There is a very talented Chef (Soa) at Le Bernardin who is responsible for creating and testing new recipes. One night she came up with an avocado coconut cream to go with a soft shell crab special.
I'm not sure what all she put in it and we only had it on the menu for one night, but here's my rendition spruced up with some blanched cilantro (to keep it bright green) and lime juice. It's easy to blend together and extremely versatile. It could easily go with fish, chicken, or pork dishes.
The pineapple salsa is straightforward: pineapple chunks, red onion thinly sliced, brunoised jalapenos, and chiffonaded cilantro and mint. The sweetness of the salsa pairs nicely with the avocado cream that is not overly sugary. The shrimp are skewered and sprinkled with a pinch of smoked sweet Hungarian paprika – it adds a certain smokey je ne sais quoi to the dish. Don't leave out any of the ingredients, they all work harmoniously together!
BBQ Shrimp Brochettes, Pineapple Salsa, and Avocado Coconut Cream
Serves 4
1 lb cleaned, deveined large or jumbo shrimp
1/2 pineapple, diced (why not buy it already cubed and then cut smaller?)
3 jalapenos, brunoised
1/4 small red onion, sliced paper thin
6-7 mint leaves, chiffonaded
8-10 cilantro leaves, chiffonaded
2 ripe avocados
1 can coconut milk
3-4 limes, juiced
1/4 bunch cilantro, blanched (put in boiling salted water 30 sec. then straight into an icebath)
salt, pepper
1 T smoked sweet Hungarian paprika
Wooden skewers soaked in water to prevent burning
Skewer shrimp – 3 per stick. You might need to cut sticks in half. Refrigerate until ready to grill or broil. Blanch cilantro bunch in boiling salted water for 30 seconds or until bright green and fragrant. Immediately transfer to an ice bath.
In a blender add coconut cream, avocados, blanched cilantro, juice of 3 limes, and a hefty pinch of salt. Blend on high until cilantro is pulverized. Add more salt and lime juice if necessary. Remember the sweetness of the pineapple salsa will balance the cream. Refrigerate. Make salsa: combine pineapple, jalapenos, red onion, and mint & cilantro in a mixing bowl. Set aside.
Sprinkle shrimp with smoked Hungarian paprika on both sides. Grill on BBQ or broil for 2-3 minutes or until shrimp is pink (but not rubbery) Plate with a spoonful of avocado cream and pineapple salsa with shrimp brochette over the top.
Nice.
My wife’s developed quite a fierce allergy to shellfish. It started years ago with scallops, then later with clams, and most recently with crab and lobster.
She gets vicious gastrointestinal symptoms, if you know what I mean.
But fish with scales and fins are fine, so I’m gonna check this out that way.
I love fresh bluefish, but she doesn’t, so we’ll likely end up with something of the cod-like persuasion.
Or maybe a whole expensive red snapper?
Anywhoozle, thanks for introducing me to the terms “brunoise” and “chiffonade.”
Your recipe looks really promising. I’ll make it soon.
As a cooking hack, I have to ask for a clarification. Your recipe states
Mint leaves. Recipies always say mint leaves as if there is only one mint. So, my question is, would it matter (in general) and did you use peppermint or spearmint?
Rightwingsnarkle – Given the circumstances, I grant you permission to change the recipe! Fish allergies are gruesome and as a cook who works at a fish restaurant, I have seen some fierce allergies develop with cooks who touch the same protein over and over. Not fun to get an allergy to something you have to work with all day/night. I’ve been lucky so far. I don’t see why a fillet couldn’t be subbed.
As a sidenote, there was a customer a long time ago who had a shellfish allergy but didn’t tell the kitchen and ate the lobster main course anyway on our tasting menu. I believe she ended up in the hospital. But she was just dying to try it. God bless her, I hope it was worth it! It must be terribly difficult to have food allergies whether they are shellfish, gluten, nuts, mushrooms, or just something as niche as strawberry seeds!
I imagine that eating out can be quite a problem especially when it comes to things like cross contamination?
When you say “bluefish” what are you referring to? I’ve never heard that expression before…
FredM – Good question. I really meant ‘mint’ not spearmint or peppermint. I’m talking the big leafy green herb with jagged edges that is normally just called ‘mint’ in the supermarkets. You know, the herb that used to decorate every dessert in the 70’s and 80’s? The herb that you always wondered why it was put on the plate if it wasn’t meant to be eaten? That herb.
Oh. My. God. You live in New York, and you work in a fish restaurant, and you don’t know what bluefish is? Quick, run immediately out to Long Island, jump on the nearest deep sea fishing charter headed for Block Island, and you will very quickly learn what a bluefish is. Can’t give you the scientific name for it, but bluefish is a big, oily flesh fish (when people say they don’t like fish, it’s usually something like a bluefish they’re referring to). LB probably doesn’t use them much for that reason – they’re the kind of fish that gave “fishy” a bad name. But they can be quite nice if you don’t come home with an entire cooler full of filets, which we did. :< After six months, I never wanted to see another bluefish again in my life. Fortunately, I don't think we have them out on the Best Coast.
Amy,
I’ll be in NYC around 5 Sept – 15 September. Exhibition downtown. I think I told you about it. Will you be around? Exhibition is on Sept 10 at The Emily Harvey Foundation Gallery… Would be nice to see you.
Matthew
MATTHEW.ROSE.PARIS at GMAIL dot COM
Matthew – Bien sur I’ll be here! Ping me when you get closer to your voyage!
SAS – Well, I guess you learn something new everyday. I thought it was an expression for fish with blue-ish skin! I don’t think we have bluefish on the West Coast and no, I’ve never seen it in the restaurant. Now I’m curious…
There’s a great story about Bluefish at Beyond Salmon:
http://beyondsalmon.blogspot.com/2008/09/lights-camera-bluefish.html
Ms. Glaze – Hope I didn’t sound snarky. Pardon-moi, svp. Indeo’s link to the bluefish story gives a good account of why you haven’t heard of it. It’s not inedible, but it’s very strongly flavored, so a little goes a long, long way.
I don’t know that avocado can be put in BBQ shrimp,,it is my first time to knew that..
Looks delicious. I like avocado. Avocado is very healthy and has many health benefits. It is rich in nutrients and is excellent as conditioner and makes one’s locks lustrous and smooth, it helps to get rid of the frizz from hair, also helps preventing hair loss and its nutrients helps for good hair growth.
When you say “bluefish” what are you referring to?
I’ve been away, so didn’t see this. Others have answered, but here’s my favorite source of all information about bluefish – John Hersey’s Blues.
The avocado has a high nutritional value, in addition to possessing antioxidant properties, which brings many health benefits. Moreover, the avocado is used in natural cosmetics because it is excellent in preventing stretch marks and wrinkles, among other skin disorders for which is particularly useful
Shrimp belong to the group of crustaceans within the seafood, a food that has a low level in fat and calories compared to beef and chicken, beef or pork.
If the opinion is right, they are deprived of the opportunity of exchanging error for truth