Saturday, September 1, 2012

Tequila Lime Shrimp


...or Sammy Hagar's Cabo Wabo Shrimp.

I know what you must be thinking.  Wait, she's trying to live on a budget.  How can she afford shrimp?

Good question!
Here's the deal: first, shrimp is a splurge for us.  Yes, we have eaten it about 4 times in the last 3 months, but generally I try to keep our servings to 1/4 pound a person.  That means if shrimp is on sale for $7.00 a pound, one serving would be $1.75, which for a splurge, isn't so bad.

Secondly, in the last six weeks, my bosses (they are married to each other) have given us their CSA shares twice because they wouldn't be there to accept the delivery on it.  And I never, ever turn down free food.  So basically that frees up about $50 of my food budget for the last month and a half.   Part of that has gone toward back to school supplies, but I've been able to spend part of that on extras like shrimp.

Thirdly when we do have more expensive foods like shrimp, I serve it with less expensive foods like rice or make a salad with it to keep the total cost per serving down.  With this recipe, I actually served it with corn from my free CSA share, so I ended up making this meal for about $8.00 (not including the tequila) or $2.00 a serving.

I'm not including the cost of the tequila in my figures because I used a bottle of Cabo Wabo that my husband bought about 12 years ago - long before we had money troubles.  He is very stingy with it, so he still has about a quarter of a bottle left.

I've had this recipe for about as long as my husband has had his bottle of Cabo Wabo.  In fact, I would suspect I cut the recipe from a magazine because of my husband's bottle of tequila.  It's a very simple recipe, but written so oddly - I suppose to keep up Sammy Hagar's rocker image - that I kept referring to it to make sure I had it right.  In the instructions, he the recipe says of the shrimp "Zap them fast! Flip them around!" which just cracks me up.

I made this with smaller precooked shrimp because that's what was on sale.  I don't know if the grocery store cooked them too long or if I didn't "zap them fast" enough, but they were a little tough.  Toughness in shrimp is a sure sign of overcooking.  If I had it to do over again, I would have gotten uncooked shrimp and cleaned them myself.  I also made a few minor alterations to the original recipe and I'm going to write out the instructions to be a bit more technical.

Tequila Lime Shrimp

2 tablespoons oil
1 pound medium to large shrimp, peeled and deviened
1/2 cup lime juice
1/2 cup of tequila
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 jalapeno, finely diced
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
salt

Mix all ingredients except oil together in large bowl and let marinate 30 to 60 minutes.

Heat oil in a skillet over medium high heat.  With a slotted spoon, remove shrimp from marinade and add to pan.  Cook until no longer pink, stirring frequently.

Add marinade to the pan and cook until 50% of the liquid evaporates.

Serve over rice or in tortillas.

Serves 4.

18 comments:

  1. Stopping by from Nifty Thrifty! I love shrimp, and have not made it with Tequila, since I love that too this sounds like a great recipe. I also love quick and easy recipes. Sound so good! My fingers are crossed you’ll share your creative inspiration tonight with Sunday’s Best – sharing is a good thing!

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  2. That looks like a yummy recipe. Thanks for sharing it.

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  3. Sounds very yummy! Have to try this, pinning.

    So glad I live in an area where shrimp is cheaper, $5 for a pound of small/medium shrimp, regular price; otherwise we would not have it as often. And for us a pound is two meals since there is just two of us.

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  4. That sounds amazing! Saw your entry on Ms enPlace In the Gumbo and had to come check it out. I need to make this!! :)

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  5. This looks amazing! Thanks so much for sharing at Mealtime Monday!

    Kaylee
    www.couponingncooking.com

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  6. I'm not familiar with this recipe, but I know we'd like it since shrimp is one of our favorites. I like your philosophy of pairing an expensive ingredient with something cheaper to help offset the cost. Thank you for linking up this week.

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  7. That was really nice of your bosses, I sure wouldn't turn it down either. The shrimp look fantastic!

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  8. Tequila and shrimp!! You have my attention!! Sounds yummy!

    Thanks for sharing at Newlyweds Recipe linky. I pinned this recipe, feel free to follow me at http://pinterest.com/newlyweds/

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  9. This dish looks very tasty. Over here from What's Cooking and also a new follower - would like to invite you to come over and do the same. Will be looking forward to check out more recipes... like your blog name too!

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  10. Oh does this ever look tasty! New follower from Weekend Potluck, this looks simply delicious. I'll be browsing around looking at all your other recipes, thanks for sharing! :)

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  11. What a great recipe to prepare... a little tequila for the shrimp, a little tequila for the cook.. and so it goes. Thanks for sharing it on foodie friday.

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  12. Thanks for linking up with us at Foodie Friends Friday, please be sure to place a link from this recipe to us. Looks like something my dh would like.
    Dawn one of the host at FFF and fellow blogger.
    http://spatulasonparade.blogspot.com

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  13. My name is Cindy and I blog over at Vegetarianmamma.com I wanted to invite you to link up your recipe at our Gluten Free Fridays Recipe Link up party! It happens every Friday and we'd love to have you join us with some of your awesome recipes! You can find this week's link up here: http://vegetarianmamma.com/glutenfree-fridays-recipe-party-4/ It doesn't mean that you have to be a gluten free bloggers. If you have some recipes on your blog that are gluten free that counts! :) Many recipes are naturally gluten free.
    Thanks, Cindy :)

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  14. Hi Laura,
    I just love the flavors for this awesome Shrimp! Hope you are having a fabulous weekend and thank you so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday.
    Come Back Soon!
    Miz Helen

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  15. Oh these look so good! Who knew Sammy Hagar could cook! Hope you are having a great weekend.
    Thanks for sharing on Southern Sundays.
    Come back soon!
    Beth

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  16. D, the shrimp lover in our house, would love this recipe. Thanks for sharing on Tout It Tuesday! Hope to see you tomorrow.

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  17. This looks like a great quick meal! Thank you for sharing it last week at All my Bloggy Friends - I can't wait to see what you link up at this week's All my Bloggy Friends!

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  18. This looks scrumptious! I can’t wait to try the recipe. Thanks so much for linking up last week to Creative Thursday. Can’t wait to see what you have for this week’s party! Have a great week.
    Michelle

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