From EatingWell:  May/June 2008

Veracruzana is a dish full of onions, jalapeños and tomatoes from the Mexican state of Veracruz. Here we pair the zesty sauce with shrimp, but it can be served with any type of fish or chicken. The heat of fresh jalapeños varies depending on growing conditions. Be sure to taste yours as you’re adding them to the dish and adjust the amount according to your taste. For pepper flavor without the heat, use a thinly sliced green bell pepper in place of the jalapeños. Serve with: Rice or potatoes and an avocado salad.

4 servings, about 1 cup each | Active Time: 30 minutes | Total Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients

• 2 teaspoons canola oil
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 medium onion, halved and thinly sliced
• 2 jalapeño peppers, seeded and very thinly sliced, or to taste
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 pound peeled and deveined raw shrimp, (16-20 per pound; see Shopping Tip)
• 3 medium tomatoes, diced
• 1/4 cup thinly sliced pitted green olives
• 1 lime, cut into 4 wedges

Preparation

1. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add bay leaf and cook for 1 minute. Add onion, jalapeños and garlic and cook, stirring, until softened, about 3 minutes. Stir in shrimp, cover and cook until pink and just cooked through, 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in tomatoes and olives. Bring to a simmer, reduce heat to medium-low, replace cover and cook until the tomatoes are almost broken down, 2 to 3 minutes more. Remove the bay leaf. Serve with lime wedges.

Nutrition

Per serving : 192 Calories; 6 g Fat; 1 g Sat; 3 g Mono; 172 mg Cholesterol; 11 g Carbohydrates; 24 g Protein; 2 g Fiber; 324 mg Sodium; 516 mg Potassium

1/2 Carbohydrate Serving

Exchanges: 1 1/2 vegetable, 3 lean meat, 1 fat

Tips & Notes

• Shopping Tip: Shrimp is usually sold by the number needed to make one pound. For example, “21-25 count” means there will be 21 to 25 shrimp in a pound. Size names, such as “large” or “extra large,” are not standardized, so to be sure you’re getting the size you want, order by the count (or number) per pound. Both wild-caught and farm-raised shrimp can damage the surrounding ecosystems when not managed properly. Fortunately, it is possible to buy shrimp that have been raised or caught with sound environmental practices. Look for fresh or frozen shrimp certified by an independent agency, such as Wild American Shrimp or Marine Stewardship Council. If you can’t find certified shrimp, choose wild-caught shrimp from North America—it’s more likely to be sustainably caught.

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