London restaurant offers a taste of Brazil for a sizzling meal on the grill

I'm loving the chile-based marinade from "Brazilian Barbecue & Beyond," by David Ponté, Jamie Barber and Lizzy Barber, that I've used to toss with jumbo shrimp.

In fact, I made an extra batch to use as a dipping sauce for another dish because it's simply that good, spicy and garlicky, with a hint of tomato.

The recipe (and cookbook) serve as a reminder to me that if I want to expand my grilling repertoire, it helps to explore flavor combos that go beyond our borders. That's definitely what I get from a collection of recipes out of a Brazilian restaurant in London.

Add the grilled shrimp to coconut rice, and I'm set for a summer party.

Lee Svitak Dean is the Star Tribune's Taste editor. Reach her at lee.dean@startribune.com or follow her at @StribTaste.

Serves 4.

Note: There will be extra marinade from its full recipe to use as a dipping sauce. From "Brazilian Barbecue & Beyond," by David Pointé, Jamie Barber and Lizzy Barber.

• 4 tbsp. Spicy Malagueta Marinade (see recipe)

• Lime wedges, for garnish

• Coconut Rice (see recipe)

Directions

Peel and devein shrimp, but leave tail ends on.

Prepare grill (or preheat broiler to high and place rack at the highest level).

Thread the shrimp onto 4 metal skewers. Use remaining 1 tablespoon marinade and brush that on the shrimp. Grill or broil for about 2 to 3 minutes on each side, until shrimp have turned opaque and are just cooked through. Serve with lime wedges on the side, over Coconut Rice. Leftover (unused) marinade can be served as a dipping sauce on the side.

Nutrition information per serving without rice:

Calories130Fat9 gSodium340 mg

Carbohydrates5 gSaturated fat1 gTotal sugars2 g

Exchanges per serving: 1 lean protein, 1 ½ fat.

Makes about 3/4 cup.

Note: Malagueta chiles are a fiery Brazilian variety. They are unlikely to be available here, so look for a red chile pepper that suits your taste for heat (red Fresno peppers were used to test the recipe; six Fresno chiles equaled 4 ounces). To lessen the heat, remove the seeds and veins of the chiles. This is a great marinade for shrimp or chicken. From "Brazilian Barbecue & Beyond," by David Pointé, Jamie Barber and Lizzy Barber.

• 4 oz. small red chiles (such as malagueta, Fresno or other hot chile; see Note)

• 5 garlic cloves, lightly crushed

• 2 tbsp. lemon juice

• 2 1/2 tsp. tomato paste

• 2 1/2 tsp. superfine sugar

• 1 heaping tbsp. sweet paprika

• 1 tsp. sea salt (less if finer salt is used)

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Split chiles lengthwise and place in small roasting tray with the garlic and oil. Roast for 10 minutes.

Let cool for a few minutes, then put the chiles, garlic and oil in a small food processor or blender and add the lemon juice, tomato paste, sugar, paprika, salt and oregano. Blend to a smooth purée. Store, covered, in refrigerator for up to a week. Use as marinade or dipping sauce.

Serves 4 to 6.

Note: Shake the can of coconut milk before opening it, then stir the liquid before you measure, as the milk separates. From "Brazilian Barbecue & Beyond," by David Pointé, Jamie Barber and Lizzy Barber.

• 1 tbsp. olive oil

• 1 onion, finely chopped

• 1 tsp. superfine sugar

• 1 tsp. sea salt

• Generous 3/4 c. coconut milk (see Note)

• Sprigs of fresh cilantro, for garnish

Directions

Put the rice in a strainer and rinse under cold water until water runs clear. Let drain for a few minutes.

Warm oil in saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and cook gently for 6 to 8 minutes, until softened. Add sugar, salt and rice, and cook for another minute. Pour in coconut milk and 1 1/2 cups water, and stir again.

Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low and cover pan. Simmer for 10 minutes, until most liquid has been absorbed. Remove from heat and let steam, covered, for 10 minutes.

Fluff up the cooked rice with a fork, and place in serving bowl. Garnish with cilantro and toasted coconut flakes.

Nutrition information per each of 6 servings:

Calories235Fat9 gSodium400 mg

Carbohydrates35 gSaturated fat7 gTotal sugars3 g

Protein3 gCholesterol0 mgDietary fiber1 g