One of the coolest combos in food history is the good ol’ surf and turf, the delightful mashup of meat and seafood that has incredible variety.
Maybe some pork chops and scallops. Or maybe some mahi mahi and stir fry chicken. Or, perhaps we’ll just stick with the tried and true: red meat and shrimp.
Most surf ‘n turf combos involve beef, but this super dish from our pals at Food for Hunters is a doozy. Rick Wheatley and Jenny Nguyen have combined venison with shrimp for this delicious Venison Shrimp Ankara.
This one may be a smidge more involved with the prep work but that’s part of the fun of cooking, isn’t it?
Rick and Jen say this kebab dish has a Turkish twist, and “are packed with tons of flavor – cumin, cilantro, red onion, and garlic … they will give your summer night dinners that extra kick. Coupled with a spicy Red Harissa Sauce borrowed from Bon Appetit‘s featured Chef Silvena Rowe, these kebabs are dynamite.”
Son! That should make you want to fire up the grill right now, but they’ve also added shrimp in the recipe! A little surf ‘n turf for a summer night!
Venison and Shrimp Ankara
Red Harissa Sauce
1. Roast the red bell peppers directly over a gas flame, turning occasionally to get them charred all over. Roasting peppers really helps to release flavors, and gives a smoky taste.
2. Transfer to a large bowl, cover and let stand for 15 minutes. This will steam the peppers and make them easier to peel.
3. With a knife, scrape off the skin. Remove the stems and seeds.
4. Seed and chop the jalapenos. Crush the garlic.
5. Except the extra-virgin olive oil, put all the other ingredients in a food processor. Puree until very smooth.
With the machine still running, slowly add in the oil. Salt and pepper to taste.
* Store in fridge until ready to use. Freeze extra.
II. The Kebabs
1. In a large bowl, combine peeled, deveined and chopped shrimp and ground venison.
2. Using mortar and pestle, or anything you can find, further crush the minced garlic and 1 tsp. of kosher salt together into a paste. I just did the best I could with my knife.
3. Add the garlic paste, remaining 1 tsp. of kosher salt, onion, cilantro, cumin, pepper flakes, black pepper to the venison and shrimp. Combine well.
4. Press the mixture onto popsicle sticks. Try not to overload. The meat may be too heavy and fall off. It can be a little tricky, since ground venison doesn’t have much fat in it, but with some finessing, it will work. You just have to be extra careful.
5. Prepare your grill. For a charcoal grill use a medium-hot fire. If you’re using a gas grill, use high heat and don’t walk away.
6. Brush kebabs with olive oil and place on grill. Grill until nicely charred and just cooked through. About 6 minutes each side.
7. Serve hot with Red Harissa Sauce. We suggest having this dish with couscous and Greek salad. Enjoy!
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