Veracruz-Style Shrimp Delight
Transport your taste buds to the coastal shores of Mexico with this vibrant Veracruz-Style Shrimp Delight. This dish combines the succulent flavors of fresh shrimp with a medley of colorful vegetables, tangy olives, and zesty spices. Inspired by traditional Mexican cookery, the shrimp are quickly sautéed to retain their tenderness and then enveloped in a flavorful tomato sauce simmered with bell peppers, onions, and capers. Perfect as a main course, this dish is typically served alongside rice or crusty bread to soak up the delicious sauce, making it an ideal choice for a delightful family dinner or a festive gathering.
N/A
Servings
N/A
Calories
12
Ingredients
Ingredients
fresh medium shrimp
1 lb (peeled and deveined)
green bell pepper
1 large (cut into strips)
vegetable oil
1 tablespoon (for sautéing)
onion
1 small (chopped)
tomatoes
5 small (about 1-1/4 lb) (peeled and chopped)
pimento stuffed olives
12 whole
capers
1-1/2 teaspoons
bay leaf
1
sugar
1/2 teaspoon
salt
1/2 teaspoon
vegetable oil
2 tablespoons (for frying shrimp)
lime juice
to taste (freshly squeezed)
Instructions
1
Begin by preparing the bell pepper; cut it into 1-1/2" x 1/2" strips. In a large saucepan, heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil over medium heat.
2
Add the chopped onion and green pepper strips to the pan. Sauté them until the onion is tender and translucent, avoiding browning, approximately 5-7 minutes.
3
Stir in the peeled and chopped tomatoes, whole pimento-stuffed olives, capers, bay leaf, sugar, and salt. Increase the heat to bring the mixture to a boil.
4
Once boiling, reduce the heat, cover the saucepan, and let it simmer for 20 minutes. Taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning with more salt if necessary.
5
While the sauce is simmering, heat 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil in a separate large skillet over medium heat. Add the fresh shrimp to the skillet.
6
Cook the shrimp for about 3 minutes, or until they turn a vibrant pink color. Be careful not to overcook them, as this can cause them to become tough.
7
Sprinkle a few drops of fresh lime juice over the shrimp, then add the simmered sauce mixture to the skillet. Cook and gently stir for an additional 3 to 4 minutes.
8
Remove from heat and serve immediately, garnished with extra lime wedges if desired.
Nutrition Information
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Veracruz-Style Shrimp Delight?
It is a vibrant Mexican-inspired seafood dish featuring shrimp, bell peppers, onions, tomatoes, olives, and capers in a savory sauce.
What kind of shrimp should I use for this recipe?
The recipe calls for 1 pound of fresh medium shrimp that have been peeled and deveined.
How should I cut the green bell pepper?
The green bell pepper should be cut into strips measuring approximately 1-1/2 inches by 1/2 inch.
What is the first step in preparing the sauce?
Begin by heating 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil and sautéing chopped onion and green pepper strips until the onion is tender and translucent.
Which ingredients are added to the sauce after sautéing the onions and peppers?
You should stir in peeled and chopped tomatoes, pimento-stuffed olives, capers, a bay leaf, sugar, and salt.
How long should the tomato sauce mixture simmer?
Once the mixture reaches a boil, reduce the heat and let it simmer, covered, for 20 minutes.
How many tomatoes are needed for this dish?
You will need about 5 small tomatoes, which equals approximately 1-1/4 pounds.
How do I cook the shrimp for this recipe?
In a separate skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil and cook the shrimp for about 3 minutes until they turn pink.
How do I prevent the shrimp from becoming tough?
Be careful not to overcook the shrimp; stop sautéing them as soon as they reach a vibrant pink color.
When should the lime juice be added?
Sprinkle fresh lime juice over the shrimp after they have finished sautéing but before adding the sauce mixture.
What is the final cooking step?
Add the simmered sauce to the shrimp skillet and cook while gently stirring for an additional 3 to 4 minutes.
How should Veracruz-Style Shrimp Delight be served?
Serve it immediately, ideally alongside rice or crusty bread, and garnish with extra lime wedges if desired.
Are the olives used whole or chopped?
The recipe specifies using 12 whole pimento-stuffed olives.
Why is sugar included in the sauce?
A small amount of sugar (1/2 teaspoon) is used to help balance the acidity of the tomatoes and the brine of the olives and capers.
How much oil is used in total for the recipe?
A total of 3 tablespoons of vegetable oil is used: 1 for the sauce and 2 for the shrimp.
What size onion is required?
The recipe calls for one small onion, which should be chopped before sautéing.
Can I use bottled lime juice?
While fresh lime juice is recommended for the best flavor, bottled juice can be used as a substitute.
What type of pan is best for the sauce?
A large saucepan is recommended to accommodate the vegetables and the simmering tomato mixture.
How many capers are needed?
The recipe requires 1-1/2 teaspoons of capers.
Is the dish supposed to be browned?
No, the onion should be sautéed until translucent while avoiding any browning to keep the flavor delicate.
How many servings does this recipe generally provide?
With 1 pound of shrimp and a substantial sauce, it typically serves 3 to 4 people as a main course.
What should I do with the bay leaf?
The bay leaf is simmered with the sauce for flavor, but it should be removed and discarded before serving the dish.
Can I use frozen shrimp for this recipe?
Yes, frozen shrimp can be used as long as they are fully thawed and patted dry before they are added to the skillet.
Is this a healthy recipe?
Yes, it is tagged as healthy as it uses lean protein and a variety of fresh vegetables and spices.
What kind of oil is used for frying?
The recipe specifies vegetable oil, but any neutral cooking oil would work well for this preparation.
How do I peel the tomatoes?
To peel tomatoes easily, you can briefly dip them in boiling water followed by an ice bath, which makes the skin slide off.
What makes the dish 'Veracruz-Style'?
The style is characterized by the combination of Mediterranean ingredients like olives and capers with traditional Mexican tomato and pepper flavors.
Is this recipe considered easy to make?
Yes, it is tagged as an 'easy recipe' and a 'quick meal' suitable for a family dinner.
Should the shrimp be deveined?
Yes, for the best presentation and texture, the shrimp should be both peeled and deveined.
Can I adjust the salt level?
Yes, the instructions suggest tasting the sauce after simmering for 20 minutes and adjusting the salt if necessary.