Weeknight Shrimp with Fennel, Spinach, and Leek

Any recipe that starts with bacon can’t be bad. I mean, right? Well, that’s where we begin with this weeknight shrimp recipe. Then, we toss it with olive oil and fennel for a really nice (and not-so-typical) flavor and texture.

On a bed of fennel, spinach, and leeks, this weeknight shrimp dish has no chance to be anything other than absolutely amazing. The shrimp could exist without the bed of veggies. Likewise, the veggies would be delicious on their own. But putting it all together is where the magic really happens.

Pro-Tip: keep this recipe under thirty minutes by purchasing your shrimp already peeled and deveined. You should be able to find this at your local market or store.

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Weeknight Shrimp with Fennel, Spinach, and Leek

On a bed of delicious and nutritious vegetables, this quick and easy shrimp has no chance to be anything other than absolutely amazing.

Category Dinner, Paleo, Seafood

Compliance Level Kickstart, Lifestyle, Performance

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Servings 4

Author Brandon Cress

Ingredients

• 1.5 pounds shrimp peeled and deveined
• 1/2 pound fennel bulb julienned
• 1/2 pound leek (white part only) julienned
• 1/2 pound baby spinach
• 3 slices bacon diced
• 1 tbsp garlic
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 lemon juiced
• 1 tsp butter
• 1 tsp fennel seed toasted and ground
• Fennel fronds for garnish

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 500 degrees Fahrenheit and heat a large saute pan on medium-high.

2. Add bacon to pan. Cook until crisp and fat is rendered.

3. Remove bacon with a slotted spoon, leaving fat in pan.
4. Continue with pan on medium-high heat.
5. Add garlic and cook until fragrant. About 1 minute.

6. Add fennel and leek. Cook, stirring often, until tender and starting to take on color. About 7-10 minutes.

7. Add spinach and fold in until wilted.
8. Turn heat down to low and stir in butter, lemon juice, and bacon. Keep on low heat until ready to serve.

9. Toss shrimp in olive oil and fennel seed. Arrange on a baking sheet.

10. Roast shrimp at 500 degrees until cooked through. About 5 minutes.

11. Serve shrimp over vegetable mixture and garnish with fennel fronds.

Brandon Cress

Brandon is a slightly paleo locavore and the production manager at The Good Kitchen. He can skin and dice butternut squash in record time and has prepped thousands of pounds of local produce without blinking an eye.

Brandon has over a decade of experience working in professional kitchens and has been a part of The Good Kitchen team since the beginning. He works with The Good Kitchen marketing staff to produce delicious, healthy recipes the everyday chef can use. He’ll never turn down a pot roast, but has been known to eat up the vegetarian eggplant lasagna.