Frugal Feasts: Crystal Shrimp

Each Wednesday, I offer a frugal recipe based on what's on sale at the grocery store. Two stores are having specials on frozen shrimp. Food Lion has buy one, get one 1-pound bags of shrimp for a total of $7.99. Harris Teeter has buy one, get two on those ezpeel 2-pound bags of shrimp. That's either $4.33 a pound at Harris Teeter or $4 a pound at Food Lion.

I turned to Helen Chen's recent book, "Easy Chinese Stir-Fries," for a recipe for Crystal Shrimp.

Crystal Shrimp

1 teaspoon Chinese rice wine or dry sherry
1 teaspoon cornstarch
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon grated peeled fresh ginger
1 pound medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 scallion, bulb split, cut into two-inch pieces
4 tablespoons canola oil

In a medium bowl, whisk together wine, cornstarch, salt and ginger. Add the shrimp and mix well, then mix in the scallions. 
In a wok or stir-fry pan, heat the oil over high heat until hot but not smoking. Test by dipping the spatula into the shrimp mixture and then into the oil; it should sizzle. Stir up the shrimp mixture and add it to the pan. Cook, stirring briskly, until the shrimp turn opaque and pink, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer the shrimp to a platter with a slotted spoon. Remove and discard the scallion, if desired. Serve immediately over rice.

Makes 4 servings. 

Cost breakdown: 

Dry sherry - $6.49 for a 25-ounce bottle, Cost for meal: 8 cents
Cornstarch - $1.30 for a 16-ounce box, Cost for meal: 1 cent
Ginger - $3.99 a pound, Cost for meal: 4 cents
Shrimp - $4 a pound, Cost for meal: $4
Bunch of scallions - 79 cents, Cost for meal: 16 cents
Canola oil - $2.25 for 48-ounce bottle, Cost for meal: 9 cents

Total cost per meal: $4.38
Cost per serving: $1.10

Note: Based on the advice of two helpful readers,
I've broken down the cost based on how much is used for this meal, as opposed to the total cost of ingredients. I did not include the cost of salt assuming everyone has it. I often use store brands for my calculations because they are the best deal. If your kitchen is not already well-stocked, these recipes will help you build up your pantry. If you plan to serve this dish over rice, a pound of rice costs $1.27 and will only increase the total cost by 64 cents and 16 cents per serving.