Burmese Shrimp

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kLgXqABzYc

My roommate made this once and it was very tasty! It's a simple dish that's packed with flavor using mainly pantry items and spices. It's easy to whip up on a busy weeknight. The YouTube link for the instructions is above, it's a little different from the written instructions but the written version is great.



Ingredients:

PAN MIXTURE

*note: for 1 lb of shrimp, I actually recommend *doubling* this pan mixture - these onions cook down really well with the sauces so it helps coat the shrimp. Alternatively, if you are doing 1/2 lb of shrimp, you can stick to this amount.

• 5 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped 
• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger (from a 1-inch piece)
• 1 medium onion, coarsely chopped
• 2 teaspoons paprika
• 1 teaspoon prepared chile paste, such as sambal oelek
• 1 tablespoon chopped cilantro, plus a few extra sprigs for garnish
• Coconut Rice, for serving

SHRIMP MARINADE

• 2 teaspoons fish sauce
• 1 1/2 teaspoons Madras curry powder
• 1 pound medium prawns, peeled and deveined (*note: this is actually a LOT of shrimp, so you can always half this amount)
• 1 1/2 teaspoons turmeric powder
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper (usually do this to taste)
• 1/2 the garlic amount (above)
• 
  
• 1. Combine prawns, 1/2 the garlic, the fish sauce, curry powder, turmeric, and black pepper (black pepper to taste) in a large bowl and set aside to marinate for 10 minutes.
• 
  
• 2. Heat the oil in a medium nonstick skillet over medium heat until it starts to shimmer.  Make sure you add a lot of oil! You want it to coat the pan. Add the onion and cook and stir until soft and translucent, about 3 to 4 minutes. Add the remaining garlic and the ginger and cook and stir until fragrant, about 45 seconds.  Add the paprika and chile paste and stir until the onion is evenly coated.

*I recommend doubling this portion if you are doing 1 lb of shrimp! 

• 3. Add the prawns and arrange them in one layer on the bottom of the skillet on top of the onions. Raise the heat to medium medium/medium high and cook until halfway cooked, about 2-3 minutes, turning the shrimp over halfway through. May need to add some water to the pan. Then stir until the shrimp are fully cooked (cut into a piece for a peek). Sprinkle with chopped cilantro and stir with a couple more flourishes.

*I actually like a little sear to the shrimp so you can cook it directly on the pan for the initial sear, and then finish on the bed on onions (or vice versa). 

*Re-season with more fish sauce as needed. 

• 4. Garnish with cilantro sprigs or onions.