Hi.
When I set out to write this post, I wanted it to be A) wise B) funny C) life-changing. Things changed in the past hour and the staring game I’ve been playing with a box of acrylic paints has convinced me that I need to set this past weekend in stone. Lest I forget. I forget weekends a lot. The first question people ask here on a Monday morning is: How was your weekend? If there was extreme weather, forget about mentioning anything dire. Nobody will care X 100000. This time, I decided to prepare*.
“So, how was your weekend?”
Me: Glad you asked. I woke up on Saturday with ants in my pants. I hate relaxing. If I tell you I relaxed all weekend, don’t believe me. I ran. If I was going to finish off the rest of that pizza, I needed to make more room. My insides can only take 4 slices of a medium pizza at a time. Plus, somebody gave me a box of Top Pot donuts on Friday sooooooo. As soon as I got home, I celebrated by eating my first slice of pizza with a side of 2 eggs. I am not an animal. I showered and watched my first movie of the day: The Skeleton Twins. It was on iTunes for $1 (rent, not buy). As if I needed convincing…KRISTEN WIIG. Hello. My short review is that this movie is worth more than $1. My long review doesn’t exist. After the movie, which wrecked my insides, I proceeded to work on food illustrations for the next 7 hours. It was a productive and healing time for me. Making art and eating pizza is the best thing you can do for yourself on a Saturday. Once I finished creative pursuit #3, I went to creative pursuit #4, watching another movie – Amour – all by myself, under a blankie. I can’t understand why all I want to do is emotionally destroy myself. Oh yes. It’s because I had leftover donuts.
On Sunday, lest we forget, we went to our (my) favourite grocery store and bought more shrimp, a side of salmon and lots (I’m not even joking) of vegetables. We searched in vain for cheese samples and left for home to eat more donuts and drink coffee, like Americans. Soon after I cleaned the fish and marinated shrimp, I sat down to watch Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. I never stopped. I couldn’t. I have never binge-watched anything before and in order to stay true to myself, I slept through the last episode. Pinot Noir hasn’t stopped playing in my mind cassette. As for the shrimp and kale food, it was amazing. The shrimp will never be as good as it is in Goa but it was a brave attempt and I’m willing to give it many chances until December. That’s when I’ll eat all the in-between small and fat-sized prawns. Fair warning, tourist season.
How was your weekend?
Goan-style shrimp and grits
This recipe is my interpretation of a Goan dish called “kismur”. It’s usually made with tiny dehydrated shrimp or fish. While I’ve always loved the coconut part of the recipe, I could never eat the shrimp because they always jabbed the inside of my cheek. I decided to use fresh shrimp instead and serve it over grits, a new favourite comfort food for me thanks to the Kiss My Grits food truck that spoilt us last summer. This recipe needs no “notes”, but one and that is a note of thanks to Gabby for giving me a bag of grits straight from South Carolina! THANK YOU, G-DAWG (I’m inviting you over again so I can make you this).
Ingredients
For the grits
- Recipe from Sean Brock’s Heritage as posted on Food 52. I halved the ingredients in Food 52 recipe for this post.
For the shrimp + coconut (kismur)
- 8 shrimp, peeled and deveined (keep the tails on)
- ½ tsp chili powder
- ½ tsp ground turmeric
- Juice of ¼ of a lime
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1 tbsp +1 tbsp coconut oil, divided
- 2 tsp garlic, finely chopped
- 1 Thai green chili, finely chopped
- 3/4 cup green onions, chopped into rounds
- 1 cup fresh grated coconut (You can also use frozen, which you should find at any Indian grocery store in the US)
- Pinch of garam masala
- Salt to taste
- Chopped parsley, butter and lime to serve/garnish
Marinate the shrimp with chili powder, turmeric, lime juice and salt and let it sit covered in the fridge for a minimum of 1 hours to a maximum of 6 hours.
Cook the grits, cover and set them on the stove on very low heat while you cook the toppings.
Heat 1 tbsp of coconut oil in a frying pan on medium heat and add the garlic and chilli to it. Stir frequently for about 30 seconds making sure that the ingredients do not burn. Add the green onions next and sauté for about a minute. Next, add the coconut and fry it for about 4-5 minutes or until the coconut browns slightly. Take the frying pan off the heat as soon as this happens and add a pinch of garam masala and salt to taste. Empty the coconut mixture into a bowl and set aside.
Once the shrimp is ready to fry, heat 1 tbsp of coconut oil in a frying pan on medium-high heat. Add the shrimp to the pan. It should sizzle as soon as it touches the pan. Cook for a minute to a minute and a half on one side and turn the shrimp over. Cook for a minute more and take the pan off the heat. Stir the coconut mixture into the pan and toss to coat the shrimp. Place the contents of the pan back into the bowl.
