How to Make Shrimp (Garides) Saganaki
In this recipe I’m giving a traditional Greek shrimp recipe a special twist. I started making tomato sauce like this after the feta pasta craze that swept social media. It makes the sauce so much easier!
Serves 4 - 6
Ingredients
2 lb bag of frozen or fresh shrimp - peeled with tails on
4 pints of grape tomatoes
½ cup olive oil
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp black pepper
½ tsp oregano
2 cups vegetable oil
1 2 ounce shot ouzo
½ lb high quality feta cheese
fresh parsley for garnish
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Add the tomatoes to a baking dish. Toss them with the olive oil, salt and pepper and oregano and bake them for 30 minutes, or they are collapsed and easily pressed down with a fork.
While the tomatoes are baking prepare the shrimp. Rinse and dry the shrimp and place them on a baking sheet lined with paper towels.
Sprinkle the shrimp with salt and pepper, then dip the shrimp in the flour and tap off the excess, return it to the lined pan.
Add the oil to a heavy bottom pan and bring the heat to medium high.
Working in batches, use tongs to add the shrimp to the hot oil carefully and cook them for about 2 minutes per side, when they are cooked they will be pink and lightly golden brown on all sides. Don’t overcook them or they will get tough and rubbery. When all the shrimp are cooked drain the oil out of the pan into a heat-safe container and set aside to cool.
Once the tomatoes are cooked remove them from the oven and press them down with a fork or potato masher until they form a chunky aromatic tomato sauce.
Bring the shrimp pan back to the stove and add all the shrimp into the pan. Pour the shot of ouzo into the pan and light it with a match, a flame will form, and the shrimp will sizzle. Let the shrimp cook until the alcohol has cooked off, about 20-30 seconds.
Add the tomato sauce to the pan, sprinkle the feta on top and stir everything together. It will make a nice creamy sauce.
Remove the pan from the stovetop and garnish it with parsley. Serve hot.