"This is a delicious spring time dish - showing off all the great flavors of Spring. Now, ramps and fiddleheads are really seasonal; and, a very short season at that; but, fiddleheads you can actually buy frozen these days. As for ramps, spring onions or even scallions can be a substitute. But, it is definitely worth a trip to the farmers market or a Whole Foods (or similar type of store), to see if you can find these ingredients. Also, I used a vegetable noodle maker; also called a veggetti or a spiralizer for the zucchini noodles; but, you can make them by hand too. It literally takes longer to prep the vegetables vs. the time for it to cook. But, once everything is prepped; the dish really only takes minutes. Simply add a fruit salad on the side."

Original is 3-4 servings

Metric US

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Step by Step Method

Step 1

Prep ... There are a few things to prep for this dish; but, nothing difficult. 1) The main one is the zucchini ... I use a spiralizer to make noodles. You can always thin slice and cut into thin noodles too; but, the spiralizer is inexpensive, easy; and, works great. 2) Fiddleheads; are seasonal - April and May, same with ramps; but, they really make the dish. Fiddleheads out of season, can often be found in the frozen section; especially at stores like Whole Foods (as an example). 3) Ramps, you can simply use spring onions or scallions (spring onions are a bit bigger than scallions; and, are a bit stronger in flavor); but, are a good substitute for ramps, if not available. Asparagus, I like to use a medium thickness asparagus (not the pencil thin; but, not the thick woody asparagus either). A medium thickness asparagus will cook quickly and evenly in a stir fry, which is what you want. Once all the vegetables are prepped; set them to the side.

Step 2

Shrimp ... If using frozen shrimp; make sure to thaw them in a colander, over a bowl; and covered well in the refrigerator. Remove the shrimp from the refrigerator; and place of the counter. Pat them dry; then, season with salt and pepper on both sides. Let them set a good 15-20 minutes to take the chill off. You never want to cook with cold seafood.

Step 3

Pasta ... Now, the pasta only takes a few minutes; so, make sure everything else is ready to go. Cook the pasta in plenty of salted water; just shy of the package cooking time. Drain, and reserve some of the cooking water to use in the sauce. The pasta will take about the same time as the stir fry.

Step 4

Saute ... Add a little of the butter, and a little of the olive oil (about 1 teaspoon of each) to a large non-stick saute pan; then, bring up to medium high to high heat. Saute the shrimp on each side, just a minute or two; until you get a nice sear. They don't take long, so keep an eye on them. You want the shrimp JUST starting to turn pink and JUST starting to curl - you will finish cooking them later with the vegetables. At this point, DO NOT over cook the shrimp. Remove them to a plate off to the side.

Step 5

Vegetables ... In the same pan; add the remaining olive oil and butter; and, add the fiddleheads and red pepper flakes. Saute 3-4 minutes, stirring often on medium to medium high heat - make sure to flip the fiddleheads over as they cook. Next, add the ramps (or your substitute - spring onions or scallions), and cook another couple of minutes. Then, add the asparagus, garlic, and peas; and, toss until everything is combined. Again, cook just a couple of minutes. You want all the vegetables tender; but, crisp tender.

Step 6

Sauce ... Deglaze the pan with the wine, lemon juice; and cook just a minute until the wine reduces. Then, add the preserved lemon, lemon zest, return the shrimp; and, add the zucchini noodles. Toss everything; and, re-season with a bit more salt and pepper if needed; and, cook just a minute.

Step 7

Finish ... Add the cooked and drained pasta to the vegetables and shrimp; and, toss. Add the Feta, parsley, basil, a little pasta water (1/4 cup); and toss. Remember, the Feta doesn't melt; but, you will end up with a slightly creamy dish. Cook just a minute, until everything is combined.

Step 8

Serve and ENJOY! ... Serve right out of the pot family style. A fresh fruit salad; and, a glass of wine is all you need.

Tips

Spiralizer or Veggetti, a vegetable noodle maker

Editorial Notes

The ingredient tips, suggestions, variations, facts, questions and answers below are not edits to the original author's recipe. They are not meant to imply any change would improve the recipe. They're offered for convenience, alternative ideas, and points of interest. If you have any comments about them, please post in the Help & Ideas forum.

Tips for selecting ingredients

Look for fresh fiddleheads and ramps at farmer's markets or specialty stores like Whole Foods.
If you can't find fresh fiddleheads, frozen fiddleheads will also work.

Ingredient substitutions

Fiddleheads: Frozen green beans can be used as a substitute for fiddleheads. The benefit of this substitution is that green beans are much easier to find and can be used year-round. The thinking behind this substitution is that green beans provide a similar texture and flavor to the dish as fiddleheads, while still allowing it to be enjoyed any time of the year.
Ramps: Spring onions can be used as a substitute for ramps. The benefit of this substitution is that spring onions are much easier to find and can be used year-round. The thinking behind this substitution is that spring onions provide a similar flavor to the dish as ramps, while still allowing it to be enjoyed any time of the year.

Variations

Vegan Variation Substitute the shrimp with cubed firm tofu, and replace the butter with vegan butter or olive oil. Omit the feta cheese, and use vegan cheese instead. Use vegetable broth instead of white wine.

Serve with

Grilled Asparagus with Lemon & Parmesan: This simple side dish is the perfect accompaniment to the Lemon Spring Shrimp Stir Fry. The asparagus is lightly grilled to bring out its natural sweetness and topped with a zesty lemon and Parmesan cheese combination. The flavors of the grilled asparagus will pair perfectly with the flavors of the stir fry.

Garlic Roasted Potatoes: Roasted potatoes are a classic side dish that pairs well with many main dishes. This garlic roasted potato recipe is easy to make and features a delicious combination of garlic, butter, and herbs. The potatoes are roasted to perfection and are the perfect complement to the Lemon Spring Shrimp Stir Fry.

FAQ

Q: What is a veggetti?

A: A veggetti is a vegetable noodle maker, also called a spiralizer, used to make thin noodles out of vegetables such as zucchini.

Q: How do I use a veggetti?

A: To use a veggetti, first wash and trim the vegetable you wish to spiralize. Then, attach the vegetable to the veggetti's blade and turn the crank handle to begin spiralizing. Finally, separate the noodles from the core and cook as desired.

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Fun facts:

Fiddleheads are a seasonal vegetable, harvested in the spring, and are a favorite of celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay.

Ramps, a wild onion, have been popular in the Appalachian region of the United States since the 1800s and are now gaining popularity in the rest of the country.