Guest Author - Martha McKinnon

If you love shrimp and cilantro, here's one of my favorite easy authentic Mexican recipes that's quick enough for a weeknight supper and also special enough for a weekend gathering with friends.

This authentic Mexican dish, Shrimp in Cilantro Sauce, comes from the Gulf Coast of Mexico, where fish and shellfish are plentiful. You just make a simple green sauce from tomatillos, cilantro, and a few other ingredients and then add the shrimp and cook until done. Serve it over a bed of rice for a deliciously satisfying main course.

Perfectly ripe tomatillos are firm and pale green with a delightful tart flavor. You can find them in the produce section, near the chile peppers, of most larger urban grocery stores. You can also make this dish even quicker and easier, by starting with your favorite jar of green salsa.

Shrimp in Cilantro Sauce Recipe

1 pound fresh or frozen uncooked large shrimp
1 tablespoon cooking oil
4 to 5 tomatillos, husked, rinsed, and chopped (1 cup)
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 to 2 fresh jalapeno or serrano chile peppers, seeded and finely chopped
1/2 cup chicken broth
1/2 cup lightly packed cilantro sprigs
1/2 cup lightly packed parsley sprigs
Salt and pepper
3 cups hot cooked rice

If your shrimp are frozen, defrost them. Peel and devein the shrimp. Pat them dry with paper towels and set aside while you make the green sauce.

In a large skillet, heat the cooking oil over medium high heat until it glistens. Add the tomatillos, onion, garlic, and jalapeno pepper and cook until the onion is tender, about 5 minutes.

Remove from the heat and allow to cool slightly. Place the tomatillo mixture in a blender. Add the chicken broth, cilantro, and parsley. Cover and blend until smooth. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Return the tomatillo mixture to the skillet and heat over medium high heat until bubbly. Add the shrimp and cook until the shrimp are done. This will depend on the size of your shrimp, about 3 to 5 minutes.

To serve, spoon the shrimp in tomatillo cilantro sauce over a bed of rice.

Makes 4 servings of Shrimp in Cilantro Sauce.