A vibrant mixture: the light pink curled shrimp sit upon a patchwork of diced, roasted squash in hues of orange and yellow. The lattice of balsamic reduction drizzled on top adds a stark, dark contrast. Sprinkles of chopped fresh parsley and a few strands of saffron scatter across the top for eye-catching appeal.

Shrimp Al Andalus with Balsamic Squash

Name: Shrimp Al Andalus with Balsamic Squash
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 50 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: fresh Shrimp, 1 kg peeled and deveined; medium Autumn Squashes, 2 peeled, seeds removed, and diced into cubes; Balsamic Vinegar, 4 tbsp; Extra Virgin Olive Oil, 4 tbsp; Garlic, 2 cloves minced; Saffron Strands, 1/2 tsp; Freshly cracked Black Pepper, to taste; Sea Salt, to taste; fresh Parsley, 1/4 cup chopped

Category Main Course

Prep 20 minutes

Cook 30 minutes

Style Italian

Technique Roasting

Diet Friendly Low-Carb

Daily Recipe: September 22, 2024

In this unique culinary journey, we are going to invoke the lesser-known aspects of Italian cuisine. Our key ingredient, shrimp, will be accentuated with autumn squash and paired with a tangy balsamic reduction.

Ingredients (for 4)

Fresh shrimp - 1 kg - peeled and deveined
Medium autumn squashes - 2 - peeled, seeds removed, and diced into cubes
Balsamic vinegar - 4 tbsp
Extra virgin olive oil - 4 tbsp
Garlic - 2 cloves - minced
Saffron strands - 1/2 tsp
Freshly cracked black pepper - to taste
Sea salt - to taste
Fresh parsley - 1/4 cup - chopped

Preparation

Step 1 - 🦐🧂🍴

Marinate the shrimps in salt, pepper, minced garlic and 2 tbsp of olive oil. Let them sit for 15 minutes.
Step 2 - 🔥⏲️🌡️

Set your oven to 400°F (200°C) to preheat.
Step 3 - 🍠🥣🧂

Mix the Autumn squashes with the remaining olive oil, salt and pepper according to your taste.
Step 4 - 🍠🔥⌚

Spread out the cubed squash on a baking sheet and roast them in the oven until they're tender, which takes roughly 20 minutes.
Step 5 - 🍳🦐🌡️

On a large sauté pan heated over medium flame, add the shrimp. Cook each side until they turn pink, approximately 2-3 minutes per side. Remove them from the pan to keep warm.
Step 6 - 🍳🍯🔥

In the same pan, combine balsamic vinegar and saffron strands. Simmer until it reduces to a syrup-like consistency. After that, turn off the heat.
Step 7 - 🥘🦐🍯

Put the cooked shrimp back in the pan and mix them well with the balsamic reduction.
Step 8 - 🍽️🦐🌿

Lay out the roasted squashes as a base, top it with the shrimp and drizzle over any leftover balsamic reduction. Before serving, garnish with fresh chopped parsley.

Additional

This recipe offers a twist on traditional Italian seafood dishes by incorporating autumn flavors. For a twist, try using different types of squash for color and texture variety. This is also a great dish to get children interested in cooking, as they can help with tasks like peeling and chopping the squash.