Platter Of Shrimp With Garlicky Cuban Mojo Fuente De Camarones Al Ajillo Recipes

SHRIMP WITH SWEET TOASTY GARLIC (CAMARONES AL MOJO DE AJO)

Steps:

• First, prepare the Mojo de Ajo:.
• Chop the garlic by hand or in the food processor until the garlic bits are about an 1/8" in size--about 1/2 cup of chopped garlic.
• Place the garlic in small saucepan, measure in the oil and about 1/2 teaspoon of salt and set over medium low heat.
• Stir occasionally as the mixture comes BARELY to a simmer (just the hint of movement on the surface of the oil).
• Adjust the heat to the very lowest possible setting and cook, stirring occasionally, until the garlic is a soft, pale golden --about thirty minutes.
• Add the lime and simmer about five minutes, until the juice has evaporated or been absorbed.
• Stir in the chiles, then taste and add additional salt if necessary.
• Keep the pan over the lowest heat so the garlic will be warm when the shrimp are ready.
• Put the lime wedges into a serving bowl and set them out.
• Now, prepare the Shrimp:.
• Set a large, heavy skillet over medium-high heat and spoon about one and a half tablespoons of the oil (but not the garlic) from the mojo.
• Add half the shrimp to the skillet, sprinkle with salt, and stir gently and continuously until the shrimp are just cooked through (3 to 4 minutes).
• Add half the cilantro (if you're using it)and scoop the shrimp onto a warm, deep serving platter.
• Repeat with another one and a half tablespoons of the oil and the rest of the shrimp and cilantro.
• Now, finish the dish:.
• When all the shrimp are cooked and placed in the serving platter, use a slotted spoon to scoop out the warm bits of garlic and chiles from the mojo pan and scatter them over the shrimp.
• Serve with the lime wedges to, as Mr. Bayless says, add sparkle.
• Note: The Mojo de Ajo will keep in the fridge for a couple of weeks--the oil will become solid but will liquefy again at room temperature--warm it slowly before using.
• Note 2: For the best texture, cook the shrimp immediately before serving, but, you can cook them an hour or so ahead, douse them with the garlic and serve at room temperature.

MOJO SHRIMP

Steps:

• Combine 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, lime juice and zest, orange juice and zest, garlic, oregano, salt, black pepper, and cumin in a bowl. Add shrimp, cover, and place in the refrigerator to marinade for 4 to 6 hours.
• Remove shrimp from the marinade. Heat 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil in a large skillet. Add shrimp and cook until pink, 4 to 7 minutes. Remove shrimp from skillet and set aside.
• Pour marinade into the skillet, bring to a boil, and simmer until slightly thickened, 5 to 8 minutes. Serve shrimp with marinade sauce on the side.

PLATTER OF SHRIMP WITH GARLICKY CUBAN MOJO (FUENTE DE CAMARONES AL AJILLO)

Steps:

• Prepare the mojo
• Make a wet garlic paste by mashing the garlic cloves with salt in a mortar and pestle. If you do not have one, you can use a cup and the back of a wooden spoon; otherwise, simply sprinkle the garlic with the salt and use your knife to chop it very finely into a paste.
• Place the garlic paste in a small bowl and pour the lime juice and orange juice over it. Allow the mixture to sit for 20 minutes.
• Place the olive oil in a small saucepan and set it over medium-high heat. (This can be done on your grill or on your stove.) When small bubbles begin to rise to the surface of the oil, carefully add the garlic and citrus mixture to the pan (the oil will sizzle a bit, so be careful that it does not splatter on you). Give the mixture a quick stir and allow to cook over medium-high heat for 1 minute before removing from the heat. Set aside.
• Season and grill the shrimp
• Place the shrimp in a large mixing bowl and drizzle the vegetable oil over them. Liberally season with salt and pepper and toss well. It's best to use your hands for this, as you want to make sure the oil and seasonings get inside the slits you made in the shrimp.
• Heat your grill to high (550°F) and close the lid. Wait at least 15 minutes before lowering the heat to medium-high (450°F) and continuing. Oil the grill grates with a vegetable oil-soaked paper towel held with a long pair of tongs.
• It is important to properly place the shrimp on the grill so that they cook quickly and evenly. Again, it is best to use your hands for this. Holding the shrimp by its tail, place the butterflied shrimp on the grill one by one, slit side down. Curl the tail down toward the head of the shrimp. Close the lid and cook for about 5 minutes, or until the flesh of the shrimp has turned white and is no longer translucent. You will not need to turn the shrimp over.
• Serve the shrimp and mojo
• Mound the grilled shrimp on a large platter and garnish with lime wedges. Serve with the garlicky mojo for your guests to use as a dipping sauce.