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Orange Shrimp

You know those rich, saucy Chinese takeout dishes that are so popular, but that a lot of us avoid because we know they’re full of sugar, salt, and fat? Well, this recipe tastes just like those bad-for-you dishes, but it’s incredibly low-fat and low in sodium. It also packs a ton of flavor, especially when you consider how few ingredients are used. If you buy shrimp frozen when it’s on sale and keep it in your freezer, you’ll likely have all of the necessary ingredients on hand the next time you find yourself tempted by Chinese takeout. Fortunately, this recipe doesn’t skimp on sauce—there’s plenty. So it’s perfect to toss with steamed snow peas, broccoli, or your favorite vegetables, and/or to serve over brown rice. You can even cook the vegetables in the pan along with the shrimp, but just be aware that the flavor of the vegetables could overpower the delicious orange flavor if you do that.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    makes 4 servings

Ingredients

1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 cup 100% orange juice (not from concentrate, preferably no pulp)
1 1/4 pounds 21–25 count shrimp (preferably easy-peel), peeled and deveined
Salt and pepper, to taste
Olive oil spray
2 teaspoons crushed garlic, divided (I used Dorot Crushed Garlic)

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Put the cornstarch in a medium bowl or measuring cup. Whisking constantly, add enough orange juice to the cornstarch to form a paste. Whisk in the remaining juice and continue whisking until the cornstarch is completely dissolved. Set aside.

    Step 2

    Season the shrimp with salt and pepper.

    Step 3

    Place a large, nonstick skillet over high heat. When hot, lightly mist the pan with the spray and add the shrimp in an even layer along with the garlic. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes per side, or until the shrimp turns pink and is no longer translucent.

    Step 4

    Pour the orange juice mixture over the shrimp, gently stirring it until the sauce has thickened, 2 to 3 minutes.

  2. nutrition information

    Step 5

    Each (1/2 cup) serving has:

    Step 6

    Calories: 157

    Step 7

    Protein: 24g

    Step 8

    Carbohydrates: 10g

    Step 9

    Fat: 2g

    Step 10

    Trace Saturated Fat

    Step 11

    Cholesterol: 172mg

    Step 12

    Trace Fiber:

    Step 13

    Sodium: 169mg

Reprinted with permission from I Can't Believe It's Not Fattening! by Devin Alexander. Copyright © 2010 Devin Alexander. Published by Clarkson Potter Publishers, a division of Random House, Inc. All rights reserved. Devin Alexander is the author of The Most Decadent Diet Ever, Fast Food Fix, and coauthor of The New York Times bestsellers The Biggest Loser Cookbook and The Biggest Loser Family Cookbook. She was a chef on NBC's The Biggest Loser and the host of Healthy Decadence on Discover Health and FitTV.
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