I couldn’t help but make another delicious dish from Hooked on Heat. So, earlier this week I made Ginger Chili Shrimp and was floored by the richness of the flavors. It’s expensive to get shrimp here in Hawaii, but it’s a nice treat when it’s on sale. However, this type of shellfish is not local by any means. It’s flown over from Thailand where it is farm raised.
I grew up in Florida where we had an abundance of shrimp, and it was one of my favorite foods. We’d often go to the grocery store after church and have some shrimp steamed in Old Bay seasoning while we did our shopping for the week. Then, we’d go home and all hover around the kitchen casually shelling and munching on the spicy and sweet sea critters. I loved getting shrimp cocktails when we’d go out somewhere nice to eat, and I drooled over popcorn shrimp from Long John Silvers. Shrimp was cheap, and it was everywhere.
Now, however, I rarely have shrimp. Restaurants sometimes have it on the menu, but it’s deep fried in a breading I can no longer eat. And, at the grocery store it is sold for 6 dollars or more per pound. Shrimp has become an even more special treat than it used to be, and I still adore the way the shrimp feels in my mouth and its complex, but subtle, natural flavors.
So, then, why should I coat it in a spicy sauce? Because that’s good too. Heck, it’s really good. Hooked on Heat knows how to make my mouth water.
The Nerd said the meal looked like something that could be dined on in a fancy restaurant down in Wailea(a local resort town). I thought it looked like something that could easily be served out of a roadside stand in a styrofoam box as a plate lunch(especially with the 2 scoops of rice).
It was spicy for sure, but not overwhelmingly so. We did have a big pitcher of cold water waiting for our burning lips and tongues, and the Nerd had some Chardonnay. I said that the dish deserved a dry sweet white wine with it. The Nerd and I agreed, but both said that the Chardonnay was simple enough to go with a wide variety of dishes.
If you like spicy, or shrimp, or plate lunches, then cook this up the next time shrimp are on sale. Eat some shrimp for me!
