Shrimp Stuffed Eggplant

• 2 medium eggplants, cut in half lengthwise


• 1 Tbs. olive oil


• 2 cloves garlic, minced


• 1 lb. canned peeled tomatoes, coarsely chopped


• 2 tsp. chives or scallions, chopped


• 1/4 cup black olives, pitted and halved


• 1 lb. cooked shrimp , thawed and drained


• 1 cup seasoned breadcrumbs


• 2 ounces Swiss cheese, grated

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Scoop out eggplant meat leaving a 1/2 inch thick shell.

Set shells aside.

Chop eggplant flesh.

Heat oil in a heavy nonstick skillet over medium heat.

Stir in garlic and eggplant flesh.

Cover and cook 5-7 minutes or until eggplant is soft, stirring occasionally.

Stir in tomatoes, chives and olives.

Increase heat to medium high and simmer 5-7 minutes.

Remove from heat.

Stir in shrimp , breadcrumbs and half the cheese.

Spoon filling into eggplant shells.

Sprinkle with remaining cheese.

Bake 35-40 minutes or until top is brown and bubbly.

Fried Shrimp and Peas

Ingredients:
150g raw shrimp, unshelled
1 medium size onion
150g of beef
½ cup of peas
Spring onions
2 eggs
1 teaspoon of salt
Pepper (shred)
Groundnut oil
Seasoning (1 knorr chicken cube, curry and thyme)
2 teaspoons of water
1 teaspoon cornstarch

Method:

Remove the shell and rinse the shrimp properly, cut into small pieces, season with half a cube of knorr chicken, salt, onion, curry and thyme and set aside for 20 minutes. Wash the beef, season and cook until it becomes soft and dice it. Dice the onion as well as the spring onion. Pour some oil into the frying pan, when it becomes hot stir fry the diced beef and peas for a while then, pour into a plate and set it aside. Shred the pepper, stir fry the pepper, shrimp and the onion as well and set aside. Break the eggs into a plate add some salt and beat with a fork and set aside. Heat the frying pan and add very little groundnut oil, when it becomes hot pour about half of the egg and cook for a while, when it is thoroughly cooked, turn it over so that both sides are cooked. Cook the other half of the egg the same way too and cut the egg into thin strips and set aside. Pour all the fried ingredients ( pepper, shrimp, onion, beef, peas, cornstarch, spring onions) together with the exception of the fried egg and mixed them together properly, then pour into a plate and garnish it with the fried egg.

Titilayo Ajumobi is a system administrator who loves to cook and likes to experiment with different dishes to get the best out of them. For more information on different African dishes visit http://african-dishes.blogspot.com/ .

Shrimps and Green Beans

Ingredients:

Shrimps:

* ¾ - 1 pound shrimps – raw, peeled, deveined

Marinate:

* 1 TBSP. rice vinegar
* 1 tsp. kosher salt
* ¼ tsp. black pepper
* 1 TBSP. cornstarch
* 2 tsps. sesame oil

Vegetables:

* 1 ½ pounds green beans – trimmed and blanched
* ½ large onion – sliced
* 3 bunches green onions – chopped
* 6 garlic cloves – smashed, peeled and chopped
* 8 dried hot chili peppers (optional)
* 5 TBSPs. vegetable oil or olive oil - divided
* 1 TBSP. sesame seeds

Sauce:

* 3 TBSPs. oyster sauce
* 2 TBSPs. teriyaki sauce
* 1 ½ TBSPs. cornstarch
* 1 tsp. sugar
* 1 ½ cups shrimp stock, chicken stock or water
* ¼ - ½ tsp. ground hot peppers (optional)

Trim green beans and chop them into 2 inch pieces. Boil water and add 1 tablespoon kosher salt. Blanch green beans in boiling and salted water for 3 minutes. Remove, drain and set aside.

Prepare the sauce as directed above.

Heat a wok and add 3 tablespoons oil. Add blanched green beans and stir fry about 3 minutes or until slightly wilted. Remove onto a plate and set aside.

Reheat the wok and add the remaining 2 tablespoons oil. Stir in garlic, onions, green onions, and hot chili peppers. Stir fry about 2 minutes. Add the marinated shrimps and stir fry until shrimps are pink, about 4 minutes. Create a well in the middle of the wok by pushing the shrimps, garlic, onions and peppers to the side. Add the sauce and rapidly bring it to a boil over high heat, while stirring constantly! Turn the heat to medium and stir the shrimps, vegetables and the sauce. Add the stir fried green beans. Stir until the green beans are coated with the sauce and mixed well with the shrimps and other vegetables. Sprinkle sesame seeds and serve over egg noodles or white rice.

