Lemon-Scented Shrimp Recipe (Gamberi al Limone) from The Italian Diabetes Cookbook
Lemon-scented shrimp are great as an appetizer, put onto skewers, served with pasta, rice or simply with vegetables, as a main course.
When you taste this lemon-scented shrimp, you’ll be amazed at how quick, easy and delicious it is!
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You may recall that I shared my friend Amy Riolo’s recipe for spaghetti aglio, olio e peperoncino earlier this year?
Disclosure: I received a copy of Amy Riolo’s The Italian Diabetes Cookbook to review, however, I was not compensated and there were no conditions attached. Opinions are solely my own.
Is Shrimp Good for a Diabetic Diet?
Yes, shrimp is a very good choice for a diabetic diet as long as it’s used in a healthy recipe such as this lemon-scented shrimp recipe in Amy Riolo’s book. With only a handful of ingredients (3 ingredients are just salt and pepper), it’s super easy, and quick to make, and is also delicious.
The Italian Diabetes Cookbook, by Amy Riolo
The following recipe came from her fabulous The Ultimate Mediterranean Diet Cookbook–one of Amy’s 7 published books. In the post for the recipe, I wrote that Amy had another book on the way, The Italian Diabetes Cookbook – Delicious and Healthful Dishes from Venice to Sicily and Beyond. Well it’s been out since January, so I’m a bit overdue in telling you more about it!
Many people incorrectly assume that Italian food is off the table (no pun intended!) when it comes to diabetes, but nothing could be further from the truth. That is, if we are talking about authentic Italian cuisine. American-Italian cuisine is a different story, as many times it doesn’t resemble anything remotely Italian.
Five Minute Lentil Soup Recipe
If you like my Italian recipes, including the cucina povera ones, Amy’s book contains many more, very similar types of dishes–more than 150, to be exact. These are mostly super simple recipes, containing a handful of fresh and healthy ingredients, which are all diabetic-friendly.
Sample Menus
After Amy’s introduction, she offers many sample menus which direct the reader to each recipe listed in the menu. For example, a menu for each season of the year, a Christmas Eve Feast of the Seven Fishes menu, Vegetarian Feast, Sunday Dinner and more. The main part of the book which follows has appetizers, first and second courses, side dishes, salads, etc., however, afterwards Amy adds a section called, “How to Cook Like an Italian.”
I love this part as I feel it’s like a mini foundation for authentic Italian cooking. Once you know how to make things like beans, stock and breadcrumbs, you can branch out, using these to make so many delicious dishes! She also adds what to keep in your pantry and a culinary glossary, which I feel is also extremely helpful to those wanting to learn to cook in an authentic Italian style.
The paperback book is very easy to read and most recipes are super short and simple. Wine suggestions are given for each dish, as well as dietary information, which is important for those with diabetes.
I highly recommend Amy’s book if you or someone you know has diabetes, it would be a super cookbook to have in the kitchen. The Italian Diabetes Cookbook has photos of some of the dishes, but there isn’t a photo of every single dish. If you have any questions about the cookbook, please feel free to ask me; I’d be happy to help if I can.
Meanwhile, here is a sample recipe from Amy’s book; it is indicative of many of the recipes–super easy, quick, delicious and diabetic-friendly, and this one happens to be keto. I hope you enjoy this lemon-scented shrimp.
Lemon-Scented Shrimp (Gamberi al Limone)
very slightly adapted from a recipe from Amy Riolo’s The Italian Diabetes Cookbook
serves 4
Ingredients
- extra virgin olive oil
- shrimp, either fresh or frozen
- Kosher salt
- black pepper
- crushed red chile flakes
- juice and zest of lemon
Directions For the Lemon-Scented Shrimp
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
When oil begins to release its aroma, add shrimp, salt, black pepper, and crushed red chile flakes. Cook shrimp on one side just until the tail of the shrimp is bright pink, approximately 1-2 minutes.
Turn shrimp over and squeeze lemon juice over top.
Cook shrimp until all the gray color is gone and they are pink and cooked through, approximately 1 to 2 more minutes. At this point, shrimp should be coiled slightly tighter than when they were raw. Shrimp will continue to sizzle in the pan.
When they are cooked completely through, transfer shrimp to a serving platter, garnish with lemon zest, and serve immediately.
Amy’s notes: in addition to serving this as an appetizer, you can toss these lemon-scented shrimp into pasta with fresh parsley or add into a finished soup or salad. They also taste great on top of the crostini with chickpea cream (a recipe in The Italian Diabetes Cookbook.)
In addition to Amy’s book, check out the DiabetesStrong.com website for a plethora of information about living a healthy life with diabetes.
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Lemon-Scented Shrimp (Gamberi al Limone)
Ingredients
- 1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 lb shrimp (either fresh or frozen, raw, peeled and deveined, wild-caught, without any additives)
- ½ tsp Kosher salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper (freshly ground)
- ⅛ tsp crushed red chile flakes (to taste)
- juice and zest from one lemon
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- When oil begins to release its aroma, add shrimp, salt, black pepper, and crushed red chile flakes. Cook shrimp on one side just until the tail of the shrimp is bright pink, approximately 1-2 minutes.
- Turn shrimp over and squeeze lemon juice over top. Cook shrimp until all the gray color is gone and they are pink and cooked through, approximately 1 to 2 more minutes. At this point, shrimp should be coiled slightly tighter than when they were raw. Shrimp will continue to sizzle in the pan.
- When they are cooked completely through, transfer shrimp to a serving platter, garnish with lemon zest, and serve immediately.
Notes
- Serve 2 or 3 shrimp as an appetizer, and 6 or 7 as a main course.
Nutrition
Disclosure: I received a copy of Amy Riolo’s The Italian Diabetes Cookbook to review, however, I was not compensated and there were no conditions attached. The opinions are solely my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with FTC regulations.
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My husband has just been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. This shrimp recipe will definitely go into our meal rotation. These books would be so helpful since I have no idea how to cook for a diabetic.
I love your recipes and enjoy reading your emails.
Sorry to hear that, Sheila. I’m sure either of these books would be helpful, good luck!
These cookbooks of diabetic recipes look useful to a relatively new diagnosed type 2 diabetic with a love of food especially sweet stuff! Love your sunchoke recipe. I am a big fan of Jerusalem artichokes but have such a hard time finding them.
This is such a wonderful flavor combination! Easy to follow and flavorful diabetic recipes are so helpful.
This looks incredible for the Meyer lemons!
Everything is better with homegrown Meyers! :)
I just love to cook shrimp when I need a quick dinner idea! This lemon shrimp is so simple and tasty. Simply add it to pasta and you have a meal.
I have a tendency to over cook my shrimp. Your detailed recipe instructions will be a big help. I love shrimp and lemon so this recipe should be a winner for me!
Wonderful! Thanks, Sue!
I just found out I have diabetes not sure what to eat now so seeing this will help me
Sorry to hear that April, but this book is an excellent choice. You won’t have to give up tasty food to keep within your diet. Good luck!
What a great cookbook to have! Love shrimp and can’t wait to try your recipe!
Absolutely, Taylor!