Not overrated. Never overrated. Where I grew up in Malaysia we called them prawns, and the head-on rule was non-negotiable. That's where the real flavor lives. You suck the juices straight from the head before you even get to the meat and yes, it sounds gross to the uninitiated, but that concentrated sweetness is worth every raised eyebrow at the table.
Matt, you nailed it. Overcooked shrimp is a cooking problem, not a shrimp problem. Shrimp is one of the most forgiving ingredients when you respect it and one of the most punishing when you don't.
My all time favorite is Har Loke — a Malaysian stir-fry with fermented black beans, ketchup, and oyster sauce. Eat it with a hot steamed bowl of rice, yummy. It sounds unlikely on paper but it is one of the most deeply satisfying shrimp dishes I know. Worth adding to your updated Forrest Gump list.
Glad to hear this and I’m shocked when the heads are skipped. I mean, yes, it’s not for everyone but that mellow though super desirable brine and umami of a pristine shrimp head cannot be beat!!
Not overrated. Never overrated. Where I grew up in Malaysia we called them prawns, and the head-on rule was non-negotiable. That's where the real flavor lives. You suck the juices straight from the head before you even get to the meat and yes, it sounds gross to the uninitiated, but that concentrated sweetness is worth every raised eyebrow at the table.
Matt, you nailed it. Overcooked shrimp is a cooking problem, not a shrimp problem. Shrimp is one of the most forgiving ingredients when you respect it and one of the most punishing when you don't.
My all time favorite is Har Loke — a Malaysian stir-fry with fermented black beans, ketchup, and oyster sauce. Eat it with a hot steamed bowl of rice, yummy. It sounds unlikely on paper but it is one of the most deeply satisfying shrimp dishes I know. Worth adding to your updated Forrest Gump list.
Add it to the list, Matt.
Glad to hear this and I’m shocked when the heads are skipped. I mean, yes, it’s not for everyone but that mellow though super desirable brine and umami of a pristine shrimp head cannot be beat!!
Couldn't agree more with “Overcooked shrimp is a cooking problem, not a shrimp problem"!
Feels like shrimp suffers from being too popular for food people to take seriously sometimes. What’s your personal perfect shrimp preparation?
Raw with soy sauce/butter combination / so the sweetness comes though. Next is fried on the Gulf Coast.
Totally agree that shrimp is NOT overrrated, when properly cooked. Making a red curry shrimp tonight - will not overcook.
I had shrimp tonight myself! It was pretty raw and delightful.