This is a simple and fast way to prepare shrimp, easy to adapt to your own taste and hard to mess up. It also lends itself to vertical cooking and the savings of both energy and another pot to clean. Just toss some quick-cooking veggies into the steamer basket with the shrimp and cook them together. In a few minutes, dinner is ready.
Black Tiger shrimp, also called Easy Peel or E-Z Peel, and are my first choice. They’re a good size and I steam them unpeeled, to be peeled at the table during a casual dinner. Kids usually love doing that. A pound needs just five minutes of cooking time.
I steam them with Old Bay Seasoning but you could use any favorite spice mix, from shrimp boil to Cajun seasoning or a blend of your own.
Whichever route you choose, take care not to overcook the shrimp. The vegetables will be crisp-tender when the shrimp is done. Add a starch, pass around a bunch of napkins and dig in.
Ella’s Steamed Spiced Shrimp
1 pound raw Black Tiger or other shrimp, deveined and shell-on
2 TB Old Bay Seasoning
1/3 pound, approximately, broccoli florets, peas or snow peas
Set a steamer basket over boiling water so that it is almost, but not quite, touching the water. Place the shrimp in the steamer basket, sprinkle on the seasoning and toss well. Add the vegetables.
Cover and steam for five minutes or until the shrimp is pink and firm.
Serve with rice or couscous.
Serves 2 – 4
Related post on From Scratch: Maryland Shrimp Boil
Copyright (C) 2008 From Scratch All Rights Reserved 
Print This Post
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Mmmmm! You said this is “hard to mess up” so I read the rest! It sounds really easy, and the pic looks amazing. I shall try.
MusEditions’s last blog post..And now, a word from our sponsor?
Thank you, my friend. I’m never satisfied with my photos, but you know how I am. Enjoy this — I don’t think it’s possible for cooking to be easier or faster. Exactly what I need at this time of year!
This “recipe” is perfect for my style too! I am what my kids call an “improvisational cook” which means that whatever happens to be on hand is likely to get cooked for dinner. Thanks for this one — I seem to be skipping to the shriimp recipies!
Beebe Nelson’s last blog post..squash and salad for dinner
Hi, Beebe! Isn’t shrimp perfect when we’re busy? So fast, so delicious. Improvisational cooking is great. I began saving so much money once I knew enough about cooking to be able to use up what’s on hand.
I hope you and the family enjoy this! Happy Holidays.
That’s a great idea. We love shrimp and have lots of Old Bay on hand as well. Next time we get some broccoli, I’ll try this.
Nate’s last blog post..Merry Christmas from House of Annie
Isn’t Old Bay wonderful, Nate? It’s so easy to get into a rut and use it only in crab cakes, but I love it with shrimp. Merry Christmas!