For egg noodles… follow cooking directions on package. (I add 2 tsps. sesame oil and 3 tsps. kosher salt to the boiling water before cooking the egg noodles.)

Pork and Shrimp Rice Sticks

Most of the ingredients used for this recipe should be readily available at any Asian or Thai stores. Also check your local super markets, and that includes Super Wal- Mart, as most of them carry Asian or International ingredients. As for the Pad Thai Sauce, it is OK to omit this, though there will be a slight different in taste. (I’ve made another version of this dish for my son, without the Pad Thai Sauce because of its peanut content. It came out just as good.)

Ingredients:

* 1 pound thinly sliced pork (see marinade below)
* 1 pound shrimp – raw, peeled, deveined (see marinade below)
* 1 pack (14 ounces) Oriental Style Noodles (flat rice noodles or sticks)
* ½ pound bean sprouts – washed and drained
* 5 garlic cloves – smashed, peeled and chopped
* ½ medium onions – thinly sliced
* 3 bunches green onions – chopped
* 1½ cups filtered water
* 4 eggs - lightly scrambled and cooked separately
* ½ cup ground roasted peanuts or almonds (see notes below)
* 7 TBSPs. vegetable or peanut oil

Marinade for Pork and Shrimp:

* 2 ½ TBSPs. rice vinegar
* 2 tsp. kosher salt
* ½ tsp. freshly ground black pepper
* 4 tsps. cornstarch (divided)

Mix marinade ingredients. Whisk until salt and cornstarch dissolve. Set aside.

Place pork and shrimp in 2 separate bowls.

Split the marinade equally and pour over pork and shrimp. Marinade both pork and shrimp for at least 30 minutes at room temperature, while you chop the vegetable and prepare the other ingredients.)

Wash the noodles with warm water and drain. Cut noodles into 6 inch lengths and set aside.

Sauce:

* 4 TBSPs. sugar
* 3 TBSPs. fish sauce
* 4 TBSPs. rice vinegar
* 2 TBSPs. Pad Thai Sauce (omit if you can’t find it)
* 1 tsp. ground hot peppers (optional)

*Combine sauce ingredients in a small bowl and set aside.

Heat a large wok or large, deep skillet. Add 2 tablespoons oil and sauté garlic, onions and green onions. Sauté until onions are translucent, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a large platter and set aside.

Using the same skillet, add 3 tablespoons oil and stir fry the pork until cooked, about 10 minutes. Add the shrimp and stir fry until color turns pink. Transfer to the same platter with the garlic and onions.

Using the same skillet, add 1 ½ cups filtered water. Bring water to a boil and add the noodles. Stir and boil the noodles until most of the liquid is absorbed, and the noodles are cooked al dente. (Do not over cook the noodles.)

Add the stir fried pork and shrimp, and the sautéed garlic and onions. Stir until all ingredients are well combined and mixed with the noodles. Add the bean sprouts and stir.

Drizzle the sauce over the noodles, pork and shrimp mixture. Stir noodles and other ingredients are coated with the sauce. Turn the heat to very low and keep the skillet covered.

Heat another skillet and add the remaining 2 tablespoons oil. Crack the eggs and lightly scramble using a spatula. Season eggs with ½ tsp. kosher salt and ¼ tsp. freshly ground black pepper. Let the eggs set and cook on one side and turn over to cook the other side. (Your eggs should resemble an omelet.) Tear the eggs into large pieces and add to the noodles.

Serve noodles with ground roasted peanuts or almond nuts.

Shrimp Salad with Eggs

• 2 cups cooked peeled shrimp
• 1/2 cup celery, diced
• 1 teaspoon onion, finely chopped
• 1/3 cup mayonnaise
• 1/4 cup chili sauce
• 3 tablespoons lemon juice
• 3 hard-cooked eggs
• lettuce or mixed greens

Preparation: Chill shrimp until salad is ready to be mixed. Combine shrimp, celery, onion and eggs. Blend mayonnaise, chili sauce and lemon juice. Toss all ingredients lightly. Heap into lettuce cups or over mixed greens.
Chill and serve on 4-5.