Tequila Lime Shrimp Lettuce Wraps: Bite-Sized Buzz For A No-Cocktail Party
In between every few gatherings, a good host will be tempted to attempt something different, and organise a party with a slight twist on the usual fare. For such a creative host, one way to go about this is to plan a thoroughly booze free, or rather, cocktail free night so those guests who tend to avoid alcohol can enjoy an evening without drinks with all other party guests.
Yet, there can be a cheat sheet for this booze free evening to incorporate only the taste and depth of certain delectable spirits into the evening. This is best done by adding spirits like wine, tequila or vodka in the making of small bites or appetisers to introduce into them a touch of complex flavours.
Asian-inspired cuisine is a sought after choice while organising cocktail parties because appetisers like sushi, spring rolls and egg rolls abound in this culinary fare that go well with a lot of different cocktails.
One Asian-inspired crispy number featured at many cocktail parties is the lettuce wrap, prepared by stuffing the crunchy leaves with different toppings made from meats, seafood and chopped veggies. A boozy touch can be added to one of the lettuce wrap recipes to enjoy it with a dash of tequila at a party where there are no cocktails. The tequila will lightly tease your taste buds without really inducing a buzz so you can savour its taste that complements a whole host of other refreshing flavours.
Tequila Lime Shrimp Lettuce Wraps
Lettuce wraps are a brilliant starter for multiple reasons. One among them is they are light and vibrant so they wake up your taste buds without really filling up your stomach. You can enjoy a delicious main course even after gorging on the wraps. Another reason lettuce wraps work is because they are exceedingly fresh. This quality makes them very appealing particularly on warm summer or spring evenings. As well, the filling prepared for the wraps contains very bright flavours that make this starter absolutely tasty.
A stuffing that is particularly enjoyable when paired with lettuce is lightly seasoned shrimp whose sweetness goes well with the umami notes of the leafy veggie. Shrimp cooked in lime further acquires a tangy layer because of the citrusy juices in the fruit. The sweet taste of shrimp and the sour qualities of lime are enhanced with a light seasoning of salt, pepper and chopped garlic. Normally, this stuffing is piled onto crispy lettuce leaves that are then folded into small, dainty bite sized wraps.
But adding a boozy touch to the shrimp in this classic recipe is a dash of tequila which introduces yet another flavour component into the mix. A premium bottle of Don Julio Blanco tequila, commonly recognised as silver tequila, packs into it a fresh citrus flavour from light notes of the blue agave and a very crispy finish. This introduces some tart, sweet and citrusy notes into the shrimp recipe to build on simple tastes and craft a layered mix of different flavours. Since seafood goes well with tequila, shrimp and lime glazed with this spirit makes for a classic flavour pairing that assures good taste.
Tequila can be added to the shrimp recipe while the crustacean is being tossed in the pan with onions and garlic. A dash of the silver tequila when poured into this preparation will caramelise ever so slightly to introduce a hint of bitter and toasty notes further enhancing the textural appeal of the filling. Another way to add tequila to this stuffing is to marinate the shrimp in a coating of lime and silver tequila before tossing them in the pan.
At a no alcohol party, this appetiser will offer only the flavour notes of the booze without inducing a buzz. So, you can in fact elevate the taste of a simple yet lip smacking appetiser served to your guests without compromising on their need to reduce alcohol intake.
