Grilled Shrimp With Melon-Pineapple Salsa

Recipe by: John Ash | from From the Earth to the Table: John Ash's Wine Country Cuisine

Cookstr

Course: Appetizer, Main Course

Total Time: Under 1 Hour

Skill Level: Moderate

Cost: Splurge

grilled-shrimp-with-melon-pineapple-salsa

Photo by: Joseph De Leo

In this dish, the shrimp can be served warm right off the grill or at room temperature and included as part of a summer buffet. You can either shell the shrimp as suggested or grill them with the shell on, which I think adds a lot of flavor. To grill with shell on, simply take a pair of scissors and snip the shell along the back so that you can remove the intestinal vein.

Yield: Serves 4 to 6

INGREDIENTS

1 pound extra-large shrimp (16 to 20 per pound)
¼ cup light olive oil
2 teaspoons minced or pressed garlic
1 tablespoon minced green onion, both white and green parts
½ teaspoon finely chopped fresh oregano or ¼ teaspoon dried
½ teaspoon kosher or sea salt
¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
3 tablespoons dry white wine

Melon-Pineapple Salsa (recipe follows)

For garnishing:

1 small ripe avocado, peeled, pitted, and cut into fans
Fresh cilantro sprigs for garnishing

Melon-pineapple salsa (makes about 2 cups)

1 cup diced melon
1 cup diced fresh pineapple (see Note)
½ teaspoon seeded and minced serrano chile
1 tablespoon finely diced sweet red onion
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 tablespoons fresh lime or lemon juice
2 teaspoons honey
2 teaspoons chopped fresh cilantro
Kosher or sea salt and freshly ground pepper

Directions

Shell and devein the shrimp, leaving the tails on. Whisk together the olive oil, garlic, green onion, oregano, salt, pepper flakes, and wine and marinate the shrimp for a maximum of 2 hours, covered, in the refrigerator. Skewer the shrimp together, if desired, to facilitate turning them during grilling.

Grill or broil the shrimp quickly, about 1 to 2 minutes per side, until they just turn pink. Be careful not to overcook. Shrimp should remain slightly transparent in the middle. Divide the Melon-Pineapple Salsa among plates and place the shrimp attractively on top, along with the avocado and cilantro.

For the salsa:

In a medium bowl, carefully stir together the melon, pineapple, chile, and red onion. In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lime juice, and honey and pour over the fruit mixture. Gently stir in the chopped cilantro. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Notes

Recommended Wine

The sweet shrimp and fruity Melon-Pineapple Salsa mirror beautifully wines like California and German Rieslings and Gewûrztraminers, French Chenin Siancs, and California white Zinfandel, all of which have similar fresh fruit flavors and sweetness.

For additional flavor, lightly oil and grill thick slices of pineapple before cutting it up.

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION

Nutrients per serving (% daily value)

This recipe serves 6, and includes 1/8 teaspoon of added salt per serving.

Calories 200kcal (10%)

Calcium 51mg (5%)

Vitamin C 30mg (50%)

Vitamin A 88mcg RAE (3%)

Potassium 414mg

Magnesium 45mg

Protein 16g

Sugar 7g