Lemon Shrimp & Spinach

This recipe takes 30 minutes and of that only 5 minutes preparation and 15 minutes of just waiting - so you can spend a little time with your magazine or on the computer while you're making dinner.   The actual cooking time is only about 10 minutes.  How can you beat that?

I got the idea for this recipe from a Chinese restaurant actually, although this is more like an Italian dish.  Theirs is just cooked lemon spinach with some fancy little fried onions on top.  And it's great.  I've put lemon dressing on tons of spinach salads but never thought to combine cooked spinach with lemon.  I thought it a little odd at the time but tried it anyway and i'm so glad i did.  This dish has become a staple at my house now.

LEMON SHRIMP AND SPINACH
12 oz uncooked/shelled shrimp  
12 oz fresh spinach  
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice  
4  garlic cloves 
1 Tbsp olive oil  
1 tsp salt  
1/4 cup salt   
5 cups of  water  
1/8 tsp crushed red pepper flakes

Put the 1/4 cup salt in the water and mix.  Then add the shrimp to it.  If the shrimp is frozen leave on the counter.  If it's not, put in the fridge.  Let it brine like this for 20 minutes.


 While waiting, mince the garlic and squeeze the lemon juice to 1/4 cup.  Wash the spinach and leave wet.  Then bring out the shrimp and rinse and dry them well.  Put the oil in a large, high-sided saute pan and bring to high heat.  Add the shrimp one at a time -- not in clumps.  Then add the garlic and let it simmer for 2 minutes.  After that add 2 Tbsp of lemon juice and 1/2 tsp of salt, stir for 2 more minutes then remove everything from the pan.  Put the pan back on the heat and add the spinach, which should still be slightly wet.  Toss the spinach around with tongs or a spoon and let the spinach wilt, add 1/2 tsp of salt and add the rest of the lemon juice and the crushed red pepper flakes.

Stir everything really well until most of the juice has evaporated and the spinach is fully cooked.  Add the shrimp back in and stir until it's warm and you're done.

Well worth all that time and effort LOL!

This goes well with plain brown rice, perhaps a slice of lemon and some extra red pepper flakes on the side.  This amount will make 2 big servings.

Per person cals 306/carbs 10/ fiber 6/ fat 7/protein 7 (pts+ 8)