Celebrate! - Fun Food Facts

Shrimp Day

A healthy food, shrimp is low in calories and high in levels of omega-3, calcium, iodine, and protein. Shrimp is also known to be considered good for the circulatory system.

Preparing the shrimp for consumption usually involves the removal of the head, shell, tail and "sand vein". There are many ways to cook shrimp. Standard methods of preparation include baking, boiling, broiling, sauteing, frying and grilling. Cooking time is delicate for shrimp, and they are at their best when not overcooked.

The word "prawn" is used loosely to describe any large shrimp, sometimes known as "jumbo shrimp." Some countries use the word "prawn" exclusively for all shrimp. Below is a list of popular shrimp dishes.

Seafood Gumbo: A stew or soup that probably originated in southern Louisiana during the 18th century. Seafood gumbo typically consists of a strongly flavored stock, shrimp and crab meat (sometimes oysters), a thickener, and seasoning vegetables. Gumbo is often categorized by the type of thickener used: okra, the Choctaw spice, file powder (dried and ground sassafras leaves), or roux, the French base made of flour and fat.

Shrimp Cocktail: The Golden Gate was the first to serve this .50 cent shrimp cocktail in 1959. It is now a Las Vegas cliché. Called the "Original Shrimp Cocktail" on the menu, it is a favorite among tourists as well as the locals. The original Shrimp Cocktail consists of a regular-sized sundae glass filled with small salad shrimp and topped with a dollop of cocktail sauce.

Shrimp DeJonghe: A specialty of Chicago, it is a casserole of whole, peeled shrimp blanketed in soft, garlic, sherry-laced bread crumbs. It is served as an appetizer or a main course. It originated in the late 19th or early 20th century at the DeJonghe's Hotel and Restaurant.

Shrimp Scampi: The shrimp in this dish are cooked in butter, garlic, lemon juice and white wine.