Caramelized garlic shrimp

This delicious and easy recipe comes from a book called "Pleasures of the Vietnamese Table" by Mai Pham. We have been making it for many years, and now our kids like it so we've pulled it out again.

Ingredients:

1 pound fresh shrimp (the recipe calls for shell on, but I made it shell off, tail on for the kids. Or you can use shell off)

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

2 tablespoons sugar

1 clove garlic, chopped

1 shallot, chopped

1/4 cup water

1 1/2 tablespoons fish sauce

5 sprigs cilantro, coarsely chopped

Directions:

1. Heat the oil in a skillet over medium heat

2. Add the shrimp and sugar and cook for 1-2 minutes

3. Add the garlic and shallot and continue to cook and stir another couple of minutes

4. Add the fish sauce and water and cook until the shrimp are done and the pan is almost dry

5. Transfer to a bowl and garnish with the cilantro

I served it with rice and sauteed fresh spinach.