20 minute meals: a quick recipe for shrimp & snow peas

It's always important to eat right and to get the proper nutrients from your diet. This dish contains several vitamins that can have an effect on your health. The vitamin E in shrimp and vitamin C in snow peas are a winning combination for boosting immunity.

• Preparation: 10 minutes.
• Cooking time: 8 minutes.
• Serves 4.

Ingredients:

• 15 ml (1 tbsp) plus 10 ml (2 tsp) canola oil
• 110 g (4 oz) snow peas
• 1 small red pepper, seeded and very thinly sliced
• 1 ml (1⁄4 tsp) salt
• 500 g (1 lb) medium raw shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 3 scallions, finely chopped
• 2 ml (1⁄2 tsp) chili flakes
• 2 cloves garlic, crushed
• 15 ml (1 tbsp) peeled, finely chopped fresh ginger
• 30 ml (2 tbsp) low-sodium soy sauce
• 15 ml (1 tbsp) freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 15 ml (1 tbsp) grated lemon zest

Instructions:

1. Heat the 10 millilitres (two teaspoons) oil in a large non-stick frying pan or wok over medium heat. Add snow peas, pepper and salt. Stir-fry until crisp-tender, or about three minutes. Transfer to a plate.
2. Heat remaining oil in the same pan. Add shrimp, scallions and chili flakes. Stir-fry one and a half minutes.
3. Add garlic and ginger. Stir-fry for one minute.
4. Add soy sauce and lemon juice. Stir-fry until shrimp are curled, bright pink and cooked through, or about one minute.
5. Add the snow peas and pepper to the pan. Stir-fry just long enough to heat through, or about 30 seconds.
6. Stir in lemon zest and serve immediately.

• The freshest pea pods at the market will look shiny and firm; if rubbed together they squeak a little.
• Avoid any pale green or yellow pods, an indicator that their sugars have begun to turn to starch.
• If possible, taste one to test. The sweetest green shell peas are best small to medium sized.
• They should fit snugly inside their pods without looking swollen or crowded. Large, heavy, shell pea pods usually signal that the peas will be tough and starchy. On the other hand, light, thin pods indicate bland peas.

Try this healthy recipe tonight and you can cook a delicious meal without having to spend your entire evening in the kitchen.