This Peanut Zoodles and Spicy Shrimp salad might be my favorite summer dish of all time! It isn't going to replace potato salad, grilled corn, pasta salads, or fried chicken, all my childhood favorites, but it is definitely on my must-have list!!! All the spices mixed into the creamy peanut butter and then the fun shape of the zucchini and those sweet shrimp just make my taste buds happy. I hope you try it and have the same happy feeling as me!
Ok, maybe this should be called zucchini noodles with peanut sauce and shrimp. I think it's easier to get people to try zoodles over zucchini noodles. Especially someone that doesn't like veggies. This is a fun way to trick kids and adults into trying a new veggie dish.
Making the Peanut Zoodles and Spicy Shrimp
This comes together quickly after the prep work is done. First, remove the shells from the shrimp. TIP: If the shrimp are frozen place them in some warm water. They will thaw in less than 10 minutes. Then the shells can easily be removed. If the shrimp have that "shrimpy" shrimp smell click here for how to remove that smell. ⬅️This trick works every time!!!
Place the shrimp in a small bowl and add the lemon juice. Set aside. Next, prep the zucchini, carrots, and peas.
Now it's time to make the zoodles for the peanut zoodles and spicy shrimp. Cut the ends off the zucchini and rinse them with cold water. To noodle the zucchini, we use an attachment for our KitchenAid but there are several tools available to make the zoodles. Or you can buy the zucchini already "zoodled" at the grocery store.
Use a food processor with the shredding attachment or use a box cheese shredder-Shred the carrots.. Place in a bowl with the zoodles
For the peas bring a small pan of water to a boil, add the peas for one minute no more than three minutes. Drain them from the boiling water and run cold over them to stop them from cooking.
Shrimp
Now cook the shrimp. If adding hot peppers slice the peppers in half. Then add the olive oil to a large saute pan. Heat the olive oil for about 30 seconds until it starts to get hot. Add the garlic and peppers (if using). Toss around for about a minute. Then add the shrimp with the lemon juice. There's going to be nice sizzle when the shrimp are added. Cook for about 5 minutes until the shrimp are done. The way to tell if the shrimp are done is that they will turn from translucent to opaque. They will have an opaque white color with some pink and bright red accents. Remove from the heat and place on a small dish. Set aside until ready to serve with the Peanut Zoodles and Spicy Shrimp.
Making the Peanut Sauce
We made the dish using both creamy and chunky peanut butter, but I prefer the chunky. The peanut zoodles and spicy shrimp dish is equally delicious with either type of peanut butter. To make the sauce, you can mix peanut butter, soy sauce, sugar, sesame oil, vinegar, and pepper flakes. If you prefer a non-spicy sauce, just leave out the pepper flakes and ensure that all the ingredients are well mixed.
Toss together the zoodles, carrots, and peas. Then gently mix in the peanut sauce.
Serve.
Enjoy the Peanut Zoodles and Spicy Shrimp!!!!!
Peanut Zoodles and Spicy Shrimp
A Few Things We Use
Ingredients
Zoodles and other veggies
- 3 Medium Zucchini Appx 6 Cups
- 1 Large Carrot Appx 1 to 1 ½ Cups Shredded
- 1 Cup Frozen Peas
- 3 Scallions (Green Onions) Optional
Sauce
- ¼ Cup Soy Sauce
- 2 teaspoons Sugar
- ½ Cup Peanut Butter Crunchy or Smooth Peanut Butter
- 2 Tablespoons Sesame Oil
- 1 Tablespoon Rice Vinegar Or White Vinegar
- 2 teaspoons Pepper Flakes OPTIONAL
Shrimp
- 1 Pound Shrimp
- ½ Lemon
- 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
- 1 Clove Garlic or ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 6 Serrano Peppers OPTIONAL
- 1 teaspoon Salt
Instructions
Zoodles and Veggies
- Shred/Noodle the Zucchini (or buy already shredded Zucchini). We use an attachment to the KitchenAid
- Grate the carrots using a box cheese grater or a food processor with a grater attachment. You can also buy them pre-grated
- To prepare the peas boil 2 cups of water and add them in. Parboil for 1 minute, then drain and rinse under cold water. You'll have perfectly cooked peas in no time.
Sauce
- Mix together Soy Sauce, Sugar, Peanut Butter, Sesame Oil, Rice Vinegar, and OPTIONAL Pepper flakes
Shrimp
- Squeeze the juice of one lemon on the Shrimp
- Heat olive oil in a pan. Add garlic and Serrano peppers (if desired for spice). Cook for 1 minute.
- Add the Shrimp with the lemon juice and salt.
- Toss Shrimp in the pan until cooked about 4 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat when the shrimp are done.
Making Salad
- Toss together the Zoodles, Carrots, Peas and Green Onions
- Mix the peanut sauce into the Zoodles mixture and toss to coat
- Place in a serving dish
- Top with the cooked shrimp
- Enjoy!!!!!
Please let us know what you think