Garlic Dragon Shrimp

More About This Recipe

• It’s National Garlic Day – also known as Only Kiss People Who Eat the Same Thing as You Day!
  
  Garlic is one of my favorite flavors, so for my Dragon Garlic Shrimp recipe I pack in the garlic flavor by marinating the shrimp and topping it with some crispy garlic chips.
  
  I recommend getting large shrimp for this dish. I like to use the 15 shrimp per pound range and you’ll need about five shrimp per serving. So if you’re feeding four people, you should plan on 20 shrimp.
  
  If your shrimp aren’t already cleaned, just peel off the shells and then run a paring knife down the back of each shrimp to remove the vein. Be sure not to cut all the way through the shrimp.
  
  Once your shrimp are cleaned, toss them with a tablespoon of oil and a tablespoon of chili garlic sauce. Let this sit for 15-20 minutes to marinate while you prep the other ingredients.
  
  Once your shrimp have marinated, add them to a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat and sear them for about three minutes per side. That should be enough heat to just cook them through.
  
  Remove the shrimp from the pan and wipe it clean. Now you can cook your other stuff!
  
  Maybe you noticed that I didn’t put any actual garlic in the marinade for the shrimp. That’s because it would just burn on the high searing heat. Instead, take about four cloves of garlic and slice them very thin.
  
  I also minced up some fresh ginger.
  
  Besides those flavors, you’ll need a chopped red onion, some shredded carrots, and some bok choy. I like the baby version, and recommend just rinsing it well and then chopping it up.
  
  Add your skillet or wok back over LOW heat and add two tablespoons of oil. Add your garlic slivers and cook them for about five minutes until they start to brown and crisp slightly. Not only do these garlic chips make the perfect garnish but they also flavor the oil in an amazing way.
  
  Remove the garlic from the pan, leaving just the oil and add the onions, carrots, and ginger. Cook this mixture over medium heat for about five minutes until the veggies soften.
  
  Then add the bok choy, soy sauce, and lime juice and cook until the bok choy is wilted, about 3-4 minutes.
  
  You could serve this over rice, but I think rice noodles are better. Just cook them according to the package and drain them. If you aren’t serving them immediately, rinse them with cold water to stop the cooking. Also, toss them with some sesame oil to keep them from sticking.
  
  When you’re ready to serve, reheat the noodles in a pot over low heat or in the microwave in 30-second bursts. Add the shrimp back to the skillet with the vegetable mixture just to reheat them and then stack everything on a plate.
  
  Garnish the whole thing with some of the crispy garlic chips and fresh cilantro.
  
  The dish will ward off vampires like you wouldn’t believe!
  
  Nick thinks you could use chicken or tofu in place of shrimp. Be sure to check out his blog, Macheesmo, and follow him on his Tablespoon Profile.