Thai Shrimp Stew

This is a fantastic dish! It looks so gourmet and it is SO EASY to make!! It will impress your friends and family! Perfect for a Date Night or a Dinner Party!

Thanks to my girlfriend Katie who makes a very similar dish with a few differences in spices.

1 1/2 lb large shrimp in shell (21 to 25 per lb), peeled and deveined

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

3 garlic cloves, minced

1/4 cup fresh lemon juice

1 (14- to 15-oz) can petite diced tomatoes including juice

1 medium onion, finely chopped

1 sweet bell pepper, finely chopped

1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil

2 teaspoons curry

5 tablespoons coarsely chopped fresh cilantro

1 can  lite coconut milk (shake well)

Serve with cooked white rice

Cook onion and bell pepper in olive oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderately low heat, stirring, until softened, 8 to 10 minutes. Add curry, 1 tablespoon cilantro, and remaining teaspoon salt and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Toss shrimp with black pepper, 1/2 teaspoon salt, garlic, and lemon juice and marinate, covered and chilled, 15 minutes. (you want to do this here so that the shrimp doesn't "cook" in the lemon juice) Add tomatoes and simmer briskly, stirring, until mixture is very thick, about 15 minutes.Stir in coconut milk and bring to a boil, then add shrimp mixture and cook, stirring, until shrimp are just cooked through, about 3 to 5 minutes.Serve over rice.When I plate this, I usually take a 1/4 or a 1/2 measuring cup, scoop rice into, place it in the center of the plate, and then put it the stew around it.