TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Olive Oil Enhances Shrimp

ADVERTISEMENT

By JADEN HAIR

Tribune correspondent

Published: September 17, 2008

I'm probably not the right person to ask for olive oil advice as it's not used in Asian cooking. (Though I'm sure the Sherpas can spew out more opinion and facts about olive oil than you have time for.)

The taste and aroma are strong, easily overpowering quick stir-fries. Plus, we wokkies like to cook on high heat, and the extra virgin stuff on a massively flaming stove top will send smoke signals thick enough to reach your mother-in-law. And she might mistake it for an invite to stay three weeks.

But if a hunka-hunka guy with dreamy blue eyes is pitching olive oil, I'm all over it. Food Network superstar Dave Lieberman is the new face of olive oil from Spain, and I got a chance to interview him last week when he was in town.

After chatting with him for a while, I knew we'd instantly get along because we have something in common: love for chicken knees. Yes, you read right. Dave and I both go gaga over the tasty and crunchy cartilage. It's served skewered and grilled at Japan-knees yakitori restaurants.

No, I won't give you a recipe for grilled chicken knees, though it's also great breaded and deep-fried. It would probably take you an entire year to gather and save enough for a meal. But in case you are curious, the tasty morsel is between the drumstick and thigh. And you know what? Those of you who just scrunched up your noses when I first mentioned this delicacy, I bet you're going to look - and maybe even take a little nibble - the next time you have chicken. As my mama would say, "Knee good for you! Eat more make strong bones!"

So, instead, I'll leave you with one of Dave's recipes featuring olive oil from Spain (brands Goya, Star and Pompeian can be found at most supermarkets.)

Dave was kind enough to sign a copy of his latest cookbook, "Dave's Dinners," to give away. Come over to www.steamykitchen .com and just comment to enter the random drawing, which will take place sometime on Saturday. For my dear Trib readers, you get to enter twice. (I love you guys!) Just please remember to enter the drawing twice by commenting twice and including "Trib reader" in your entry.

If you've never commented on a blog before, it's easy, and you don't even have to use your full name. Your e-mail address stays hidden from public view. Only I can see it, and I will use it only to notify you if you've won! Just make sure your e-mail address is correct. You'll even get to see my video interview with Dave!

POACHED SHRIMP WITH SPICY GAZPACHO

1 pound medium shrimp, peeled and deveined

1/4 cup each finely diced red bell pepper and cucumber

Olive oil, for drizzling

For the gazpacho:

1 cup soft insides of rustic bread loaf

1 pound vine-ripened tomatoes, peeled, cored and roughly chopped

1 cucumber, peeled, seeded and roughly chopped

1/2 medium white onion, peeled and roughly chopped

1/2 red bell pepper, roughly chopped

1/2 green bell pepper, roughly chopped

4 cloves garlic, chopped

1/2 Thai chili, seeded and chopped

3 tablespoons sherry vinegar

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Boil 3 quarts of water in a large pot. Add shrimp to pot and poach for 2 to 3 minutes, or until cooked through. Using a slotted spoon, transfer shrimp to a large bowl of ice water. Drain and refrigerate shrimp until ready to serve.

To make gazpacho, soak the bread in water for 10 minutes; drain and squeeze out excess water. Set aside. In a food processor, puree the tomatoes, cucumber, onion, peppers, garlic and chili. Add the bread, vinegar, olive oil, salt and pepper, and process until smooth. Chill until ready to serve.

To serve, place a couple of shrimp in a shallow bowl; pour gazpacho around. Sprinkle with diced red pepper and cucumber. Drizzle with olive oil. Makes 8 to 10 servings as part of tapas party.

Source: adapted from Dave Lieberman

Jaden Hair is the author of the blog www.steamykitchen.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT