May 10 is celebrated as National Shrimp Day. Today is the day for shrimp fans all over the world to come together to enjoy this popular seafood offering.
There is a reason that we all gravitate to the shrimp at an all you can eat buffet. They taste so darn good!
Keep reading for some fun facts about shrimp, and ways to celebrate this food themed national day.
And if seafood is your thing, be sure to also check out National Oyster Day to discover ways to eat them and learn more about oysters.
For more information on the national food days in May, check out this post. It has a lot of great ideas and recipes.
The difference between prawns and shrimp
Americans say shrimp but Aussies and Brits call them prawns. Which is right and what is the difference?
Oddly enough, the two terms refer to two completely different crustaceans! Both have ten legs and external skeletons. But shrimp are part of the Pleocyemata family and prawns belong to the Dendobranchiata family.
Shrimp are smaller than prawns in most cases and they also live in different water. Shrimp mainly live in the ocean and prawns are normally found in fresh water.
So, when Paul Hogan, in Crocodile Dundee said “I’ll slip a shrimp on the barbie for ya,” he was aiming for the movie goers in the USA even though they call the seafood prawn in Australia!
Fun facts about shrimp
Here are some fun shrimp facts:
- All shrimp are born male but some develop into females.
- All sizes of shrimp are available from 1/2 inch to 12 inches in size.
- There are over 2000 shrimp species around the world.
- The tiger shrimp can be as long as your forearm!
- Shrimp are omnivorous and sometimes eat small fish as well as plants and matter on the ocean floor.
- The black part of an uncleaned shrimp is the entire intestinal tract. Remove this before cooking by de-veining the shrimp. You will get a cleaner taste and a better look.
Nutritional information for shrimp
The US Department of Agriculture recommends that we eat 2 servings of seafood a week. Why not make at least one of them shrimp? Here are the nutritional facts for shrimp:
One three ounce serving of cooked shrimp contains only 84 calories. They have lots of protein and are carb free.
Shrimp are loaded with healthy nutrients such as B vitamins and iron and are a great source of Omega-3s. Their fat content is very low and they are a popular choice for dieters as well as those concerned about their weight.
How to get more seafood in your diet
Thread some shrimp on BBQ skewers and throw them on the grill. Add some cooked shrimp to any salad, pasta dish or casserole. They cook quickly and are very versatile.
How to celebrate National Shrimp Day
Eating shrimp is the most obvious way to celebrate this food holiday, of course, but here are some other ideas.
- Read Penguin and the Tiny Shrimp: Don’t Do Bedtime to your child.
- Go to a Shrimp Festival in your area.
- Grab some friends and cast a net to catch some shrimp.
- Check out your local restaurants to see if they are offering specials on shrimp today.
- Watch the movie Forest Gump and be on the look for this famous shrimp saying:
“Anyway, like I was sayin’, shrimp is the fruit of the sea. You can barbecue it, boil it, broil it, bake it, saute it. There’s uh, shrimp-kabobs, shrimp creole, shrimp gumbo. Pan fried, deep fried, stir-fried. There’s pineapple shrimp, lemon shrimp, coconut shrimp, pepper shrimp, shrimp soup, shrimp stew, shrimp salad, shrimp and potatoes, shrimp burger, shrimp sandwich. That- that’s about it.”
- Cook up a batch of shrimp using one of the recipes below.
- Spread the word on social media with the hashtags #nationalshrimpday and #shrimpday
Here is a tweet to get you started:
Today is #nationalshrimpday. Whether you like them grilled on the barbecue, as a shrimp cocktail or in one of your favorite recipes, it's time to indulge in some decadent seafood. 🥠🍤 Share on XRecipes to enjoy for Shrimp Day
I have an entire page on my recipe site devoted to shrimp recipes. Shrimp is one of my favorite sea foods and we eat it often at our house. Here are just a few to try:
- Always a favorite – Coconut Beer Battered Shrimp.
- Looking for something exotic? Try these shrimp tandoori skewers.
- Summer is the time for some Caribbean Shrimp Kebabs.
- These spicy shrimp with garlic and parsley add a nice kick to the taste.
- Get our your crock pot to make this delicious shrimp jambalaya.
- Shrimp gets combined with clams and squid for this light seafood piccata recipe.
There are two food national days of the year devoted to shrimp:
- National Shrimp Scampi Day – April 29
- National Shrimp Day – May 10
There are over 1500 national days in the year. Be sure not to miss any of them by checking back often to see what special day we are featuring on Always the Holidays.
And if you enjoy doing puzzles, check out our free printable puzzle for May. For all the foodies out there, be sure to have a look at my list of national food days in May.
For other special national days in May have a look at these recent posts:
- National Garden Meditation Day – May 3
- National Butterscotch Brownie Day – May 9
- National Twilight Zone Day – May 11
- National Nutty Fudge Day – May 12
- National Buttermilk Biscuit Day – May 14
Pin these shrimp recipes for later
Would you like a reminder of these shrimp recipes for National Shrimp Day? Just pin this image to one of your cooking boards on Pinterest so that you can easily find it later.
Plus, check out this YouTube video to learn about more May food days.
