Anyone who has watched the movie Forrest Gump and listened to Bubba’s lines in that story knows that there is no end to creative shrimp recipes. In the movie this is kind of a point of humor but it is true that shrimp can be made into many wonderful and creative recipes that will delight the chef and the recipients of the meal. Shrimp recipes can be made into very tasty fancy meals or be made into very simple home cooked meals.

Types of Shrimp

There are several types of shrimp that a person needs to become familiar with if they are going to use many shrimp recipes. Coldwater shrimp are often used for canned shrimp and salad shrimp. These shrimp are small in size and are harvested from the northern oceans.

Warm water shrimp are the typical white shrimp that most people are familiar with. Also included in warm water shrimp are brown, pink, tiger, and rock shrimp which are all harvested or farmed in warmer waters such as the Gulf of Mexico or Asian waters. These shrimp vary in size from very small to the colossal which are often used as prawns.

The third type of shrimp is the fresh water shrimp which are actually a different species. These shrimp can grow very large and are often seen in display tanks. They can be used in cooking and have a reputation for a mild taste and soft texture.

Warm Water Shrimp Recipes

The average person is most familiar with the white and pink shrimp (Excluding the bay and salad shrimp). This type of shrimp is great for many shrimp recipes. One favorite way to prepare these shrimp is to marinade them and grill them. The shrimp can be either placed on skewers or a fish grill rack can be used to keep the shrimp from falling into the grill. The shrimp will take very little time to cook and care needs to be taken not to overcook them. A nice marinade for grilled shrimp is using a combination of cilantro, garlic, lime juice, olive oil, and salt to taste. These flavors will blend nicely and compliment the shrimp.

Recipes using shrimp in Mexican or Spanish food are very delightful. One such popular shrimp recipe is shrimp enchiladas. The shrimp are substituted for the meat or cheese which is traditionally wrapped in tortillas and a seasoned white sauce is used along with a Mexican cheese. Shrimp can also be used in tacos or fajitas with great success. For something a little more creative a chef may want to try making a shrimp tortilla soup. Whatever the recipe, using a little creativity will make shrimp into a wonderful meal.