Tangy Tomatillo Shrimp

During this holiday season, when you want a “flavor break” and do not want to spend a long time in the kitchen, this is the perfect recipe for a smashing meal

While not officially listed as addictive, tomatillos are. That tangy, penetrating flavor makes any dish a zesty treat. You can pair tomatillos with chiles for intensified, doubled-down heat and flavor. In this recipe, the tomatillos and poblanos are cooked then pureed to forge a sauce.

Sautee some shrimp in butter, then add the spicy sauce, cook briefly until done, and you have a swift, powerful meal. In just minutes.

Yield: serves 4

Ingredients:

3 tablespoons olive oil
1 pound (about 3 to 4) fresh poblano chiles, seeded, ribs removed and roughly chopped
6 garlic cloves, finely minced
1 pound tomatillos, husked, rinsed and quartered
1 ½ teaspoons salt, plus extra for the shrimp
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 pounds large shrimp, peeled and deveined
Freshly ground pepper
4 cups fresh cilantro leaves

Preparation:

Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat for 1 minute. Add the chopped chiles and half of the garlic and cook until the peppers start to soften, about 5 minutes. Add the tomatillos and 1 ½ teaspoons of salt, reduce the heat to medium-low and cook until the tomatillos begin to break down and release some liquid, about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Transfer the tomatillo sauce to your blender, puree, and set aside.

Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the shrimp, season them with some salt and pepper and the remaining chopped garlic. Cook until the garlic becomes fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes, stirring often. Add the tomatillo sauce and simmer until the shrimp are curled and opaque, 1 to 2 minutes. Serve sprinkled with the cilantro.

Tangy Tomatillo Shrimp