Hollywood stars are notorious for keeping strict diets, so you’d think that cooking for celebrities would be a giant headache. But that’s how chef Gary Arabia has built his whole career: He’s been catering in Los Angeles for more than 30 years-awards shows, movie sets, you name it. The main request by Modern Family’s Sofia Vergara and fiance Joe Manganiello for a recent party was just to keep the food “lean, mean and fresh,” Gary says. This shrimp dish turned out to be Manganiello’s favorite of the night; the chef used curry paste to amp up the flavor without adding extra fat. We asked him to share the recipe so you can make it for your own big night.
| Level: | Easy |
| Total: | 25 min |
| Prep: | 15 min |
| Cook: | 10 min |
| Yield: | 4 servings |
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon Thai seasoning
- 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 red onion, minced
- 2 teaspoons Thai panang curry paste
- 24 large shrimp (about 1 1/4 pounds), peeled and deveined, tails intact
- 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 cup coconut milk
- 2 tablespoons fish sauce
- 1 teaspoon chili powder or paprika
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
- Thinly sliced snow peas or other vegetables, for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat a grill to medium high. Toss the shrimp with the olive oil and Thai seasoning in a bowl. Thread onto skewers and grill until marked and just cooked through, 1 to 2 minutes per side. Set aside.
- Heat the vegetable oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add the garlic, red onion and curry paste and cook, stirring, until the onion is just softened, about 1 minute. Add the coconut milk, fish sauce and chili powder; cook until reduced by half, about 3 minutes. Add the heavy cream and bring to a simmer. Cook, stirring constantly, until thickened, about 3 minutes.
- Divide the sauce among 4 plates. Arrange the shrimp on top and garnish with snow peas.
Nutrition Facts
| Serving Size | 1 of 4 servings |
| Calories | 579 |
| Total Fat | 48 g |
| Saturated Fat | 18 g |
| Carbohydrates | 6 g |
| Dietary Fiber | 1 g |
| Sugar | 2 g |
| Protein | 32 g |
| Cholesterol | 378 mg |
| Sodium | 1987 mg |
Reviews
Confused about the use of chili powder or paprika? Very different flavors. Would someone be able to clarify?
Excellent! Very easy to prepare, delivers a burst of flavor with every bite.