Florida Keys Seafood Vodka Red Sauce

Cooking in the Florida Keys is all about keeping it simple. If you take anything away from this post today, please remember this “Let the flavors from the earth & sea speak for themselves in the kitchen”.  

A Sunset View from our Patio

Below is a simple vodka red sauce recipe. This sauce works well when mixed with fresh lobster bites or Key West Pink shrimp.

Ingredients

1/2 cup butter

1 onion, diced
1 cup vodka
2 (28 ounce) cans crushed tomatoes
1 pint heavy cream

Directions

In a sauce pan over medium heat, sauté onion in butter until slightly brown and soft. Pour in vodka and let cook for 10-20 minutes. Mix in crushed tomatoes and cook for 30 minutes. Pour in heavy cream and cook for another 30 minutes.

Stop by my fresh seafood market here<<<

Cheers!

Ryan

Florida Keys Living: Key West Pink Shrimp and Florida Lobster Tails Sautéed with Hot Key Lime Butter Sauce

About 80% of vacationers ask me how I cook seafood now compared to when I lived in Minneapolis, MN.

I tell them, not much has changed except that I am a much happier cook. Mainly, because I following my 8 simple rules for Florida Keys cooking:

1. Keep it simple

2. Do not be afraid to screw up.

3. Take a risk.

4. Ask for help.

5. Don’t be in a hurry.

6. Be yourself.

7. Have a back up plan.

8. Relax

This recipe is sure to be a hit around your dinner table this holiday season!

8 tablespoons (1 stick) butter plus 2 tablespoons

1 tablespoon of your Favorite Hot Sauce

1 ½ tablespoon Key Lime Juice

½ tablespoon minced garlic

2 pounds medium Key West Pink Shrimp (21-25 count), peeled and deveined

1 ½ pounds of spiny lobster tails (about 4 small tails) removed from the shells removed from the shells and coarsely chopped.

1 pound fresh mushrooms, sliced

¼ cup of white wine

6 cups of pasta or rice.

Prepare the Sauce early in the day: Place 8 tablespoons butter in a small bowl and allow it to soften at room temperature. Add hot sauce and lime juice; stir to mix well. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate this until needed.

Melt 2 tablespoons plain butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add Key West Pink Shrimp and Florida Lobsters and sauté, stirring frequently, until shrimp just turns pink, about 2 to 3 minutes. Do not overcook. Reduce heat to medium. Add mushrooms, scallions, and wine. Sauté, stirring frequently, until tender, about 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat. Add key lime hot sauce butter and stir until the butter melts and is well blended with seafood. Serve with hot pasta or rice.

Enjoy!

Ryan
www.seafoodlobstercrabs.com