Home alone & Home Cooking.. CHICKPEA MASH & LEMON HERB SHRIMP SAUTE

The bf is on a work retreat since last Sunday. I normally do all the cooking at home which I have no problem of doing so. Although I miss him & wish he was here, I'm really enjoying the fact that I can splurge on one of my favourite staple ingredients to use, while he's gone. I love cooking with LEMON/LIME & LEMON/LIME ZEST.
To his point, when 'I put too much of it', lemon juice & zest overpowers the dish. To my point, these ingredients makes the dish pop & is what makes it tastes so much better.
Lately I've been cooking thai, east & west indian & filipino food. Today, I'm sticking with Mediterranean ingredients. I made chickpea mash & lemon herb shrimp saute. Hope you enjoy:





CHICKPEA MASH
1 can of chickpeas, drained
1 medium onion, diced
5 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 lemon, juiced & zested
1 Tbs olive oil
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp dried basil
1 tsp sesame seed
kosher salt to taste
ground black pepper

• Heat oil & add onions. Cook until softened
• Add garlic, lemon zest, oregano & basil. Let cook for 2-3 minutes
• Add chickpeas & sesame seeds. C
• Cook until softened. Mash with fork in pan
• Add lemon juice, salt & pepper

LEMON HERB SHRIMP SAUTE
1 lb shrimp, peeled, deveined & butterflied (tail left on)
1 medium onion, thinly sliced
1 zucchini, thinly sliced
1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, cut in half lengthwise
6 cloves garlic, minced
3 sprigs fresh thyme
2 Tbs olive oil
1 Tbs dried oregano
1 Tbs dried basil
1/2 tsp chili flakes
1 lemon, juiced & zested
kosher salt to taste
ground black pepper

• Rub shrimp with half of the basil, oregano & lemon zest. Set aside
  
• Add chili flakes & thyme to pan while oil is heating
• Add onions & let cook until softened
• Add garlic, remaining oregano, basil & zest, zucchini & cherry tomatoes. Let cook for 3-5 minutes or until vegetables have softened
• Add shrimp & cook until shrimp turns pink. Squeeze in lemon juice.
• Add salt & pepper to taste

Note: The next time around, I would add either water, white whine or chicken stock to the chickpea mash for a smoother texture.