Drunken Shrimp and Mango Salad

This recipe was created from a bottle of unopened Jack Daniels sitting in the freezer. How many people can say they were inspired by a bottle of Jack?! Hey it was early afternoon and I needed a siesta, what better way to fall asleep than after eating this meal? I don’t mean food coma, but rather a light and delicious meal incorporating some of that liquor you swore you would never drink back in your college days, yeah you know what I’m talking about. (Un)fortunately for you, there is only a small amount of liquor in this dish, but enough to give you that nice smoky flavor of whiskey, feel free to substitute the whiskey for rum. The mango in this salad adds nice color and serves as a great contrast to the glazed shrimp. Always try to use fresh shrimp whenever you can, as the flavor in the marinade will soak in more. I used a little balsamic vinegar as a simple salad dressing over the top, or you can toss the salad in some leftover glaze. Happy Eating

Drunken Shrimp and Mango Salad

Serves 2

16 medium shrimp, peeled and devined

2 tablespoons plus 1/2 tablespoon fresh lime juice (1.5 limes)

2 tablespoons whiskey

1.5 tablespoons brown sugar

1/2 tablespoon finely grated peeled fresh ginger

1 teaspoon cornstarch

coarse salt and fresh ground pepper

1 ripe but firm mango, peeled

4 cups baby greens

1/2 cup shredded carrots

1/2 cup orange cherry tomatoes

1 teaspoon black sesame seeds

Directions

1. Make glaze: In a small saucepan, combine lime juice with whiskey, sugar, and ginger; bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat; simmer, whisking occasionally, until slightly thickened, about 3 minutes.  In a separate bowl, whisk together cornstarch and 1 tablespoon water, stir into the lime-juice mixture until thickened, about 30 seconds. Remove from the heat; let cool.

2. Salt and pepper the shrimp and brush the glaze all over and place on the grill.

3. Serve shrimp on top of baby greens, shredded carrots, tomatoes and diced mangoes. Top with black sesame seeds and a dash of balsamic vinegar.