Name: Spicy Soy-Bourbon Shrimp
Total time: 30 min
Yield: Serves 4
Ingredients: 2 pounds extra-large shrimp (21 to 25 per pound), peeled and deveined, shells reserved; 1/2 cup water; 1/4 cup soy sauce; 1/4 cup bourbon; 2 tablespoons packed brown sugar; 1 tablespoon cornstarch; 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes; 2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil; 4 scallions, white parts minced, green parts sliced thin on bias; 4 garlic cloves, minced

Why This Recipe Works

For an extra-flavorful sauce, we used the shrimp shells to make a quick shrimp stock in the microwave.

Before You Begin

Serve with white rice.

Instructions

Combine shrimp shells, water, soy sauce, and bourbon in bowl. Microwave until fragrant and shells are pink, about 2 minutes. Strain liquid through fine-mesh strainer set over bowl; reserve soy sauce mixture and discard solids. Whisk sugar, cornstarch, and pepper flakes into soy sauce mixture until cornstarch is dissolved.

Heat oil in 12-inch nonstick skillet over high heat until just smoking. Stir in shrimp, scallion whites, and garlic and cook until shrimp are just pink, about 3 minutes.

Add soy sauce mixture and continue to cook until sauce has thickened slightly and shrimp are cooked through, about 3 minutes longer. Off heat, stir in scallion greens. Serve.