Garlic Butter Shrimp and Veggies

Simple, healthy meal

When it comes to creating healthy meals, it’s important to have simple recipes. This Garlic Butter Shrimp And Veggies Recipe is the perfect healthy recipe for any night of the week. A delicious combination of shrimp lightly tossed with garlic butter, and sautéed with onion, peppers, zucchini, and asparagus.

Finding a good source of protein can be hard when you are sticking to a specific healthy diet. Often times, we find ourselves having the same things over and over again. No wonder we get tired of sticking to a healthy meal plan. It can get a bit boring if we aren’t careful.

So how do we combat this? Try something new. Experimenting with new ingredients can be so much fun. The best ways to incorporate something new is to try a new recipe on the weekends, or when you have a little more time to get creative.

Sure, you’ll have a few misses at times, but more times than not you’ll gain tasty new recipes that will help you break up the monotony. This will help you stick to your healthy meal plan in the long run.

Customize by season

A really great way to try new ingredients is to find the fruits and vegetables that are in season. This also ensures that you are using the freshest ingredients that are also contain the highest nutrients.

When produce is sold at the grocery store, sometimes it’s been sitting on the shelves for a few weeks before we buy them. That’s because they are often picked before they are fully ripe, meaning they will be lacking in their full nutritional potential.

Best way to get the freshest produce:

• Shop your weekly Farmer’s Markets when available. You’ll get the best produce from locally sourced farms. They are usually picked at peak ripeness and ready to use right away.
• Look for Organic when possible. This ensures produce etc is grown without the use of pesticides. Lowering your exposure is good for your health, and you’ll reap the benefits from more nutritional food.
• Stock up on fruits and veggies from the frozen section of your grocery store. These are picked at peak ripeness and the flavor and nutrients are locked in when flash frozen. A great economical addition to any healthy meal plan.

This is a great recipe to customize with. Because it’s such a simple recipe, you can easily swap in seasonal vegetables as needed. Just pick three or four veggies of your choice to add to your shrimp dish.

Picking out your shrimp

Sticking with the theme of simple and healthy, you want to make this recipe as easy as possible. There are times when buying food that is already prepped for you is a great choice. This is one of those times. I love having a bag of frozen shrimp on hand for a quick meal. Shrimp is also a great source of protein with about 20 grams per 3oz.

Obviously fresh is always the best choice, but being able have a few prepped options will save you time. You can buy frozen shrimp that is already deveined with the shell removed. If time for prep is an issue for you, but you still want good, healthy protein, then frozen shrimp is one option that could work for you.

Nutritional benefits

While shrimp packs a good source of protein, it also contains many other beneficial nutrients. One of these includes Omega-3 fatty acids that is good for heart health. They also provide a good source of Magnesium and Phosphorus for thyroid function. This is just to name a few.

Proper way to thaw frozen shrimp

The best way to thaw frozen shrimp is from freezer to fridge. This does take more time, so be sure to do it the day before you plan on using it (or at least 12 hrs before).

Just place the bag on a plate with a paper towel so soak up any leaks. You will also need to let it drain on a few paper towels when you take them out of the bag before cooking.

Your other option is thawing shrimp fast. Here’s the best method for this:

• Fill a large bowl with COLD water.
• Remove shrimp from their original packaging and seal them into a ziplock bag.
• Fully submerge the bag in the water for 20-30 minutes until they are fully thawed.
• Drain off excess water on a plate lined with paper towels.

A few things to remember:

• DO NOT to use warm or hot water.
• Don’t leave them at room temp.
• Don’t microwave them.

Recipe Tips:

-Season your food as you go. Remember a little goes a long way. Layering in your seasoning enhances the flavors without being overpowering. This helps ensure you don’t overdo it.

-Thaw your frozen shrimp properly and safely with the methods mentioned above.

-Swap out the veggies in this recipe with any seasonal one you want to try. Just stick with about 3-4 and cut them into bite sized pieces. Have fun and get creative. This is often more nutritional and cost effective.

-Don’t overcook your shrimp. It cooks pretty quickly. Once the gray/translucent raw shrimp turns fluffy and pink it’s done. Just be sure you give it enough time to fully cook. With practice, you can perfect this skill.

-Don’t let new things intimidate you. If you’ve never cooked with shrimp, or haven’t tried a new vegetable before, do it anyways! The only way you can learn new things and discover new flavors is to get outside of your comfort box. This is also a great metaphor for life. 😉

Garlic Butter Shrimp & Veggies

I hope you enjoy this Garlic Butter Shrimp and Veggies recipe as much I do. Hopefully it has also inspired you to think outside the box and try some new things to spice up your meal planning.

When you get resourceful, a healthy lifestyle can be available to anyone with any budget. Healthy cooking doesn’t have to be difficult or daunting. It can actually be fun, exciting and with you for the long haul when you approach it with the right mentality. Cheers to trying new things!

If you’re looking for other healthy meal ideas, check out my version of an Egg Roll In A Bowl recipe HERE.

Connect with me

Be sure to follow me on social media to get the latest recipes and all of my health/wellness tips. You can find me on Instagram @motivate.educate.repeat or use the link HERE. This is where I spend most of my time.

If you have any questions or comments, the best ways to reach me are to send a quick DM (direct message) on Instagram or email me directly ( hollyn@motivateeducaterepeat.com ).