Monicas Japanese Garlic Dollop Shrimp Recipes

ORIGINAL CRAWFISH OR SHRIMP MONICA

Steps:

• 1. Cook pasta in salt water according to the directions on the package. Drain, then rinse under cool water to stop the cooking. Drain again, thoroughly.
• 2. Melt the butter in a large skillet and saute onions and garlic for 3 minutes.
• 3. *If using raw shrimp, add them with the onions and garlic at the beginning.
• 4. Add the crawfish and half-and-half, sauté until bubbly.
• 5. Add Creole seasoning - 1 big pinch then taste. Add more as needed but tasting before adding the next pinch until you think it's right. Add salt if needed. If you've boiled your own crawfish add the crawfish fat to the mixture as well.
• 6. Cook for 5 - 10 minutes over medium heat until the sauce thickens.
• 7. Add the pasta to the pot and toss well. You may not need to use all of the pasta. (I double the recipe when using the whole pound of pasta.) Let it sit for about 10 minutes over very low heat, stirring often.
• 8. Serve immediately, with lots of French bread and a nice white wine. Buon Appetito!
• 9. *COOKS NOTE: Most of the time I use half Heavy Cream and half - Half and Half, or in other words 1 1/3 cups heavy cream and 2/3 cups milk. I generally buy Heavy Cream because it can be cut with milk to make Half and Half. The sauce seems to thicken better than straight Half and Half but using all Heavy Cream is too thick.
• 10. *Tip: The sauce is excellent over Redfish on da Half Shell or grilled filets - I call it Redfish Monica.
• 11. *Options: If you don't have crawfish, use bay scallops, shrimp, lump crabmeat (add last and fold in gently).

GARLICKY SHRIMP MANICOTTI

Steps:

• Pre-heat oven to 400°F.
• Heat the oil in a non-stick frying pan over medium heat (TIP: you can probably use the same pan as you made your manicotti in if you followed my recipe).
• Add the shrimp pieces and the garlic, and cook quickly, stirring, until the shrimp just turns pick; remove from heat.
• Stir in the parsley and season to taste with pepper; set aside.
• Divide the mozzarella in half; cut one of the halves in nine equally-sized strips and cut the other half in small cubes.
• Using a small amount of the marinara sauce, coat the bottom of as many oven-proof baking dishes as needed--manicotti expand during cooking, so don't overcrowd and also bear in mind whether you'll be eating them all at one meal or will have leftovers (see comment in description about re-heating).
• Divide the shrimp mixture equally between the 9 manicotti shells, placing it in a vertical strip on each.
• Lay one strip of mozzarella on each over the shrimp mixture.
• With the vertical strip facing you, bring the left and right sides of the crepe towards the center, folding one over the other and using your hands to make a nice compact tube.
• Place seam-side down in your baking dish and repeat with remaining.
• Top manicottis with the marinara sauce and sprinkle mozzarella cubes over all.
• Bake for 25-35 minutes, or until the cheese has melted and the marinara is bubbly.
• Allow to rest 5 minutes before serving.