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Plum Glazed Shrimp with Pineapple Salsa

Plum Glazed Shrimp with Pineapple Salsa

Skewers of plum glazed shrimp on rice

This ‘Taste of the Tropics’ works all year long. Throw the shrimp on the grill in the summer, or broil when it’s too cold outside, while dosing up on the Vitamin C from the zesty tropical fruit salsa.

 

Plum Glazed Shrimp with Pineapple Salsa

  • 1 1/2 cups Peanut Plum Glaze
  • 3 cups Pineapple Salsa
  • 2 pounds cleaned 16-20 Shrimp, tail on
  • Olive oil
  • Salt and Pepper to Taste
  • Coconut Peanut Rice
  • Cilantro Sprigs

 

Prepare the Peanut Plum Glaze:

  • ¾ cup plum jam
  • ½ cup crunchy natural peanut butter
  • ½ cup fresh orange juice
  • ¼ cup fresh lime juice
  • 2 teaspoons soy sauce
  • 2 teaspoons finely grated fresh ginger
  • 1 teaspoon minced jalapeno

Simmer all ingredients in a saucepan until reduced by about 1/3rd and thickened, about 15 minutes. Set aside and keep warm.
Makes 1 ½ cups

Prepare the Pineapple Salsa:

  • 1 cup peeled, seeded, and diced papaya
  • 1 Tablespoon fresh lime juice
  • 1 cup diced pineapple
  • 1 cup diced mango
  • 1 kiwi, peeled and diced
  • 2 Tablespoons minced red onion
  • 2 Tablespoons minced scallions
  • 1 Tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1 Tablespoon fresh orange juice
  • 1 Tablespoon chopped mint

Combine the papaya with the fresh lime juice. Add the remaining ingredients, except mint, and stir to combine. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Add the mint just before serving.
Makes 3 cups

Prepare the shrimp:

Soak 12 8”-bamboo skewers in water for 15 minutes. Prepare grill or heat broiler.

Thread 3 shrimp per skewer and brush with olive oil. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Cook the shrimp on the grill, until desired doneness, about 2 minutes per side. During the last 30 seconds on each side, brush on the glaze. Transfer to a sheet pan, and brush again with the glaze.

Prepare the Coconut Peanut Rice:                                                           

  • 3 Tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 medium Spanish onion, diced
  • 1 1/2 cups long grain rice, such as Basmati
  • 1 1/2 cups chicken stock
  • 1 ½ cups unsweetened coconut milk
  • Salt and freshly ground pepper
  • ¾ cup chopped scallion
  • ¾ cup toasted coconut flakes
  • 1/3 cup toasted chopped peanuts

Heat the olive oil in a saucepan with a tight fitting lid.

Add the onion and sauté until transparent, about 5 minutes.

Add the rice and stir to coat until the rice turns opaque, about 1 minute. Add the chicken stock and coconut milk and bring to a simmer. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Cover the pan tightly and cook until all liquid is absorbed and the rice is cooked through but not gummy, about 20 minutes.

Fluff the rice with a fork and stir in the scallions, toasted coconut and peanuts. Serve immediately

 

To Serve:

Mound the coconut peanut rice in the center of the plate. Cross two skewers of shrimp on top of the rice. Spoon the pineapple salsa over the shrimp.

Garnish with cilantro sprigs.

Serves 6

Fresh Grape and Plum Stuffed Sweet Potato

Fresh Grape and Plum Stuffed Sweet Potato

stuffed sweetpotatoes with roasted grapes, nuts on a board with a knife; bowl of red and green grapes behind

Many sweet potato recipes use a lot of butter to carry the flavor, but this recipe amplifies the sweetness of the roasted fruit and their juices and a sparing dash of toasted nuts and prosciutto.  The latter two give the dish a rich and nutty /salty surprise that plays off what can sometimes be a cloyingly sweet one note samba.  Not here! Tango for two.

Ingredients

  • 2 large sweet potatoes (approximately 2 pounds)
  • 1 cup grapes
  • 2 plums, chopped
  • 2 Tablespoons firmly packed brown sugar
  • 1 Tablespoon honey
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 Tablespoon slivered almonds, toasted
  • 1 ounce of prosciutto, finely chopped

Directions

Preheat to 425°F.

Wash sweet potatoes and prick gently with fork. Place potatoes on an aluminum foil‐lined baking sheet. Bake for 1 hour to 1 ¼ hour or until tender, or alternatively microwave per the direction of microwave’s manufacturer. When potatoes are tender, remove and cool.

Meanwhile, place grapes on a rimmed non-stick baking sheet, lightly coated with non-stick cooking spray. Bake for about 15 minutes, shaking the pan occasionally to turn the grapes. Add plums to baking sheet; bake 8 minutes longer or until grapes start to shrivel and are lightly browned. Remove from oven, and transfer grapes and plums to a small mixing bowl. Add brown sugar, honey and cinnamon to fruit and stir until brown sugar has dissolved.

Reduce oven temperature to 350°F. When cool enough to handle, cut potatoes in half lengthwise; scoop pulp into a large bowl, and mash by hand or with hand mixer. Fold fruit mixture into potatoes, adding the juices as needed; gently stir until blended. Transfer mixture to a one-quart soufflé dish (or four individual 8-ounce ramekins), lightly coated with non-stick cooking spray. Top with almonds and chopped prosciutto.

Return to oven and bake at 350°F for 15 minutes or until thoroughly heated.

Serves 4-6

Nutrients per serving, based on 4 portions:

144 calories, 3 gms fat, 27 calories from fat, 1 gm saturated fat, 6 mg cholesterol, 157 mg sodium, 2 gms dietary fiber, 4 gms protein.