Shrimp Frits Are Meant for Depleted Weekday Evenings
It took me a whole year, but I finally figured out how to eat on weekdays in quarantine. We were late in the game, but luckily the taste will be just as delicious once “it’s over.” This is a dish that takes about 20 minutes to cook and has four ingredients, two of which are kept in the freezer until you are ready to start cooking. I’m talking about shrimp fries, it’s just a fancy way of saying shrimp and fries. This is the food I cook when I am low on energy but still want something that tastes and feels like a fully realized food.
All you need to make this oily, salty and hearty dinner is a pound of frozen shrimp, a bag of frozen fries, some butter, and any shrimp and fries seasoning. Store shrimp and potatoes in the freezer until you really need them. I’m not talking about those nights when you’re short on time, I’m talking about evenings when you’re tired of takeout food, tired of cooking and tired of life. Once there, pour the frozen shrimp into a colander and place them under cold running water for 7-10 minutes to thaw, stirring every few minutes to thaw evenly. In the meantime, turn on the oven and set it to the temperature specified in the instructions for the French fries bag, then place the fries in the oven.
After the shrimp are thawed, place them on paper towels to dry and check the potatoes. When they are about 5 minutes away, melt four tablespoons of butter in a large skillet over high heat. Once the butter begins to foam and is about to brown, add the shrimp and season with your favorite seasoning mixture. Could you add onions, fresh garlic, or other flavorings? I think, but this is a dish for evenings when you don’t feel like chopping, so grab the garlic salt, Lawry’s, one of Trader Joe’s spice mixes, Tony Chachere, or Cavender’s. Cook and stir the shrimp until they are cloudy and pink on both sides, then add a little wine or vermouth. (I used red and white, sweet and dry; it works.) Let it simmer for just a minute, then remove from heat and finish with lemon if you have one (it’s okay if you don’t).
If you want vegetables, prepare a side dish, or simply chop the onion and sprinkle on top to create the greens. Both are fine, but neither is required. Cover the shrimp with French fries and season with the same mixture you used to make the shrimp. Eat with your hands, using potatoes to remove excess butter sauce. Ketchup and hot sauce are also allowed, as are any other condiments that make you happy.