Shrimp: Big in Flavor for a Gluten-Free Diet

Shrimp: Big in Flavor for a Gluten-Free Diet

by Kathleen Reale 

It’s no wonder that shrimp is the number one seafood consumed by Americans. With the convenience of buying them cooked and ready-to-eat, shrimp is a quick, easy & healthy meal choice for today’s busy families that are eating gluten-free.

And while you can purchase shrimp cooked, peeled and deveined – you can also purchase shrimp with the uncooked and shell-on create a real “shrimp-fest” at your own kitchen table.

Following are some pointers, recipes and other tidbits of info to make the most out of this popular seafood:

How to peel and devein shrimp: It is often be less expensive to buy shrimp that needs to be cooked, peeled and deveined. After boiling or steaming the shrimp for several minutes until the shrimp obtain a nice pink color, peel back the sides of the shrimp and pull the shell away from the body. Next pull off any legs and, if desired, the tail. To remove the black strip, or to devein the shrimp, make a shallow cut along the shrimps back with a sharp paring knife, and remove the strip with the knife. There are also special shrimp deveining tools to use for this task too. You can devein a shrimp peeled or unpeeled.

Local Shrimp: If you want to purchase shrimp that was purchased in the United States look for the Wild American Shrimp logo. All fresh and frozen seafood are required to carry an “origin of country” label. Shrimp season usually runs from May through November in the US and most shrimp are caught in the states of Texas and Louisiana.

Need some Cocktail Sauce for dipping? Although shrimp is gluten-free, most store bought cocktail sauces are not. Read labels carefully, or opt to make your own. The benefits of making your own are that you can make it hotter, with the addition of extra hot sauce or horseradish, or tangier with the addition of extra lime or lemon juice.  Here is a recipe for an easy Gluten-Free Cocktail Sauce that can easily be adjusted for taste.

Other classic shrimp recipes… gluten-free style: Need inspiration in incorporating shrimp into your gluten-free diet? Check out these recipes: Easy Szechuan Shrimp; Shrimp Scampi with Fresh Tomatoes; Grilled Shrimp Jalapeno Poppers; or Thai Noodles with Shrimp & Chicken.