Question on fajita shrimp

[chalmers]

I'm making shrimp for a fajita potluck we're having tonight. Unfortunately the only kind of shrimp I was able to find were large frozen tail-on cocktail shrimp. It's already cooked through, and I couldn't find raw. Can I still cook this in olive oil with seasoning etc and have it taste alright even though it's not raw?

Thanks

 

[spaceman]

i know what gordon ramsay would sya
"solid rock hard prawns"
"hard disgusting rubber bullets"

 

[KeithTalent]

Most likely they will be overcooked and rubbery if you do that. Way better if you can find the raw ones, but if not, I would switch to something else all together.

KT

 

[ElFenix]

no. you can't do what you're proposing. olive oil isn't even the right kind of flavor.

(rant: fajitas can only be made from beef skirt steak, which is the fajita. chicken don't have fajitas. it'd be like making duck london broil.)

 

[Squisher]

Where do you live that they don't have raw shrimp?

If it were me and I were forced to use cocktail shrimp, I'd fry up everything else making sure I made it with more sauce than usual, then add the shrimp (chopped up) after it was all done cooking to let it sort of marinate. Then I'd warm it up before serving. Or, add the shrimp just before you serve it.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Part of being a good cook is working with what you have. Peal the tails off the shrimp. Make the sauce. Add the shrimp right at the end.

 

[Rhoxed]

Don't cook them. It will be extremely rubbery.

Where do you live that you cannot find uncooked frozen shrimp?

If you cannot find uncooked shrimp - make a taco instead -

Use a cilantro-lime sour cream
Home made "salsa" (not spicy so everyone will enjoy)
Flour tortilla
shredded lettuce (i recommend use shredded cabbage to give it a better texture)
fresh avocado or guacamole.

Ingredient list
Shrimp (cooked or raw - will cover this later)
Flour tortillas
Avocado
Tomato
Garlic
Cilantro
Lime
Lettuce (or cabbage)
Onion
Sour Cream
Olive oil
Mayonnaise
Sweet Thai Chili Sauce
Sriracha sauce
Rice vinegar

Ok I will start by giving a way to do this with the cooked shrimp, and tell you after how to do raw shrimp.

Cut shrimp into little chunks (dime size) heat up the chili sauce in a microwave and toss shrimp in sauce

Heat up the flour tortilla *i like to throw mine under the broiler for 30 sec, you can also heat up in a pan lightly (dont use oil and fry it or it will turn hard)

Put lettuce(cabbage) into tortilla and top with sour cream sauce

Throw the sauced up shrimp on, top with homemade salsa, and avocado or guacamole

--- For raw shrimp.
Heat a large skillet of oil until it reaches 325 degrees
Use a flour base to fry them - 1 cup flour (*optional add 1/4th cup corn starch), 1/2 tsp garlic powder, black pepper, Lawry's season salt
Cut shrimp into little chunks, dip into milk (or water) and dust them in the flour mix and fry untill golden brown. Dunk into sauce and repeat above steps.


Sweet Chili Sauce
1/2 Cup Mayonnaise
6 tsp Sweet Thai Chili Sauce
3 tsp Sriracha sauce (2tsp if you dont like spice)
2 tsp Rice vinegar
Mix Well

Cilantro Lime Sour Cream
1/2 cup sour cream
3 tsp chopped fresh cilantro
juice and zest from one lime
salt to taste
*optional 1/4tsp cumin
Mix well

Salsa
Dice 2 tomato
3 tsp chopped cilantro
2 tsp diced garlic
1/2 a small red or sweet onion diced
4 tsp olive oil
salt to taste
Mix well, let sit for as long as possible for the flavors to marry (1-5hrs is good)



hope you enjoy, and if you decide not to use it i hope someone else here does, its truly a treat.

 

[Mike Gayner]

(rant: fajitas can only be made from beef skirt steak, which is the fajita. chicken don't have fajitas. it'd be like making duck london broil.)

I disagree.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

no. you can't do what you're proposing. olive oil isn't even the right kind of flavor.

(rant: fajitas can only be made from beef skirt steak, which is the fajita. chicken don't have fajitas. it'd be like making duck london broil.)

Works for me.

 

[txrandom]

Fajitas come from cows and nothing else.

 

[ussfletcher]

I disagree.

That is the definition of fajita.

 

[spaceman]

fajita means disagreement in spanish
u really do learn something new everyday!

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

That is the definition of fajita.

Rick Bayless would disagree with you. Everyone files the serial numbers off of recipes and creates their own. There is no such thing as 'authentic' unless you are speaking about a specific place at a specific time. Much like a snapshot, recipes picture the taste and look at a specific time. Only Escoffier set specific standards and those are misused more often than not in today's culinary scene.

What's more important and, one of the few things that all Chefs would agree on, is showing respect to your ingredients and insuring the joy of your guests.
\
edit: Just read the above, well played sir!

 

[Chocu1a]

Part of being a good cook is working with what you have. Peal the tails off the shrimp. Make the sauce. Add the shrimp right at the end.

Do exactly this. Wait until everything is cooked & then toss them in at the last minute to JUST warm them. it will be fine. Don't use olive oil, use something neutral like canola, safflower or vegetable blend.