No matter where they hail from, part of the appeal of skillet dishes is the fact they get dinner on the table in no time, usually with just a handful of ingredients.
This spicy shrimp dish has roots that reach all the way to the island nation of Mauritius, east of Madagascar. A tasty blend of European, African, Chinese and Indian influences, Mauritius cuisine features a lot of fresh seafood. Much of it is enlivened with rich spices like ginger, garlic and thyme, and chile also is a key player.
After a quick sear in the pan, shrimp is softly poached in a mildly spicy Creole tomato sauce made from fresh tomatoes flavored with minced ginger, garlic, onion and cilantro stems. It’s served with even more cilantro — you have to be a fan — and a sprinkle of green scallions.
The recipe calls for extra-large shrimp, but I used colossal (15 per pound) because it was on sale. For more bite, season the shrimp with a little more cayenne, or add a pinch or two to the tomato sauce. Serve with steamed white rice.