Shrimp with tomatoes, fennel, feta, and ouzo is a great way to kick off the weekend. Try it for a Thursday-almost-made-it-to-the-weekend dinner. It’ll seem like you’re already there!

“Talk to your seafood provider about the shrimp and see what he says about the wild versus farmed shrimp. I’m not a big fan of the cheap farmed varieties from Indonesia as their taste is somewhat metallic and their color a suspicious blue. It will cost a few dollars more, but my money is on the wild shrimp as it’s going to taste more like shrimp is supposed to taste not to mention the support for our shrimp fishing industry. Most often you’re ahead of the game to buy shrimp frozen in the one or two-pound bag from the freezer case and just thaw them yourself. Unless you’re at the shore, shrimp has been frozen at least one time already. Wouldn’t you rather receive it flash-frozen from the boat rather than lingeringly thawed for a few days in the cold case?”

– Wild American Shrimp Chef Advocate Carla Snyder

WHAT YOU’LL NEED:

12 oz/350 g, 26-30 shrimp, uncooked, peeled, deveined, tails removed
1 tbsp/30 ml salt plus 1/4 tsp
2 tbsp/30 ml white wine vinegar
2 tbsp/30 ml Ouzo
1 clove garlic, minced
Freshly ground black pepper
3 tbsp/45 ml extra virgin olive oil
2 tsp fresh oregano, minced
2 tsp fresh parsley, minced
1/2 head thinly shaved fennel (use a mandoline if you have one)
20 halved grape tomatoes
2 tsp chopped capers, rinsed
2 handfuls arugula
4 oz/115 g feta cheese, crumbled

DIRECTIONS:

Bring a large pot of water to a boil over medium-high heat. Add 1 tbsp of salt and the shrimp. Boil for 2 minutes or until the shrimp is cooked through. Drain the shrimp and plunge them into a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking. Scoop the shrimp from the water and pat it dry.

Combine the remaining salt, vinegar, ouzo, and garlic in a large bowl and whisk until the salt is dissolved. Whisk in the pepper, oil, oregano, and parsley.

Combine the shrimp, fennel, tomatoes, and capers with the dressing. Toss gently to mix and correct the seasoning with more salt or pepper as desired.

Arrange a handful of arugula onto 2 chilled plates and top with the shrimp and vegetables. Sprinkle the feta over it all.

Try this salad for another day when tomatoes are at their peak.

Extra hungry? Drizzle a few slices of sourdough bread with olive oil and slide them in the toaster until browned. Rub with a clove of garlic and serve alongside the salad.

In the glass: A Greek white would be nice. Look for a refreshing and minerally assyrtiko from Argyros Santorini or Santorini Atlantis both for under $20.

For more from Carla Snyder buy her book One Pan, Two Plates, available now on Amazon.

Cook Time: 1 hour

Visit our Recipes page for even more Wild American Shrimp recipes!

To read more about this recipe, visit Carla Snyder’s website recipe page here!