Seafood has a huge number of beneficial properties. Seafood is rich in iodine and other trace elements beneficial to the human body. Shrimp are an indispensable source of protein for the human body. The absence of natural fats and low carbohydrate content makes this product absolutely harmless to health.

There are a huge number of ways to cook shrimp in order to preserve their beneficial properties and not spoil the taste.

General cooking principles

Shrimp is a high-protein, low-calorie product that requires little cooking time. Most world-famous chefs are sure that shrimp should not be cooked for too long so that they do not lose their taste and turn into something similar to rubber.

Frozen and unshelled shrimp should be boiled for about 8-10 minutes, boiled - frozen ones, which are sold in most stores, are dipped in boiling water for 5 minutes, peeled shrimp are cooked for no more than 3 minutes. Tiger prawns take 6 to 8 minutes to cook.

To prepare shrimp in the easiest way, you need to use the following ingredients:

• shrimps;
• pot;
• water;
• salt.

We perform the following actions:

1. Place the pan on the stove and fill it with water;
2. Turn on the stove and wait until the water in the pan boils;
3. Pour salt into boiling water at the rate of one teaspoon of salt per liter of water;
4. Place shrimp in boiling salted water;
5. After the moment of boiling, we wait for the required time to cook the products, depending on the properties of the shrimp;
6. Place the prepared shrimp on a plate and serve, hot or cold, with mayonnaise, sauce or fresh lemon.

Classic method: shrimp for salads

Salads using shrimp have beneficial dietary properties and excellent taste. The only nuance that can spoil the dish is the possibility of overcooking the shrimp. This will cause them to become rubbery. You can avoid this by following the following recipe:

• the proportion in relation to water should be strict and equal to 1/3;
• salt, bay leaf, black pepper are added to taste;
• shrimp are cooked for 4 to 10 minutes depending on size.

How to cook in spicy brine

The principle of cooking shrimp in a spicy brine in terms of technical manipulations is no different from the usual preparation of small crustaceans. A distinctive feature of this recipe is the use of spicy brine. Depending on the individual preferences of the person who will cook the shrimp, the various taste qualities of the future dish are regulated.

The cook can use all his imagination to prepare this dish. One of the most pleasant, optimal options for brine is to make it from the following ingredients:

• adjika;
• salt;
• peeled onion;
• bay leaf;
• red pepper;
• black pepper;
• vinegar;
• garlic

The ingredients are placed in boiling water, after which the brine is simmered for 15-20 minutes. Place the shrimp in the pan and cook. After cooking, it is advisable to let them steep in hot brine for some time; this will allow them to soak the food even better, which will ultimately lead to the appearance of interesting, exciting, slightly spicy and slightly pungent taste qualities.

Particularly popular among gourmets is a recipe that uses beer as the basis for a specific and interesting brine. Most chefs suggest using dark beers as a basis for future brine.

Cooking shrimp in a spicy beer brine will require the following ingredients: a liter of dark beer, 2 liters of plain water, a tablespoon of salt, various spices to taste. The most commonly used are bay leaves, allspice, black and red pepper. Water and beer are mixed in a saucepan, spices and salt are added, then the resulting mixture is brought to a boil. Then the shrimp are placed in the pan and cooked for a certain time, which depends on the size of the individual specimens.

It is advisable not to rush to remove crustaceans from the brine; you need to let them sit for a while and soak in it. Usually the dish is served hot.

How and how much to steam in a slow cooker

Most often, you can cook half a kilogram of shrimp at a time. 2 liters of water are poured into the multicooker bowl; it is advisable to add various spices and seasonings to make the taste sensations when consuming food sharper and piquant.

After that, shrimp are laid out on a special stand for steaming food; it is desirable that the layer of shrimp be minimal. Select the “steam cooking” function and set the time for about 10 minutes. It is necessary to remember that the water in the multicooker does not boil immediately, so it is advisable to first bring the water to a boil, and only then start cooking.

There are a huge number of different ways to prepare shrimp: boil, fry, bake, use in salads or seafood mixes. Shrimp are unique and inimitable products that have beneficial properties and are absolutely harmless to the body.

Cooking food is a real science that can be studied for a lifetime, because all the manipulations with food that the cook makes with it are reflected in the taste of the product. However, before you start preparing the dish, you need to select the right ingredients to get a culinary masterpiece.

The correct choice of shrimp is determined by the following criteria:

1. First of all, you need to focus on the size of the sea creatures that will be used to prepare the dish. There are different markings that can be found on bags of shrimp: 50/70, 70/90, 90/120, 30/40, 2/4. It is advisable to choose a package marked 90/120;
2. Seafood should be covered with a thin layer of ice, which in turn indicates that the product was recently caught and retained its beneficial properties and pleasant taste. A large layer of ice indicates that the product has been in the freezer for a long time and has lost its beneficial properties;
3. The presence of snow in the package is an indicator of several defrosting and freezing cycles;
4. It is necessary to inspect the appearance of the purchased shrimp - if black spots are noticed on the tail and heads of the specimens, the shrimp were sick and it is quite dangerous to use them as food; a straight tail indicates that the crustaceans were dead before freezing.

By following the rules, you can protect yourself from purchasing a low-quality product.

A special seasoning for shrimp is lemon. Don't be afraid to use it when serving a dish. There are different options for eating crustaceans with lemon: you can dip the shrimp in lemon juice, or squeeze the lemon juice over the entire dish and sprinkle a little salt on top.

Using the above recipes, you can quickly prepare excellent shrimp, which will not only have a pleasant and interesting taste, but will also benefit the body.

The article collected various simple tips and recipes that will not burden the cook with unnecessary complexity, but at the same time will allow you to create a truly culinary masterpiece that will leave behind pleasant memories of the time and money spent for a long time. Using simple tips, you can protect yourself from purchasing low-quality products that occasionally appear on store shelves.