Low Calorie Main Dish Seafood & Fish

Summer Shrimp Succotash

June 19, 2014

Get ready to click the print or save to recipe button on this one! It’s been a few months since I’ve made a shrimp dish, which is really a shame because they cook so quickly, are packed with protein, and are low in calorie. Let’s not forget they’re completely delicious and can take on almost any flavor combo. This Summer Shrimp Succotash is going to absolutely knock your socks off! There was really nothing that special about it when I chose this recipe, I just wanted shrimp and veggies. Holy cow did I stumble upon a lip-smackin’ keeper!

Summer Shrimp Succotash

So, how’s it taste?

I guess I gave it away that it turned out above and beyond anything I could imagine. It’s such a simple dish with tons of veggies and that yummy, perfect shrimp. The recipe starts out with you sautéing shrimp tails. Say what? Yep, I pulled them off and threw them in a pan with olive oil. I actually almost skipped this step because I thought it was weird and was feeling too lazy to strain it after. Curiosity got the best of me, thankfully. DO NOT skip this step! It makes the most wonderful 1/2 cup of flavor-packed, savory liquid that will ever come out of your kitchen.

Summer Shrimp Succotash

I didn’t want to drive across town to get fava beans (and also that lazy thing about not wanting to shell and peel them), so I substituted frozen Fordhook lima beans. This type of lima bean is huge, so it mimics the size of favas. You know I’m a big texture-contrast fan, and this dish makes me happy. Crunchy green beans and corn, creamy limas, juicy shrimp, all mixed with a rich, buttery sauce. Yep, low calorie and I’m talking butter. You’re going to be licking your lips after this one. I feel like it’s a dish I’d order in a fancy restaurant and be completely lost in every bite. The fresh herbs really bring it all together, except the dill gets outshined a bit with the tarragon. I’m going to try it again with half the amount of tarragon, or perhaps just more dill!

I hope you add this to your shrimp recipe file. It’s a definite must-try!

Yield: 4 servings (1 1/2 cups)

Total Time: 1 hr 10 min

Summer Shrimp Succotash

Ingredients:

3/4 pound jumbo shrimp
2 tbsp. olive oil, divided
1 cup unsalted chicken stock (or chicken broth)
8 cups water
3 cups shelled fava beans (about 4 1/2 pounds unshelled beans) (or 2 cups fordhook lima beans, frozen)
1 cup (1-inch) diagonally cut green beans (about 1/4 pound)
2 tbsp. butter, divided
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 shallots, minced
1 1/2 cups fresh corn kernels (about 3 ears) (or whole kernel corn, frozen)
1/2 tsp. kosher salt
1 tbsp. chopped fresh dill
1 tbsp. chopped fresh tarragon
1/2 tsp. hot sauce (I used Sriracha)
2 tbsp. reduced-fat sour cream
1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

Directions:

1. Peel and devein shrimp, reserving shells. Set shrimp aside.

2. Heat a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add 1 tablespoon oil to pan. Add shrimp shells; sauté 5 minutes. Add stock. Bring to a boil; cook until liquid is reduced to 1/2 cup. Strain liquid through a sieve into a bowl; discard shells. Reserve liquid.

3. Fill a large bowl with ice water. Bring 8 cups water to a boil in a large saucepan or Dutch oven. Add fava beans to pan; cook 1 minute. Remove with a slotted spoon. Plunge fava beans into ice water; cool completely. Drain well. Remove and discard tough outer shell from fava beans. Add green beans to boiling water; cook 2 minutes. Plunge green beans into ice water; cool completely. Drain well. (If you're using the frozen lima beans, cook according to package directions, adding the green beans for the last 2 minutes of cooking. Drain well.)

4. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add remaining oil and 1 tablespoon butter. Add garlic and shallots; sauté 2 minutes. Add corn; sauté 2 minutes. Add shrimp, reserved shrimp liquid, and salt; cook 3 minutes. Add fava beans, green beans, remaining 1 tablespoon butter, dill, tarragon, and hot sauce; cook 3 minutes or until shrimp are done. Remove from heat. Stir in sour cream and pepper.

per serving: 340 calories, 15.8g fat, 22g protein, 30g carbs, 7g fiber

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  • Alexandra June 19, 2014 at 8:21 am

    Love that the sour cream is stirred in at the end, so I can set aside the sour-cream-hating-husband’s portion and go to town with mine! Have some shrimp in the freezer, so this might just have to go on our meal plan for next week! Awesome recipe, Leah! (love that shrimp tail sauteeing bit, too.)

    • Leah Short June 19, 2014 at 9:20 am

      I can’t live without sour cream! Happy you can modify this so the hubs will enjoy it too. I was pretty sad when the leftovers were gone.

  • Olivia - Primavera Kitchen June 19, 2014 at 8:33 am

    Leah, this is one of my favourite dishes – shrimp and veggies. I always cook with shrimp because it is low in calorie, quick to make and tastes great. Love that you used lima beans in here 😉

    • Leah Short June 19, 2014 at 9:20 am

      Thanks, Olivia! So right about the shrimp…it’s darn near perfect.

  • Shannon @ Bake. Frost. Repeat. June 19, 2014 at 9:17 am

    That dish looks so good! I love shrimp any way you serve it.
    And the pic is pretty awesome!!

    • Leah Short June 19, 2014 at 9:21 am

      Thanks! I can’t wait to setup another “scene” with my new lens. 😉 I think you would go bonkers over the sauce in this. Hope you try it!

  • Natalie @ Tastes Lovely June 19, 2014 at 10:39 am

    What a great idea to sautee the shrimp tails! I’ve seen other recipes that will keep the shrimp shell and throw it in the stock. It must give it tons of flavor. This is the perfect summer dinner. Can’t wait to whip it up Leah!

    • Leah Short June 19, 2014 at 10:51 am

      Yes! I thought it was so weird, but you’d never believe all the flavor in them for a sauce. Crazy!

  • Brittney June 19, 2014 at 5:58 pm

    YUM! This looks absolutely delicious!!
    New fb follower!
    -Brittney

  • Sues June 19, 2014 at 10:35 pm

    What an interesting dish. I bet it was awesome!!

  • Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice June 20, 2014 at 7:34 am

    I love this dish! I could eat shrimp just about all the time. Sounds like this goes perfectly with the veggies!

  • mary @ minutes per mile June 20, 2014 at 9:26 am

    interesting tip about using the tails to flavor the oil! shrimp is so dang expensive that i’m always happy to get the most out of it when i cook! 🙂

  • Kathi @ Deliciously Yum! June 20, 2014 at 9:48 am

    Love, love, love this. It’s definitely a must-try. Such a great and beyond beautiful dish to whip up this time of year 🙂

  • dina June 21, 2014 at 11:32 am

    this sounds delicious!

  • Isadora @ she likes food June 23, 2014 at 7:02 pm

    I don’t cook with shrimp much either, but every time I eat it, I remember how much I love it! I love this summer succotash dish! So seasonal and I bet it tastes amazing!

  • Maggie July 3, 2014 at 10:06 am

    What a lovely dish! I love cooking with shrimp but never thought I could add beans too. Talking about balance of nutrition! I love the herbs you used in the recipe, sounds refreshing and delicious. 🙂