#ATKQuick Instagram Challenge: Fast Shrimp That Doesn’t Skimp

In case you haven’t heard, we’re hosting an #ATKQuick Cooking Instagram Challenge! Each week, a winner will take home a copy of our super-speedy, and incredibly time-saving cookbook, The America’s Test Kitchen Quick Family Cookbook. Many of the these recipes require only a handful of ingredients, and all are guaranteed to be on the table in 45 minutes or less. Creamy Spinach Lasagna that bakes in 15 minutes? 3-Hour French Beef Stew in just 45 minutes? We’re talking big flavor, in short order.

Shrimp is a great option when it comes to creating a fast and satisfying weeknight dinner. It cooks up in a flash, and takes just a few ingredients to make the flavors sing. But for this week’s #ATKQuick Challenge, we wanted to bring dinner to a whole new level by taking advantage of pre-cooked shrimp. By combining ready-to-eat seafood with hearty ingredients such as grits and pre-cooked rice, we were able to cook up a flavorful, filling meal in half the time. Who would have thought you can make Jambalaya or shrimp fried rice that tastes better than takeout—in 30 minutes? Just remember to scroll to the bottom for details on how to participate in the challenge, and happy cooking!

Cook 8 ounces andouille sausage, halved lengthwise and sliced 1/2 inch thick, 1 minced onion, 1 chopped red bell pepper, 1 tablespoon vegetable oil, and 1/2 teaspoon Cajun seasoning in 12-inch nonstick skillet over high heat until lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Add 5 minced garlic cloves and 1 tablespoon tomato paste; cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in 2 cups cooked rice and 1 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken broth; cover and simmer gently until liquid is absorbed, about 5 minutes. Stir in 1 pound cooked and peeled shrimp and 2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley; let heat through, about 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serves 4 to 6.

Cheesy Shrimp and Grits

Cook 3 thinly sliced scallion whites, 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, 2 minced garlic cloves, and pinch cayenne in medium saucepan over medium heat until softened, about 2 minutes. Stir in 3 cups water and 1/2 cup heavy cream; bring to boil. Slowly whisk in 1 cup instant grits; simmer gently, stirring often, until thickened, about 5 minutes. Stir in 3/4 cup shredded extra-sharp cheddar cheese. Season with salt and pepper.Transfer grits to 4 1/2-quart gratin dish. Nestle 1 pound cooked and peeled shrimp into grits, leaving tails exposed. Sprinkle with 3/4 cup more cheese. Broil until lightly browned, about 3 minutes. Sprinkle with 3 thinly sliced scallion greens. Serves 4 to 6.

Shrimp Fried Rice

Heat 1 1/2 teaspoons vegetable oil in 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Add 2 large beaten eggs and cook, stirring often, until cooked, about 2 minutes; transfer to bowl. Heat 2 tablespoons vegetable oil in now-empty skillet over high heat until just smoking. Add 4 cups cooked rice, 1 pound cooked and peeled shrimp, 3 tablespoons soy sauce, 3 tablespoons oyster sauce, and 2 minced garlic cloves; cook, stirring constantly, until heated through, about 3 minutes. Off heat, stir in 1 cup thawed frozen peas, 5 thinly sliced scallions, and cooked eggs; let sit, covered, until heated through, about 2 minutes. Serves 4 to 6.

Other recipes pictured above: Last-Minute Ceviche and Mediterranean Pasta Salad with Shrimp, available in The America’s Test Kitchen Quick Family Cookbook.

Visit the Community Page on The Feed every Tuesday to find the new Quick Cooking Instagram Challenge Theme. Then get cooking, and share a photo through your personal Instagram account, mentioning @TestKitchen and using the hashtag #ATKQuick in your caption. Once you’ve published the photo on Instagram, it’s up to our judges here at the Test Kitchen to pick a winner. Participants will be judged on 25% creativity/artistic ability and 75% originality of their recipe’s photo.

The deadline for entries will be at 11:59 P.M E.S.T. Monday, March 4, 2013, and we’ll be selecting a winner that Tuesday morning.

Be sure to check back every Tuesday to see who has won the past week’s challenge, and for the current week’s theme.

We were thrilled with the amount of submissions to our #ATKQuick Instagram Challenge! Our winner this week was aviatrixt! She won a copy of our America’s Test Kitchen Quick Family Cookbook. Be sure to check out this week’s theme Fresh Baked Bread in a Jiffy! #ATKQuick Instagram Challenge, and thank you for participating!

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