Honey-Ginger Shrimp Skewers

This is a bright, fast plate that comes together while you do something else with your evening. Marinate, thread, broil. Honor the effort it takes to keep cooking real food for yourself, and let this be one of the easy nights.

Shrimp is a good source of selenium, a mineral involved in how your thyroid converts and regulates hormone, and a quiet part of your antioxidant defenses. It also brings zinc, which supports immune balance and tissue repair. This is steady nourishment, plate after plate, while your body does the slower work of settling.

There is something worth pausing for here too. These are small animals giving you a real meal. A moment of thanks before you eat is not sentimental, it is honest. Set the table. Let the food look like what it is.

Ingredients

• 1 lb peeled shrimp
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1.25 teaspoons ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• Sea salt, to taste

Note on swaps: the source includes 1 tablespoon lemon juice, flagged for omission if you have interstitial cystitis. Lemon is fine on AIP Core. Keep it for a little brightness if it suits you, or leave it out. All other ingredients here are AIP Core compliant as written.

Method

• In a bowl, stir together the garlic, olive oil, honey, ground ginger, oregano, basil, and a pinch of salt. Add the shrimp and turn to coat.
• Cover and chill in the fridge for about 2 hours. If you are short on time, even 20 minutes of marinating works.
• Thread the shrimp onto metal skewers or bamboo skewers you have soaked in water.
• Heat your broiler and set a wire rack over a baking sheet. Place the skewers on the rack, 4 to 6 inches from the element.
• Broil 2 to 3 minutes per side, until the shrimp turn pink and opaque. Watch closely, since this happens fast.

Serve over a simple salad or alongside vegetables. They also work as an appetizer.

*Adapted from acleanplate.com*