Tangy Tomatillo Shrimp Food

SALSA VERDE SHRIMP

Steps:

• Peel the outer skins/husks off the tomatillos, onion and garlic. Cut the stems off the peppers and slice in half lengthwise. Cut the onion in half. (See Note 1)
• In the Dutch oven or large stock pot bring 6 cups of water to a boil. Add the tomatillos, chiles and onion. Cook for 8 minutes.
• Carefully remove with a slotted spoon and place all the peppers, tomatillos, onion, garlic and cilantro in a food processor, blender or Vitamix, and process until smooth. Use 2 cups of the salsa for this recipe and reserve remaining for other use.
• In a bowl season the shrimp with kosher salt, black pepper and garlic powder.
• In a large skillet add oil and sautée shrimp 2 minutes per side. Pour the 2 cups of salsa verde on top and cook 2 minutes more, stirring. Stir in half of the cilantro leaves.
• Spoon over steamed rice and top with remaining cilantro.

SPICY SHRIMP TAMALES WITH ROASTED TOMATILLO SAUCE AND GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• Place tomatillos, onion, garlic, and green chiles in a roasting pan and bake in a preheated 400 degree F oven for 12 to 15 minutes. Transfer the roasted vegetables to a food processor along with any juices that are at the bottom of the pan. Add the cumin, salt, and cilantro. Pulse the mixture until combined but still chunky. You may add a bit of water or broth if the mixture is too thick. Reserve half the sauce to serve with the tamales.
• In a deep bowl, combine the masa and remaining half of the tomatillo sauce. Beat until fully incorporated and the dough is green. Fold in the softened goat cheese.
• Set the cornhusks on a sheet pan covered by a damp towel. Lay the husk flat on a plate with the smooth side up and the narrow end facing you. Spread a thin, even layer of the masa mixture over the surface of the husk with a tablespoon that is dipped in water. Fold the narrow end up to the center then fold both sides together to enclose the filling. The sticky masa will form a seal. Pinch the wide top closed.
• Stand the tamales up in a large steamer or colander with the pinched end up. Load the steamer into a large pot filled with 2-inches of water. The water should not touch the tamales. Lay a damp cloth over the tamales and cover with lid. Keep the water at a low boil, checking periodically to make sure the water doesn't boil away. Steam the tamales for 2 hours.
• Coat the shrimp with cumin, chili powder, cayenne, coriander, salt, and pepper. Heat oil in a saute pan, cook the shrimp for 5 minutes until pink. To serve, unfold the tamales, top with the spicy shrimp and spoon the reserved tomatillo sauce over the top.

TOMATILLO SALSA

Steps:

• Set up your grill for even medium-high heat. If using a charcoal grill, distribute the coals evenly. If using a gas grill, heat both sides evenly.
• Place the whole tomatillos, scallions and jalapenos on a cooling rack in a single layer. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt. Place the cooling rack on the grill and cook, pulling the cooling rack off the grill to flip the vegetables, until softened and charred on both sides, about 5 minutes per side. Using a knife, scrape off the skin from the jalapenos. If you want the salsa to be spicy, leave in the seeds. If you do not, remove the seeds and ribs from the jalapenos.
• To a blender or a food processor, add the tomatillos, scallions, jalapenos, cilantro, cumin, garlic, lime juice and olive oil. Blend until a salsa forms. Blend as much as you need to reach the consistency of the salsa you like. Add salt to taste. The sauce will keep in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

SHRIMP IN TOMATILLO AND HERB SAUCE

Steps:

• Place the garlic in a mortar and pestle with a generous pinch of salt and grind to a paste. Add 1 tablespoon of the olive oil and blend together.
• Preheat the broiler. Cover a baking sheet with foil and place the tomatillos on top, stem side down. Place under the broiler at the highest rack setting and broil two to five minutes, until charred on one side. Turn over and broil on the other side for two to five minutes, until charred on the other side. Remove from the heat and transfer to a blender, tipping in any juice that may have accumulated on the baking sheet. Add the chilies, basil, mint and tarragon and blend until smooth. Season to taste.
• Season the shrimp with salt and pepper. Heat the remaining tablespoon of olive oil over medium-high heat in a heavy saucepan and add the shrimp. Cook on one side for one minute, then, using tongs, turn the shrimp over and cook on the other side for one minute. Remove from the pan and set aside on a plate.
• Add the garlic paste to the hot pan and cook, stirring, for another 30 seconds to a minute, until fragrant. Add the tomatillo mixture, stir together, turn the heat to medium low and simmer, stirring often, for five minutes, until the sauce thickens slightly. Return the shrimp to the pan, bring to a simmer and cook, stirring often, for about three minutes, until the sauce coats the shrimp and the shrimp is tender but still moist. Taste, adjust salt and serve.

ROASTED RED GUAJILLO SALSA WITH TANGY TOMATILLOS

Steps:

• In a small skillet heat oil to a 1/4 inch depth over medium heat. Pull the stems off chiles and remove the seeds completely.
• Lay chiles in the skillet and turn them over several times as they toast and change color on the inside from dark cranberry red to a red. This should only take 15-20 seconds. Remove and place on paper towels. Chiles will crisp as they cool. You can do this one chile at a time.
• Lay the tomatillos on a baking sheet and set the pan 4 inches below the broiler and let broil until they are softened and black in places, about 5 minutes. The skin will split. Flip the tomatillos and roast other side for 4-5 more minutes or so. Set aside to cool. Do not peel off the darkened skins or cut out the cores.
• Turn oven to 425 and lay onion rings and garlic on a baking pan and bake until onions are deeply golden and garlic soft and browned in spots, about 15 minutes. Stir every couple of minutes. Cool to room temperature.
• In a blender or food processor, blend tomatillos including their juice with dry toasted chiles. Process to a smooth puree. Scrape two-third of the puree into a bowl.
• Roughly chop onion and garlic and add them to the blender still containing the rest of the chile tomatillo mixture. Pulse repeatedly until moderately finely chopped. Add a little water to loosen everything up and keep pulsing. Stir in enough water to give the salsa a lightly consistency. Combine this with chile tomatillo puree in a bowl.
• Taste and season with salt and bit of sugar. Use within 5 days or freeze.

TANGY TASTY TOMATILLO SOUP

Steps:

• Cook and shred chicken. Set aside.
• Heat oil over medium high heat in a large pot or dutch oven. Ingredients 3-8: add 1 red onion and 1 white onion, saute until golden. Add garlic and saute 1-2 minutes. Stir in tomatillos, 3 jalapenos and broth. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for about 15 minutes until the tomatillos start to burst.
• Puree in pot with an immersion blender. Stir in garlic salt, black pepper and cayenne pepper to taste.
• Add reserved shredded chicken and the rest of the ingredients up to the chopped spinach and cook until heated through.
• Stir in lemon juice and sugar if desired and remove from heat.
• Serve in bowls topped with sour cream and cilantro to taste. Tortilla chips are also good with this.