TONIGHT'S SOLUTION
Asian Grilled Shrimp Skewers
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TO MAKE THE MEAL
Israeli couscous and grilled zucchini
When you try as many recipes as I do, you usually end up with a refrigerator full of barely used condiments taking up valuable space. As tempting as it is to throw them out, I know that the day after I finally pitch something, I'll need one teaspoon of whatever I just discarded, so I keep them and look to find other recipes which make use of them.
That's why a recent Sheila Lukins recipe from a Sunday Parade magazine caught my eye. It used 1/4 cup of fish sauce, an unappealingly named but tasty addition to Thai and other Asian dishes. Because most recipes call for only a tablespoon or so, a little bottle goes a long way.
I adapted the recipe to fit the "5:30 Challenge" parameters, shortening the marinating time and, to celebrate the season, grilling the shrimp on skewers instead of broiling them all together. The result was a refreshing summer shrimp dish that can be made in a jiffy.
Asian Grilled Shrimp Skewers
4 servings
1/4 cup fish sauce
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
Zest of 2 lemons
1 pound shrimp, peeled, deveined and patted dry
Preheat the grill.
In a bowl, combine the fish sauce, olive oil, sugar and lemon zest. Add the shrimp and stir well to combine. Marinate for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Thread shrimp onto skewers. Brush generously with remaining marinade on both sides. Place skewers on the grill and cook for 2 to 4 minutes per side, brushing frequently with sauce during first minutes of cooking.
Per serving: 245 calories (percent of calories from fat, 40), 23 grams protein, 14 grams carbohydrates, trace fiber, 11 grams fat (2 grams saturated), 175 milligrams cholesterol, 169 milligrams sodium.
Take the 5:30 Challenge. If you have a great-tasting main-dish recipe that uses no more than five ingredients and can be made in 30 minutes or less, tell us. (Salt, pepper, water and oil for greasing a pan don't need to be included in the ingredient list.) You can also suggest a simple side dish if it can be made within the same time. If we publish your recipe, we'll send you an apron with the 5:30 Challenge logo. Send recipes to 5:30 Challenge, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Sixth Floor, 72 Marietta St. N.W., Atlanta, GA 30303. Or by e-mail to fivethirty@ajc.com.
