Besar Shrimp Skewers
- Details
To celebrate the last gasp of summer, and the upcoming release of World Spice at Home, enjoy another sneak peek from the book!
The combination of exotic spices on seafood served with pineapple will transport you straight to the tropics. The bright layers of citrus and spice blend perfectly into the coconut oil and onto the shrimp. If you don’t have time to skewer, just add the shrimp and pineapple to your indoor grill pan and serve on a platter with toothpicks. You can also turn this into a main dish by serving with steamed or grilled vegetables and rice.
Besar Shrimp Skewers
Ingredients
For the marinade:
- ¼ cup coconut or extra-virgin olive oil
- ¼ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons ground Besar
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1 teaspoon Hungarian paprika
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
For the shrimp:
- 24 extra-large or large shrimp, peeled and deveined, tails intact
- 12 (6-inch) bamboo skewers
- 1 ripe pineapple
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, for brushing
- 2 teaspoons thyme, for garnish
Flavor Notes:
- Either Tikka Masala or Kashmiri Curry can be substituted for the besar to make this recipe with different flavors, or try orange juice and zest in place of the lemon. Add ½ teaspoon turmeric to the marinade if you want the prawns to have a brighter yellow color.
Instructions
- To make the marinade, melt the coconut oil in a small pan and allow it to cool to room temperature. In a large bowl, combine the lemon juice, garlic, Besar, lemon zest, paprika, and salt, and whisk well. Slowly add the oil whisking to combine. Add the shrimp and gently toss to coat. Cover and place in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
- Meanwhile, soak the skewers in water, placing a small plate directly on top of them to keep them completely submerged. Soak for about 20 minutes.
- Cut the top and bottom off the pineapple and remove the rind. Halve the pineapple; cut one half into small wedges or 3- to 4-inch cubes. Cut the other half into larger wedges or half rings for serving.
- Remove the skewers from the water. Thread a shrimp onto a skewer through the tail, then through the top. Push the shrimp down toward the bottom, leaving enough room to grasp the skewer. Add a pineapple cube and then another shrimp. Place the skewer on a baking sheet. Repeat with the rest of the shrimp and pineapple. Add any extra pineapple to the skewers. Brush the pineapple cubes with a little olive oil.
- Heat an outdoor grill or indoor grill pan to medium-high heat. Cook the skewers for 3 to 4 minutes per side. Brush them with any extra marinade. Transfer to a platter, sprinkle with thyme, and serve with the pineapple wedges.
Curried Roasted Cauliflower
Here at World Spice Merchants, we have some “tried and true” cookbooks that we can’t do without. This recipe for Curried Roasted Cauliflower comes from The Side Dish Handbook by Tori Ritchie, our November Cookbook Club …
Southern-Style Pork Vindaloo and Green Bean Verakka with Cardamom Cornbread
If you’ve never had vindaloo, you don’t know what you’re missing. From My Two Souths and Chef Asha Gomez, we get this recipe for a Southern-Style Pork Vindaloo and Green Bean Verakka with Cardamom Cornbread. Tangy, …
Turmeric Tropical Smoothie
This simple combination highlights the flavor of turmeric with tropical fruit and is a wonderful base smoothie that you can enjoy as-is or add-on to. It boasts a healthy dose of turmeric! Turmeric Tropical Smoothie Ingredients …
Chole
Our July Cookbook Club selection is Chai, Chaat & Chutney: a street food tour through India, and we’ve been looking forward to it ever since we heard that author Chetna Makan was coming out with …
Mary’s Salsa Roja
This is my Mom’s recipe. The smell of this sauce perfumed my childhood weekly. Native to Chihuahua in Northern Mexico, this salsa roja is the base for many staple dishes in Mexican cuisine. Guajillo chiles …
Leave a Comment