Spanish

Easy · Hot

Garlic shrimp over soft potatoes

Potato rounds are boiled until a fork goes through them with no resistance, then laid out as a warm bed in the bowl. Shrimp cook quickly in olive oil with sliced garlic — barely two minutes, so they stay tender rather than tough — and the garlicky oil pools down over the potato, doing the work of any sauce.

Recipe by

Asunción Rivas

The Single-Portion Cook

Prep

10 min

Cook

25 min

Total

35 min

Method

Prepare the potatoes

Peel the potato and cut it into rough chunks. Place in a small saucepan and cover with cold salted water.

Bring to a gentle boil over medium heat and cook until the potato is completely tender, about 15 to 18 minutes. Drain well.

Return the drained potato to the warm saucepan. Add the butter and whole-milk, then mash with a fork until soft and creamy. Keep warm.

Cook the shrimp

While the potato cooks, peel and thinly slice the garlic cloves.

In a small skillet, warm the olive-oil over medium-low heat. Add the sliced garlic and let it gently perfume the oil for about 1 minute, being careful not to let it brown.

Add the shrimp to the skillet in a single layer. Season with a pinch of salt and black-pepper. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes on each side until they turn pink and just opaque through.

Squeeze the lemon juice directly over the shrimp. Remove from heat.

Plate and serve

Spoon the soft mashed potato onto a warm plate.

Arrange the garlic shrimp on top of the potato, spooning any remaining garlic oil from the skillet over everything.

Scatter a small pinch of chopped parsley over the top. Serve immediately while warm.

Nutri-Score

Excellent balance

A–E · lower is better · score -3

Calories

567

per serving

High in protein · 41gLow sugar · 5g

Protein

41g

Carbs

31g

Fat

33g

Sat. fat

Fiber

Sugar

Sodium

1144mg

Gluten FreeMediterraneanPescatarianHeart HealthyAnti InflammatoryDiabetes FriendlyLow CholesterolHigh ProteinBalancedLow Carb Friendly

Nutri-Score is a general nutritional-balance guide, not medical or dietary advice.

Environmental impact

Very high impact

A–E · lower is better · includes estimates

kg CO₂e

4.5

per serving

ECarbonCEU all-round· carbon sets the grade

Water

29m³

Land

67Pt

Runoff

1.3g P

shrimp drives 91% of this recipe’s estimated footprint.

Carbon from Poore & Nemecek 2018; water, land & runoff from Agribalyse — modelled averages for comparing recipes, not a measurement of your groceries.

Flavor Profile

Umami

Sweet

Salty

Sour

Bitter

Spicy

Textures

TenderCreamySmoothSilky

Aromas

GarlickyHerbalCitrusButtery

Kitchen Equipment

Primary Tool

Saucepan

Saucepan Skillet Chef Knife Cutting Board ForkSpoon

Counter FootprintMedium

Techniques

Boiling Mashing Pan Frying Infusing Seasoning

Safety & Storage

Cooking Temperature

Cook shrimp until internal temperature reaches at least 145°F and flesh is completely opaque and pink throughout, approximately 2-3 minutes per side over medium heat.

Cross Contamination

Separate shrimp and dairy ingredients from other foods during prep. Use dedicated cutting boards and utensils, and wash all surfaces and hands thoroughly after handling raw shrimp.

High Risk Population

Shellfish allergy reactions can be severe and potentially life-threatening. Individuals with shellfish allergies should avoid this dish entirely.

Storage

Keep raw shrimp refrigerated at 38°F or below until cooking. Fresh shrimp should be cooked within 1-2 days of purchase or frozen at 0°F for up to 3 months.

Handling

Cook shrimp same day it is prepared. Discard any shrimp with off-odors, slimy texture, or shells that have turned black before cooking.

Pro Tips

Technique

Watch the shrimp closely as they cook — when they turn pink and curl slightly, they're done. Overcooked shrimp becomes tough, and we don't want that.

Substitution

If shrimp is not available, a gentle white fish like cod or hake works beautifully with the garlic and olive oil. Cut it into chunks and cook slowly until it flakes.

From the chef

When my students ask me what I cook when it's just me for dinner, I tell them this: something soft, something that remembers the sea, and nothing that demands too much from tired hands. This little plate of garlic shrimp over potatoes is exactly that — a quiet luxury that takes no more than thirty-five minutes and leaves no guilt, no waste, only the comfort of a meal made perfectly for one.

Asunción RivasThe Single-Portion Cook

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TagsComfort FoodSingle PortionSeafoodSoft TextureMediterraneanEasyGarlicLemon

AllergensShellfishMilk

Source: generated · May 30, 2026