blackened shrimp with kale caesar salad

Blackened Shrimp with Kale Caesar salad

I have been wanting to make blackened shrimp 🦐 since 2018, just kidding-I'm not sure of the exact date. I think I've been wanting to make blackened shrimp since my husband and I went to a cooking school in New Orleans and bought a jar of their "Joe's Special" spicy cajun spice mixture. The spice mixture smelled fragrant and I couldn't find a use by this date stamp on the jar so I figure I'm good to go with the spicy blackened shrimp. This weeknight dinner could not be easier or more delicious 😋 if you like spicy this is for you.

I had the cajun spice mixture in my pantry, but it's easy to find a version of it in your market. I used about a pound of medium shrimp which is enough for 4 people for a starter or 2-3 generous portions for dinner or my usual favorite- enough for 2 with leftovers for lunch. Just a note- a lightly dressed kale salad served under the spicy shrimp adds a nice leafy 🥬 cooling green structure to this dish, making a satisfying meal with both protein and veg in each bite, thank you very much.

Ingredients and Recipe for Blackened Shrimp with kale Caesar salad

serves 2-3

1 pound medium shrimp, peeled and deveined, rinsed and drained in a colander

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

2 garlic 🧄 cloves, minced

2 tablespoons cajun spices, I used Joe's Special Cajun Seasonings

1 bunch curly leaf kale, washed, dried and torn into bite size pieces

Caesar dressing, homemade or bottled

Parmesan cheese, grated

Sprinkle the cajun spices on the shrimp, evenly coat the shrimp with spices. I spread the shrimp out on a flat surface and tossed them with the spices.

Heat the butter and oil in a large skillet, sauté the garlic for about 30 seconds.

Sauté the shrimp first on one side for 1-2 minutes, depending on the size, don't overcook.

Flip each shrimp over and cook the other side for 1-2 minutes, don't overcrowd the pan, you will probably have to cook the shrimp in two batches. I added a sprinkle of freshly ground black pepper to the cooking shrimp. The shrimp 🍤 turn pink with a light brown coating of the cooked spices, they don't really turn black, see above photo.

Remove the cooked shrimp to a plate while you cook the entire batch.

Place the kale in a bowl and lightly dress your greens with Caesar salad dressing, sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese on top to taste.

Serve the kale salad in shallow bowls with the blackened shrimp on top.

bon appetit.

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