Chili-Glazed Shrimp With Tomatillo-Cilantro Sauce

  • 6

Ingredients

  • 1 pound tomatillos husked
  • 1 onion coarsely chopped
  • 1 tablespoon minced seeded jalapeño chili
  • 1 garlic clove crushed
  • 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
  • 24 jumbo shrimp peeled, deveined, tails left intact
  • 2 tablespoons ground mild chili (such as ancho or New Mexican)
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • Queso fresco for serving (or feta cheese)

Preparation

Step 1

Cook tomatillos in large pot of boiling salted water until olive-green color, about 5 minutes. Drain and transfer to blender. Add onion, jalapeño, and garlic and process tomatillo sauce until smooth.

Heat 1 tablespoon oil in skillet over medium heat. Add sauce and bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer until slightly thickened, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes. Stir in cilantro. Season with salt and pepper. Cool to room temperature. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Chill. Bring to room temperature before using.)

Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat). Toss shrimp with remaining 2 tablespoons oil in large bowl. Add ground chili, onion powder, and garlic powder; toss to combine. Sprinkle shrimp with salt and pepper. Grill shrimp until just cooked through, about 2 minutes per side.

Spoon about 3 tablespoons tomatillo sauce into center of each of 6 plates. Arrange shrimp atop sauce. Sprinkle with queso fresco.

This recipe yields 6 servings.

Tomatillos (green tomato-like vegetables with paper-thin husks), ground New Mexican chilies, and queso fresco (also known as queso blanco) are available at Latin American markets and some supermarkets.