Selby’s Jerk Shrimp & Quinoa

Every once in a while someone sends me a food picture that is just…”screen-lick-worthy.”

Such is the case with Selby’s Jerk Shrimp & Quinoa. I mean look at it. I know from VAST experience from island food that it has a kick to it (so proceed with caution if you don’t do well with even slightly spicy foods). And the sauce looks luscious, the shrimp plump and succulent, the quinoa perfectly cooked. Sigh. 

Basically I wanted to reach through the computer screen and have a bite.

I’m posting this earlier than I normally would on a Saturday (the Google tells me that weekend posting should be done in the evening!) but I wanted to give you guys a chance to get the ingredients to create your own little island escape dinner if you wanted. 

Enjoy. And thanks Selby!

Selby’s Jerk Shrimp & Quinoa

• 1 c. quinoa 
• 1 c. chicken broth (Selby used Goya chicken bouillon pack reconstituted with 1 c. of water)
• 1 c. crushed pineapple juice from a can of crushed pineapple 
• 10 shrimp
• Jerk sauce mild or hot your choice 
• 1 scallion sliced
• Crushed pineapple, to taste

Selby’s Instructions:

The recipe was really super easy the longest cook time was the quinoa . 

I rinsed 1 cup of quinoa really really good like 4 or five times. Rinsing removes the bitterness associated with quinoa . (Nik note: I don’t rinse quinoa and never noticed any bitterness but if you have, go for it!)

I placed quinoa in microwave safe bowl and a added 1 cup of chicken stock, 1 cup  unsweetened pineapple juice from a can of crushed pineapples . 

Cover and microwave until liquid is absorbed. Mine took about 10 minutes (there was still a slight amount of liquid but it absorbed as it sat covered).  

Taste and adjust seasonings with garlic powder, onion powder, scallions, pepper, and some crushed pineapple .

The shrimp was super easy I peeled and deveined the shrimp and sautéed them in store bought jerk sauce. I sometimes add a little of the pineapple juice to the shrimp if the jerk is too spicy.  

Cook shrimp just until no longer pink . Plate with a serving of quinoa on the bottom and top with shrimp!

A few Nik Notes (in the spirit of playing with your food):

• I am totally making this!!!
• I’d probably add more veggies, colorful ones! I’d at least do some diced onions and tri-color diced peppers, chopped small and mix those directly into the quinoa before microwaving for a “confetti rice” sort of look.
• Again, a disclaimer: you can certainly buy mild jerk sauce but jerk, by nature, is always going to be at least a bit spicy.