cover image Simply Shrimp: 101 Recipes for Everybody's Favorite Seafood

Simply Shrimp: 101 Recipes for Everybody's Favorite Seafood

Rick Rodgers. Chronicle Books, $16.95 (168pp) ISBN 978-0-8118-1967-1

Rodgers's (Birthday Celebrations; Fondue, etc.) comprehensive all-shrimp cookbook may be somewhat lacking in personality, but it does deliver exactly what the title promises: myriad easy ways to prepare a favorite crustacean. After a brief section on the types of shrimp available and their preparation, Rodgers offers 100 recipes in chapters divided into appetizers, salads and cooking method (saut ed shrimp, grilled shrimp, baked shrimp). The clearly written recipes are generally modern American in style, with a few innovative standouts--Pickled Picnic Shrimp; Grilled Shrimp, Sage and Pancetta Spedini; Savory Shrimp Bread Pudding--livening up the parade of familiars such as Shrimp and Sea Shell Pasta Salad with Sun-Dried Tomato Vinaigrette and Spaghetti with Shrimp, Anchovies and Bread Crumbs. Rodgers also digs into different ethnic cuisines and comes up with Malaysian Fried Rice and El Paso-Style Stacked Shrimp Enchiladas. Baked Shrimp with Herbed Crumb Topping or Wilted Spinach and Shrimp Salad may not be news, but they are easy, quick and reliably tasty. (July)