To serve: Spoon a heap of grits into a bowl and top with the shrimp and coconut. Serve hot/warm with chopped parsley, a wedge of lime and more butter.
I just started watching The Unbreakable etc and I wanted so badly to binge but the kid wouldn’t sleep and now she might be asleep but I’m too afraid to wake her with my hysterical laughter! This blog is easily as addictive though, so there’s that.
I never binge watch anything because I’m very sad when things end. It’s the same reason why I read book VERY slowly. I’d love to be the “I’m-reading-eight-books-in-two-days” kind of person but I’m not emotionally capable. I think your daughters could watch the show, right? I’m not a parent and my mother used to watch Dynasty (is that what it’s called?) and Santa Barbara with us around when we were 4 and 5. I remember, mom and I’m doing just fine.
Sorry, but I had to butt in- my mum used to watch santa barbra and dynasty as well! oh, and bold and the beautiful!!!! however, unlike you, I feel it might have scarred me just a little :/ I love love this post- I’ve never had grits, it sounds very fascinating! And the photos look beautiful!
Hey Kathija! Never be sorry for joining a “conversation”. Actually, never be sorry at all! Unless you murder someone…in that case, I’m not sure the best of us can be helped. How did it scar you?! Please tell me because I have watched it so much and I closed my eyes whenever they kissed. Eeeeks. As for the grits, it’s dried ground corn which when cooked in water turns into a comforting gruel-like think…almost like sooji. You can top it with wonderous things too.
hahaha! i never closed my eyes, i probably should have! I had imagined grits to be like quinoa on steroids. I’ll have to research further! -Aysha PS: I’ve been trying to come up with an indianized pot pie recipe, and i am SO JEALOUS of your aloo gobi one. sounds super delish.
I called you Kathija…ooops. My sister had a friend with that name so I thought it was you. I’m sure you can come up with an even better pot pie. It’s so easy! Now if you can create an Indian-inspired mac and cheese, I will be your best friend for life 🙂
it’s so funny you should mention that because I DO!!!! and it’s the best. I’ll pass on the recipe. and i love your spring cleaning post. I have a huge writing project that I’m putting off by reading through your lovely blog 🙂
Yes! You can email it to me edlyngd@gmail.com. I love mac and cheese. Hope you’re doing well!
I LOVE KRISTEN WIIG!!!! (And I used to not really like eating shrimp when I was a wee lass but I do love the taste of them, now! Especially the Goan varieties, and some of the fried crispy kinds… My mouth is watering, just thinking of the aroma alone.)
The Goan shrimp can convert anybody! I am sort of picky about the size of the shrimp I eat (if that makes any sense). It can’t be too big or too tiny. I guess only I know where the perfect medium is. YAY TO KRISTEN WIIG!
*about the // P.S. Discovered THE CALIFORNIANS only very recently. Hehehehehehehehehehehe!
This looks so good. I wish I was allowed to cook seafood in my house 🙁 Moved from an allergic mother’s home to an allergic husband’s. Aargh.
That sucks. Aren’t you able to keep the seafood separately when you cook it? My husband is allergic to broccoli. Not really but he complains like he is. I cook it anyway. It’s like Rev’s methi palak paratha post.
Haha no the smell of it others him – so I can’t really bring in seafood into the house. Once in a rare while, I order fish for Chinese takeout but never store leftovers. buying raw fosh, storing it and cooking is a TOTAL no-no. Aaargh.
Okay, have you ever eaten the Kerala-style, dry, prawn pickle? It is quite YUM! I know how to pickle vegetables very recently. (I am so dumb!)
Okay, have you ever eaten the Kerala-style, dry, prawn pickle? It is quite YUM! I learnt how to pickle vegetables very recently. (I am so dumb!)
P.S. Delete that previous comment… MAJOR TYPO!
This post had me laughing out loud.
I got here from The Malabar Tea Room and didn’t leave. For a long time.
Your pictures are beautiful, and I love how you write!
Hey Richa! Thank you for leaving a comment. I really love it when people (especially fellow bloggers) stop by and say hi. It helps me find more people to follow rather than just have my brain saturated by a few American blogs (not a bad thing but I love/want LOVE diversity). Thank you for all the nice things you say. I looked you up as soon as you commented but I was also in bed falling asleep. What I’m trying to say is: Can’t wait to read about your culinary adventures!
Ditto on the diversity bit 😉