Vegetables should play an important role in everyone’s diet, and the USDA recommends we consume two to four cups daily. Low in calories and packed with vitamins, veggies promote heart health, ensure good digestion and can even reduce the risk for disease. They’re also delicious, especially when paired with other light healthy foods like Gulf shrimp. If you’re looking for ways to eat more vegetables, Biloxi Shrimp Co. offers suggestions for pairing wild-caught shrimp with vegetables to make life healthier and tastier.
Salads
If you think salads are boring, think again. A plate filled with leafy greens, crisp vegetables and lean protein will keep you full and delight your taste buds. You might reach for turkey, ham or chicken for your salads, but shrimp provide a flavorful, low-calorie alternative to keep things fresh. Consider trying a few of the following alongside Gulf shrimp in your next salad:
- Spinach, kale, arugula, spring mix, romaine or butter lettuce
- Tomatoes
- Mushrooms
- Red and green peppers
- Chickpeas
- Alfalfa sprouts
- Cucumbers
- Sweet potatoes
- Beets
- Quinoa or rice
- Citrus fruit
- Raisins or dried cranberries
- Apples
- Berries
- Almonds, cashews, pecans and other nuts
- Sunflower seeds
Topped with a light dressing, you’ll have a quick, easy meal that’s simple to customize no matter what you’re craving.
Stir-Fry
The next time you reach for a takeout menu, consider making a stir-fry with shrimp. There are no rules when it comes to these dishes. Combine whatever veggies you have in the fridge with Gulf shrimp and any seasonings you like. Popular vegetable options include bell peppers, snap peas, edamame, broccoli, baby corn, water chestnuts and carrots.
Dinner will be ready in just a few minutes, and you’ll enjoy the flavors of your creation as much as its health benefits. Unlike deep-fried foods, stir-fry requires only a small amount of fat, like heart-healthy olive oil. This quick-cooking method also helps preserve the nutrients in produce, ensuring you receive the maximum nutritional benefit in every bite.
Sheet Pan Dinners
Sheet pan dinners offer another quick and easy weeknight option with almost limitless variety. They’re also a great way to try baked shrimp, a simple method that brings out this shellfish’s sweet, mild flavor and enhances its firm, juicy texture. You can even use sheet pan meals to prep lunches throughout the week.
Roasting vegetables brings out their hidden sweetness, and you can mix up starchy options like fingerling potatoes, yams, carrots, parsnips or beets with broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus and more. Keep in mind that firmer vegetables will need to cook much longer than your shrimp. In most cases, you can add a few handfuls of Gulf shrimp about five to 10 minutes before the other ingredients finish cooking.
Tempura
A Japanese cooking style, tempura refers to vegetables and shrimp coated in a light batter and deep-fried in oil. While it’s a less health-conscious option, tempura feels like a treat while still filling your plate with vegetables and protein. All sorts of vegetables are delicious when prepared this way, but most options include:
- Peppers
- Squash
- Sweet potatoes
- Eggplant
- Zucchini
- Mushrooms
Dipping your tempura Gulf shrimp and vegetables is half the fun, so be sure to prepare a delicious sauce as well. Tentsuyu made with mirin, soy sauce and other ingredients is a flavorful, traditional choice.
Find Even More Ways to Enjoy Shrimp and Vegetables
When your plate is filled with vegetables and wild-caught Gulf shrimp, you can feel good about your diet and enjoy incredible flavor. Biloxi Shrimp Co. makes it easy to put shrimp on the menu anytime with individually quick frozen (IQF) wild-caught shrimp harvested from the Gulf of Mexico and shipped across the country from our facility in Biloxi, Mississippi.