Home Food & Receipts The Ultimate Guide to Shrimp Cooking: A Tasty and Tender Treat.

Food & Receipts

The Ultimate Guide to Shrimp Cooking: A Tasty and Tender Treat.

12 November, 2024

To cook delicious boiled shrimp, you need to start with good ingredients. When buying shrimp, take a close look at the shells. Fresh shrimp usually have greenish-white shells, while males have a pale yellow hue. The shells should be bright and translucent. The heads and legs should be firmly attached to the body.

If you’re purchasing frozen shrimp, choose those that are curved. These shrimp were likely flash-frozen while still alive, preserving their freshness. Shrimp that are thawed and then frozen will usually have a straighter form since they no longer have the strength to maintain their curved shape.

To achieve a bright red color, firm texture, and remove any fishy odor from your boiled shrimp, you can add a few simple ingredients to the boiling water. Here’s a quick and effective tip:

Boil Shrimp with Pandan Leaves for a Bright Red Color, Firm Texture, and No Fishy Odor

Ingredients:

10 fresh shrimp (large or jumbo shrimp)
2-3 fresh pandan leaves
A pinch of salt
Water

Boiling Shrimp with Pandan Leaves for Color and Flavor

Instructions:

Prepare the Shrimp: Rinse the shrimp under cold water. You may remove the heads if you prefer not to eat them.
Prepare the Pandan Leaves: Wash the pandan leaves and cut them into small pieces.
Boil the Shrimp:
- Fill a pot with enough water to cover the shrimp.
- Add a handful of pandan leaves to the water. Not only will these leaves help the shrimp turn a vibrant red, but they will also reduce any fishy odor and impart a subtle fragrance to the cooking water.
- Bring the water to a boil. Once it starts boiling, carefully add the shrimp.
- Maintain a medium heat and cook the shrimp until they turn bright red and are cooked through. The cooking time will depend on the size of the shrimp, typically between 3-5 minutes.

The final product: beautifully red and fragrant boiled shrimp

Method:

Prepare the Shrimp:
- Rinse the shrimp under cold water and use a brush to gently scrub the shells clean.
- Optionally, you can cut off the shrimp’s whiskers and legs for a neater presentation.
Prepare the Pandan Leaves:
- Wash the pandan leaves and tie them into a small bundle or cut them into sections approximately 10-15 cm long.
Prepare the Boiling Water:
- In a large pot, bring 1-2 liters of water to a rolling boil.
- Add 1-2 tablespoons of salt and the pandan leaves to the boiling water. The salted water will enhance the natural sweetness of the shrimp.
Boil the Shrimp:
- Once the water is boiling, gently lower the shrimp into the pot. Cook for about 3-5 minutes, depending on the size of the shrimp.
- The shrimp are done when they turn bright red and the flesh becomes firm. Be careful not to overcook the shrimp, as they can become tough.
- As soon as the shrimp are cooked, remove them from the pot and plunge them into a bowl of cold water to stop the cooking process. This will help the shrimp stay crisp and retain their beautiful color.
- Drain the shrimp and arrange them on a plate. Garnish with pandan leaves or fresh herbs, if desired.

Boiled Shrimp with Pandan Leaves – A Delicious Red Treat

Tips:

For a brighter red color, add a pinch of sugar to the boiling water.
Serve the shrimp with a squeeze of lemon or a sprinkle of salt and pepper to enhance their flavor.

Good luck, and enjoy your delicious boiled shrimp!