Easy Skinny, Spicy, Saucy Shrimp Fusion and a Le Creuset Giveaway!

March 6, 2011 at 6:03 am | Posted in Dinner, Giveaway, Lunch, Pasta, Seafood, Vegetables | 91 Comments
Tags: Fat-Free Feta, Giveaway, Kalamata Olives, Le Creuset Giveaway, Lemon, Orzo, Pace Picante Sauce, Scallions, Shrimp, Skinny Cheese, Tomatoes

It’s very rare that you’ll see something healthy on this blog.  Once in a while, though, I get the urge to post something fat- free, or at least veggie or fruity fresh, low on fat or fat-free.  This is the first time I’m going there.  I mostly eat this way in real life (I’d be six feet under if I ate my blog food on a daily basis), but never thought to post some of my ‘healthier’ creations.  I would say I’m a food ‘everything’ blog, from the fattiest, most gourmet creation you can imagine, to the fattiest, most down home creations you can imagine, BOTH sweet and savory, to well..sort of healthy if the mood strikes, starting now, I guess.  I know shrimp is loaded with cholesterol, but you could substitute other fish.  Regardless, I think this dish is a pretty low-calorie meal.  You be the judge.

Here’s the deal..once in a while companies send me their products to sample and review.  I’m also part of the FoodBuzz Tastemaker’s Program, which is also companies sending out products to sample and review, but through FoodBuzz.  I’m not a ‘reviewer’.  Yes, I can review a product, but I’d much rather create a dish using that product.  I feel that’s the best review you can give a product, especially if your readers would like to try that recipe, and therefore need to purchase the product.  A huge WIN situation for said company, and much more enjoyable for me – I get to create.

Well..I’m way behind on testing these products and developing recipes for them, if I like them (I will never do this if I don’t like the product).  I ended up killing two birds with one stone for this recipe.  Via the FoodBuzz Tastemaker’s Program, I was sent a few jars of Pace Picante Sauce.  Independently, I was sent a Skinny Cheese Cookbook  (head over there and get your own free skinny cheese cookbook – lots of great recipes!) and a bunch of coupons to sample fat free feta and ricotta cheeses, by President, Sorrento and/or Precious.

I once tried this dish of shrimp, tomatoes and feta, by Ellie Krieger, that was pretty tasty and good for me (think it’ll wipe out several quarts of cassoulet fat?)!  I suddenly had a taste bud spark of briny kalamata olives, sweet cilantro and a spicier sauce of tomatoes.  DING DING DING rattled through my head as I ran into my jars of Pace Picante Sauce in the cupboard.  Picante sauce is simply tomatoes with garlic, onions and jalapeno peppers, and according to the Pace people, perfect to cook with.  This was going to be fusion healthy, because I planned to pair up Mexico and Greece for a bounty of flavor profiles.  Salty feta, briny kalamata olives, saucy, spicy tomatoes, and sweet cilantro.  I knew this would taste great with shrimp before I even tried it..and it did.

Why didn’t I add a slice of lemon or some lemon zest to like umm…show it’s a LEMON orzo?

It may not be the prettiest dish, and Foodgawker would probably call these photos dull/unsharp, like they do for 90% of my photos..but trust me, it’s so worth it (UPDATE : They actually accepted one.  Funny, since I think the verrines below were better).  It’s a quick, easy, almost super healthy lunch or dinner.  I say ‘almost’ because I’m sure there’s salt and sugars in the picante sauce that take it just a titch off the super healthy chart.  Then again, I personally took it off the super healthy chart by spooning it on top of lemony-scallion orzo.  Not bad for you, but carbs nonetheless.

Then again, we”re using FAT FREE feta, so that’s got to cancel out something by way of fat, right?  SO, I think that puts this dish at a level I’d call, somewhat super healthy, and even healthier with a green salad in lieu of the orzo..how’s that?   OK, enough with all of this ‘healthy’ rambling..it tastes awesome!!  THIS is what matters the most.  Ease of preparation, quick cooking, and again, it TASTES awesome!  Is this not a Mom’s dream?  A bachelor/bachelorette’s dream?  Wait, anyone can eat and make this, so forget all that..just make it, and you’ll marvel at the flavor explosion that takes place in your mouth – seriously!

I need to interrupt this entry because I have to post this photo.  Don’t worry, I’m NOT cooking them….

Seriously, HOW CUTE ARE THESE BABIES??  Look at the little feeties!  This photo doesn’t belong in a post about food, but I couldn’t resist and had to share.  I want a baby platypus! (pot-bellied pig or baby chick syndrome).

Now back to the dish..

One more thing I need to add – if you use the skinny feta cheese, do NOT add it until the dish comes out of the oven.  Fat-free cheese doesn’t melt well – turns kind of rubbery (it’s the milk fat that makes full fat cheese melt), but raw or slightly melted, you wouldn’t know the difference between full fat and fat-free feta.  Sprinkle a good handful of the fat-free feta on top of the baked shrimp and let it soften as it’s brought to the table.  For full fat feta, add it to the dish  (as shown in the photos, although I used the fat free feta and found out the hard way that it doesn’t cook well) before you put it in the oven and let it melt and bubble away.

Now, the giveaway!!  I have a beautiful, brand new, Le Creuset Stoneware 14-Inch Oval Baking Dish, in Cherry Red up for grabs.  This is not to promote anything – this was given to me and I already have one in blue, so I’d like to give it away to one of you!  Just leave a comment, Tweet it, and maybe a Facebook share and/or like!  I’ll be choosing the winner using random integer one week from today!  Good luck!

Picante Shrimp with Feta and Olives
Adapted from Ellie Krieger, with my revisions
Serves 4
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 medium onion, diced (about 1 1/2 cups)
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 (14.5-ounce) cans of no-salt-added diced tomatoes, with their juices
1 8-ounce jar Pace Picante Sauce
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
1 1/2 pounds large shrimp, peeled and deveined (I leave the tails on..looks prettier)
1/2 cup sliced kalamata olives
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup finely minced fresh cilantro
2/3 cup crumbled President Fat-Free feta cheese (about 3 ounces)

DIRECTIONS:
1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.

2. Heat the oil in an oven proof skillet over a medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring, until softened, about 3 minutes, then add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add the tomatoes and Pace Picante Sauce then bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low and let simmer for about 5 minutes, until the juices and sauce thicken.

3. Remove from the heat. Stir in the parsley, shrimp and season with salt and pepper. IF you’re using full fat feta, sprinkle the feta over the top and bake until the shrimp are cooked through and cheese melts, about 12 minutes. If you’re using Fat-Free Feta, sprinkle it over the top AFTER it bakes in the oven for 12 minutes.

4. Top with chopped cilantro and serve.

Lemony Orzo with Scallions
Recipe from Martha Stewart
Serves 4

1 lemon
coarse salt and ground pepper
1 cup orzo
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 scallions, thinly sliced

DIRECTIONS:
1. Using a vegetable peeler, peel half the lemon (avoiding bitter white pith); thinly slice peel. Squeeze 2 tablespoons juice; set aside.

2. Bring a large saucepan of salted water to a boil. Add orzo and lemon peel. Cook until orzo is al dente, according to package instructions. Drain and return to pot.

3. Add lemon juice, oil, and scallions. Season with salt and pepper; toss to combine.