Many of the dishes I present on my blog have been in my recipe box for many years. This ouzo marinated shrimp has been updated with a side of fluffy couscous. I wanted to update this recipe with a more healthful substitute for white rice. I chose couscous because it has a mild taste, and it marries easily with Greek spices and flavors. Find ouzo at your local liquor store. It’s a very popular anise-flavored liquor. You can leave out the liquor if you like and just substitute a lemon-olive oil with garlic marinade . Add Greek dried spices such as oregano for a punch of flavor.
- 2 pounds jumbo shrimp, peeled and deveined (28-32)
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoons Greek ouzo
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon Greek basil, or regular basil, coarsely chopped
- 1 box of couscous
- 2 cups chicken or vegetable broth
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 large tomatoes, chopped
- 1 medium cucumber, chopped
- ¼ cup fresh basil
- ½ cup chopped green onions
- ¼ cup toasted pine nuts
- ½ cup raisins, marinated and drained
- 1 tablespoon Greek ouzo
- Place shrimp in a large bowl. Add the lemon juice, garlic, salt, 1 tablespoon ouzo, and add 2 tablespoons olive oil.
- Toss to mix, and set aside in the refrigerator to marinate for at least two hours.
- Heat the grill. Skewer the shrimp, and place on heat. Grill turning once shrimp turn pink, about 4 minutes.
- Place shrimp on platter and sprinkle with remaining olive oil and basil.
- Toast the pine nuts in a small frying pan, until lightly brown. In a small bowl marinate the raisins in 1 tablespoon of ouzo (drain before adding to couscous). Set aside.
- Prepare the couscous according to the package directions substituting the broth for water.
- Add the lemon juice, olive oil, raisins, tomatoes, cucumber, basil, green onions, and pine nuts to the couscous and gently mix.
- Sprinkle with lemon and serve with shrimp skewer.
- Note: The shrimp can be made as an appetizer without the couscous.
Take a look at my other fish dishes:
Greek Grilled Fish with Greens
Thank you for visiting,
Mary
© 2010 – 2020, Mary Papoulias-Platis. All rights reserved.
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That looks fabulous. Is there a substitute for the non-Greek population who don’t happen to have several bottles of Ouzo just hanging out?