Coral Reef Shrimp Citrus Dish (Printable)

Tender shrimp combined with citrus, zucchini ribbons, and melted Gruyère create a vibrant, ocean-inspired plate.

# Ingredient List:

→ Seafood

01 - 1.1 lb large pink shrimp, peeled and deveined

→ Citrus

02 - 2 medium oranges, segmented, plus 1 tsp orange zest
03 - 1 small pink grapefruit, segmented
04 - Juice of 1 lemon

→ Cheeses

05 - 4 oz Gruyère cheese, grated
06 - 1.7 oz ricotta cheese

→ Vegetables & Garnish

07 - 1 small zucchini, thinly sliced into ribbons
08 - 1 small carrot, julienned
09 - 1 tbsp fresh chives, finely chopped
10 - 1 tbsp fresh dill, torn

→ Pantry

11 - 2 tbsp olive oil
12 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

# Steps:

01 - Preheat the oven broiler to high heat.
02 - Toss shrimp with 1 tablespoon olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper in a bowl.
03 - Heat a skillet over medium-high heat and sauté shrimp for 2 minutes per side until just cooked through. Set aside.
04 - Gently toss orange and grapefruit segments with orange zest and a pinch of salt in a separate bowl.
05 - Steam zucchini ribbons and julienned carrot for 1 to 2 minutes until tender. Arrange on a serving platter to create the coral base.
06 - Nestle sautéed shrimp and citrus segments among the vegetables, layering to form a vibrant coral reef presentation.
07 - Sprinkle grated Gruyère evenly over the arrangement and dot with spoonfuls of ricotta cheese.
08 - Place platter under the broiler for 2 to 3 minutes until cheese bubbles and light golden brown forms.
09 - Remove from broiler, garnish with chopped chives and torn dill, drizzle with remaining olive oil, and serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It looks restaurant-worthy but comes together in under 40 minutes, making you feel like a culinary genius without the stress.
  • The melted Gruyère bubbling over the cool citrus and tender shrimp creates this thrilling contrast that somehow feels both light and indulgent.
  • It's naturally gluten-free and pescatarian, so you can serve it confidently to friends with dietary preferences without feeling like you're cooking two meals.
02 -
  • The shrimp will continue cooking slightly from residual heat, so pull it off the pan the moment it turns opaque—overcooked shrimp becomes rubbery and you can't fix that.
  • Don't assemble this dish more than 5 minutes before broiling, or the vegetables will start to weep and the citrus juice will pool, washing away all that careful arrangement.
  • Watch the broiler like a hawk because ovens vary wildly in intensity; some will brown the cheese in 90 seconds while others need the full three minutes.
03 -
  • Segment your citrus over a bowl to catch the juice, then use that juice to dress the vegetables—nothing goes to waste and you deepen the flavor throughout the dish.
  • If your platter isn't oven-safe, transfer everything to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper before broiling, then slide it onto a platter for serving if presentation matters to you.
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