Vietnamese Caramelized Shrimp

Warning: If you've never had fish sauce before, you may be a little surprised at the strong fishy smell and flavor. But, if you love Vietnamese cuisine (and are familiar with fish sauce), you'll love this dish!

Ingredients

1/4 cup fish sauce

2 Tsp. dark brown sugar

1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes

1/2 cup water

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped

5 cloves garlic, minced

2 pounds extra large shrimp, peeled and de-veined

3 scallions, white and green parts, thinly sliced

1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro

Directions

Combine fish sauce, dark brown sugar, crushed red pepper flakes and water in a bowl and whisk until brown sugar is dissolved.

Heat vegetable oil in a large sauté pan over medium heat. Add onions and cook, stirring frequently, until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook a few minutes more. Do not brown.

Turn heat up to medium-high and add shrimp. Cook, stirring frequently, until shrimp are just barely pink and still translucent in spots, a few minutes. Add fish sauce mixture, turn heat down to medium, and simmer until shrimp are cooked through, a few minutes more.

Off the heat, stir in scallions and cilantro. Serve immediately with jasmine rice.