Baked Shrimp with Pistachio Crust

Baked shrimp with a pistachio crust is an elegant and tasty dish, perfect as a main course or appetizer. Here is how to prepare them with an Italian touch.

Ingredients

• 500 g of fresh shrimp, already cleaned
• 100 g of unsalted pistachios
• 2 cloves of garlic
• Grated zest of 1 lemon (preferably organic)
• Salt to taste
• Black pepper to taste
• Extra virgin olive oil
• A bunch of parsley

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 200°C.
2. Finely chop the pistachios in a mixer or with a knife, until they are coarsely ground.
3. In a bowl, mix the chopped pistachios with grated lemon zest, finely chopped garlic, salt, and pepper to taste.
4. Wash the shrimp under cold running water and dry them with paper towels.
5. Line a baking tray with parchment paper and place the shrimp on it, then drizzle them with a bit of extra virgin olive oil.
6. Sprinkle the shrimp with the pistachio mixture, pressing lightly to make the crust stick.
7. Bake the shrimp for about 10-12 minutes or until they are golden and the crust is crispy.
8. In the meantime, chop the fresh parsley.
9. Take the shrimp out of the oven and sprinkle them with chopped parsley before serving.

Curiosity

Pistachios are highly valued in Mediterranean cuisine, particularly in Sicilian cooking, where there are various dishes that use them, such as pasta with pistachio cream or sweets like the typical Sicilian cannolo decorated with chopped pistachios. The pistachio crust provides a crunchy and aromatic note that pairs perfectly with the sweetness of the sea.