm shrimp
  • Fold the omelet in half. remove and keep warm on a platter
  • Repeat with the remaining 3 omelets
  • Any remaining shrimp will be used as garnish

Put the omelets and fruit side-by-side on each plate and garnish the omelets with remaining shrimp. If you desire, garnish the fruit with sliced almonds or chopped dates.


Garam masala powder         Makes about ¼ cup (50ml)

1 tablespoon (15ml) cumin seed
1 tablespoon (15ml) cardamom seeds
½ teaspoon (2ml) whole cloves
½ teaspoon (2ml) black peppercorns
2 dried bay leaves
2- 3 inch (8cm) and sticks cinnamon broken into pieces

Heat a 6 inch (15cm) skillet over medium heat. Put the spices in the skillet and stir for 2 minutes.
Listen for crackling sound, they should be a little darker in colour but not burnt
Pour into a bowl and let cool for 5 minutes.
Put the roasted spices in a mortar and pestle or electric spice grinder (clean coffee bean grinder is ideal) and grind until finely textured.
Keep in airtight jar. After about one month, the flavour starts to diminish.
This is also known as Garam Masala (warm mixture).


Enjoy.

28 comments:

Missed Periods said...

I didn't know that the shrimp heads and tails provided the flavor. Now it all makes sense why restaurants leave the tails on. I thought they were just being lazy.

Dawn@Lighten Up! said...

Man, that looks fantastic! I have to say I am a proud purchaser of the lazy shrimp.

anthony stemke said...

MISSED PERIODS: The tails also make a nice presentation.

DAWN@LIGHTEN UP!: It definately is easier. I guess I'm too much old school.

Gail M Baugniet - Author said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Gail M Baugniet - Author said...

What a delicious idea to enhance a shrimp omelet with a serving of glazed fruit.
Anthony, I enjoyed the humor in your take on cooked, peeled and deveined shrimp.

Leovi said...

Great omelet, an omelet and I never imagined, must be very rich. Greetings.

Alex said...

Sounds good, I like the fruit take with the shrimp omelet.

Golden Eagle said...

I love omelet--I've never eaten shrimp, though, that I can think of. This sounds like an interesting recipe!

Misha Gerrick said...

Sounds delicious. I adore shrimp dishes. :-)

anthony stemke said...

GAIL M.: Thank You for your ind words.

LEOVI: Yes, a rich tasting omelet,enhanced by the glazed fruit accompaniment.

ALEX: Thanks, I'm always looking for ways to add fruit to dishes.

MISHA: You will certainly like this one too. Thank You.

Sarah Allen said...

Never a combination I would have expected, but it looks incredible!

Sarah Allen
(my creative writing blog)

Unknown said...

Totally agree with you about using fresh shrimp and the taste of the shells...awesome! but I do fall prey to the cleaned frozen kind once in a way for ease of use... No harm your omelette looks delctably good:)

anthony stemke said...

SARAH: I liked the unusual pairing myself. It's amazing how fruit can be used in so many ways.

MALLI: Yeah, convenience sometimes has a strong pull. But the omelette did have good taste

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

We haven't had omelets in years. Never thought of putting shrimp in them!

Manzanita said...

Here's to lazy shrimp but I see your point. That photo looks fit for a king (or a queen). Your instructions are always wonderful. I need that.

the Junkie book said...

i can't imagine the variety of food you come up with. ahem like real foodies ;p
this reads such a comfort food!

MERRY CHRISTMAS and guess i got to make another round here for your Christmas post...dont wanna miss that!!

Eat To Live said...

I guess I am lazy because I like my shrimp peeled and deveined.

I have made a lot of omlets, but never a shrimp one. They sound wonderful so I am going to make an attempt at this.

anthony stemke said...

ALEX: Omelets are a wonderful food. Endless variations, quick to make, nutritious etc. I wish you would reconsider - but thanks for calling.

MANZANITA: Hi,Thanks for your kind words. Hope you get to enjoy this.

THE JUNKIE BOOK: You will like this. Have a merry happy Christmas.

MY JOURNEY: I wouldn't brand you lazy, choosing peeled and deveined shrimp is just more convenient. Ideally I would prefer peeled and deveined with the shells on the side. You will surely like this as much as me and the Tipster.

Miriam said...

It looks wonderful!!
Happy Holidays :),
Miriam@Meatless Meals For Meat Eaters

Al Penwasser said...

You can hardly ever go wrong with shrimp. Unless you have a seafood allergy. Then, I'll just have yours.

Jayanthy Kumaran said...

wow..yumm...yummm...love the recipe ..n the flavors of it..:)

Tasty Appetite

Carol Pereira said...

another great and healthy recipe by you anthony..slurppp.....thanks for sharing......I Love egg and prawns so am surely going to try it out :)

nutschell said...

My family loves seafood and they do try to suck on the shrimp tails and heads to get all the flavor out--although I don't because I get all itchy. heehee. THanks for sharing the great recipe.
Have the Happiest of Holidays!

nutschell
www.thewritingnut.com

anthony stemke said...

MIRIAM: Thank You. Happy Holidays to you.

AL PENWASSER: Sorry, I don't have any seafood allergy.

JAY: We enjoy this,The taste is wonderful.

CAYSERA: You will definately love this.

NUTSCHELL: Thany you writing nut, I'm glad you like it.
May your holidays be blessed.

Sarah Naveen said...

Shrimp omelet sounds totally awesome


Merry Christmas !

anthony stemke said...

SARAH: Thank You Sarah.

Merry Christmas!

Alexis AKA MOM said...

My mom loves Shrimp, I'll have to pass it this on! Thanks

Merry Christmas :)

anthony stemke said...

ALEXIS: Please do and your mama will think you're really special, or more special than ever.

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