by Karen Frazier

I know – more mushrooms. Like I said in an earlier post, fall is the perfect time to find delicious seasonal mushrooms, so I take advantage of the bounty. Plus, I love mushrooms. If you don’t care for them, go ahead and leave them out of this delicious paleo recipe.

I use a modified version of Rick Bayless’s garlic mojo. Make the mojo ahead of time, and keep it tightly sealed in the refrigerator for several weeks. Then, use the garlic mojo in the recipe.

Garlic Mojo

• 1 1/2 cups peeled garlic cloves, crushed
• 2 cups extra virgin olive oil (or some type of melted animal fat, if you prefer)
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
• Juice of three limes
• 1/4 teaspoon chipotle chili powder

1. Preheat your oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. In a square glass pan (8×8″), spread the garlic along the bottom of the pan. Pour the olive oil or fat over the top. Add the salt and stir to combine, making sure all of the cloves are completely covered with oil. If they aren’t, add a little more oil or remove a few garlic cloves.
3. Bake in the preheated oven until the garlic begins to turn golden, 45 to 50 minutes.
4. Remove the garlic from the oven and stir in the lime juice and chipotle.
5. Return the pan to the oven and continue baking for an additional 20 minutes.
6. Remove the garlic mojo from the oven and mash the garlic cloves with a potato masher or a fork.
7. Allow the garlic mojo to cool completely and then put it in a container that seals tightly. Refrigerate for up to 90 days. Be sure the garlic remains submerged in oil when you store it.

Shrimp and Mushrooms with Garlic Mojo

• 1/4 cup garlic mojo, divided
• 1 pound of shrimp, peeled and deveined with tails removed
• 1 onion, chopped
• 8 ounces button mushrooms, sliced (use any kind you wish)
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• Juice of one lime
• 1/8 teaspoon chipotle chili powder
• 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
• 1 recipe guacamole
• 1 recipe pico di gallo (recipe follows)
• Several large lettuce leaves

1. Stir the garlic mojo before measuring it.
2. In a large saute pan, heat two tablespoons of the garlic mojo over medium-high heat. Add the shrimp and cook until it turns pink, about six minutes.
3. Remove the shrimp with a slotted spoon and set it aside on a platter.
4. Add the remaining two tablespoons of garlic mojo to the sauté pan. Add the onion and mushrooms and cook, stirring occasionally, until they are soft and begin to brown, six to eight minutes.
5. Return the shrimp and any juices that have collected on the platter to the sauté pan.
6. Add the lime juice, chipotle chili and sea salt. Cook, stirring constantly, until the shrimp heats through, about four minutes.
7. Serve the garlic mojo using the lettuce leaves as tortillas. Top with guacamole and pico de gallo.

Pico de Gallo

• 1 large tomato, chopped
• 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
• 1/2 red onion, chopped
• 1 small jalapeño, seeded and chopped
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• Juice of one lime
• 1/4 teaspoon sea salt

Mix all the ingredients together in a small bowl.

photo credit: Rene Venturoso via photopin cc