January 18, 2005
Think "Wild and Wonderful" Florida Shrimp For Lenten Meals
TALLAHASSEE -- During the 40-day Lenten period of spiritual renewal, Fridays are traditionally observed with an abstinence from meat. Think "Wild Florida Shrimp" if you are looking for a way to jazz up your dinner.
"Recipes using high-quality Florida shrimp provide healthy, family-friendly meals during Lent or any time of the year," said Joanne McNeely, Chief of the Bureau of Seafood and Aquaculture Marketing, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
This Lenten season, Shrimp Quesadillas and Shrimp Pizza are two creative solutions for the Friday night Lenten meal. Suitable for the meatless days during Lent, these vibrant and delicious meals are nutritious and easy to prepare, making them an ideal choice for family dinners.
Shrimp Quesadillas
1 1/2 pounds cooked Florida shrimp, peeled and deveined
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
2 tablespoons chopped Florida green onions
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
4 flour tortillas
butter cooking spray
sour cream, garnish
salsa, garnish
Chop shrimp and mix with cheese, onions, paprika, cumin and pepper; set aside. Spray one side
of each flour tortilla with the spray margarine. Place even amounts of shrimp mixture onto one
half of the non-greased side of each tortilla. Fold the empty side of the tortilla over, and gently
press down. Place the quesadilla in a hot skillet and cook one minute on each side (or until
golden brown, and cheese melts). Slice into wedges, and place on serving plate. Garnish with
sour cream and salsa.
Yield: 4 servings
Nutritional Values Per Serving:
Calories 335, Calories From Fat 196, Fat Total 22g, Saturated Fat 13g, Cholesterol 59mg, Total
Carbohydrates 17g, Protein 19g.
Shrimp Pizza
1 pound cooked Florida shrimp, peeled and deveined
1/3 cup chopped Florida onion
3 cloves Florida garlic, finely chopped
1/4 cup vegetable oil
3 6-ounce cans Italian-style tomato paste
1/3 cup chopped Florida parsley
11/2 teaspoons oregano
1 14-inch prebaked pizza crust
2 cups grated mozzarella cheese
Cut shrimp into thirds. Set aside. Cook onion and garlic in oil until tender. Add tomato paste and
simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from heat; add parsley and oregano. Place pizza crust on a
well-greased baking or pizza pan. Layer sauce, shrimp and cheese on top of crust. Bake in a
preheated 425-degree F oven for 20 minutes or until crust is brown and cheese melts.
Yield: 6 servings.
Nutritional Values Per Serving:
Calories 255, Calories From Fat 101, Fat Total 12g, Saturated Fat 1g, Cholesterol 116mg, Total
Carbohydrates 14g, Protein 18g.
"Florida Shrimp -- Wild and Wonderful!" promotes the clean, superior quality and premium taste of this natural resource. Florida shrimp are wild caught in the fresh waters of Florida and free from pesticides. The Florida shrimping industry supports 4,400 jobs and contributes over $226 million to the state's economy annually. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services encourages Floridians to ask for Florida shrimp at restaurant and retail locations. For more information, including mouth-watering recipes, please visit www.WildFloridaShrimp.com.
For more information:
Joanne McNeely
(850) 488-0163
mcneelj@doacs.state.fl.us
