Serve family or guests a shrimp dinner that is quick and easy to prepare but will look like you ordered it from a restaurant or hired a personal chef. The shrimp is made in a light, creamy sauce with baby spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, garlic and onion. Ser
2 T. salted butter
6 cloves garlic, finely diced
1 lb. shrimp or prawns, tails on or off
1 small yellow onion, diced
1/2 c. white wine, optional (a light Chardonnay or Pinot Gris , for a sweeter wine, try a Riesling or a Sparkling Moscato)
5 oz. jarred sun-dried tomato strips in oil, drained (reserve 1 t. jarred oil for cooking)
1 3/4 c. Half and Half
salt and pepper, to taste
3 c. baby spinach, washed
2/3 c. freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1 t. cornstarch mixed with 1 T. water, optional
2 t. dried Italian herbs
1 T. fresh parsley, chopped
Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat; melt butter; add garlic; fry until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add shrimp; fry 2 minutes per side, until just cooked through and pink. Transfer to a bowl; set aside.
Saute onion in the butter remaining in the skillet; pour in white wine; allow to reduce to half, while scraping any bits off of the bottom of the skillet. Add sun-dried tomatoes; cook for 1-2 minutes to release their flavors.
Reduce heat to low-medium heat; add the Half and Half; bring to a gentle simmer, while stirring occasionally. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Add spinach leaves; allow to wilt in the sauce; add in the Parmesan cheese. Allow sauce to simmer for a minute until cheese melts in the sauce. For a thicker sauce, add the milk/cornstarch mixture to the center of the skillet; continue to simmer while quickly stirring the mixture through until the sauce thickens. Add the shrimp back into the skillet; sprinkle with the Italian herbs and parsley; stir.
Serve over pasta, rice or steamed vegetables.
4 servings.
*If serving over pasta, add in pasta that has been cooked al dente along with 1/4 c. reserved pasta water into the skillet of shrimp once shrimp is cooked. Gently stir through the sauce until combined. Serve immediately.