Whether you’re a family caregiver or a senior adult, preparing a nutrient-dense meal can be a time-consuming task. But, with Seasons recipes, you can be ready to prioritize senior health with minimal prep to simplify mealtime.
Our healthy easy sheet pan shrimp and asparagus recipe feature juicy baked shrimp and fork-tender asparagus tossed in a light garlic, olive oil, and lemon dressing, with fresh parsley that’s bursting with flavor. This extraordinarily easy-to-fix meal is not only full of delicious taste, but it’s also an excellent source of B vitamins, vitamin B12, and protein, all necessary for senior health.
Cooking nutritional meals while saving time with sheet pan recipes is a breeze for aging adults. Seniors will love how our sheet pan shrimp and asparagus recipe avoids intricate steps with its simplistic hands-off cooking approach. Like the one-pot meal concept, our sheet pan dinner is ready in under 30 minutes, requires minimal prep, and reduces clean-up time in the kitchen.
Savory Sheet Pan Shrimp and Asparagus
Serves 4
Prep Time: 10 min
Cook Time: 15 min
Total Time: 25 min
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Ingredients
1 pound fresh asparagus spears, trimmed
2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
4 garlic cloves, fresh or jarred, divided
2 pounds large raw shrimp, peeled and deveined, thawed if frozen
Kosher salt and pepper, to taste
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons freshly chopped parsley for garnish, optional
Lemon wedges for serving, optional
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Supplies
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Directions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
- Wash and dry your produce. Next, line the asparagus on a cutting board, and then using a chef’s knife, carefully slice off the paler thicker ends. Discard the pale, white ends, and set the vibrant green stalks aside. Then, carefully mince your garlic.
- Arrange the asparagus on the prepared baking sheet. Drizzle one tablespoon of olive oil directly onto the asparagus spears. Next, season the spears with two tablespoons of garlic, then sprinkle them with salt and pepper. Using your hands, toss to combine, then push the asparagus to one side of the baking sheet in a single layer.
- In a large mixing bowl, add the raw shrimp with the remaining olive oil and garlic. Add the lemon juice, salt, and pepper to taste. Mix well.
- Transfer the coated shrimp to the other side of the baking sheet in a single layer. Bake for 15 minutes or until the shrimp are pink and just cooked through. Sprinkle with fresh parsley, if desired, and lemon wedges.
Cooking Tips While Aging in Place
Often, certain health conditions such as arthritis or poor vision can make everyday cooking tasks challenging for seniors. However, there are helpful ways to accommodate aging adults and increase independence.
Our recipe calls for freshly trimmed asparagus and minced garlic, which can be challenging for seniors with orthopedic issues, such as arthritis, to cut comfortably.
Frozen asparagus may be used in place of fresh asparagus to avoid slicing if hand and wrist mobility is a concern. Please note that using frozen asparagus will result in a much softer roasted spear due to its much higher water content.
The taste of fresh garlic is by far superior to pre-minced garlic; however, mincing can be quite tedious. Jarred garlic or garlic powder is a suitable substitute for this recipe.
Cooking Gadgets While Aging in Place
Slicing, dicing, and chopping play a vital role in the kitchen. Seniors experiencing difficulty with traditional knives can regain their independence and confidence with the Dexter-Russell Forward Right Angle Knife.
Experience a game-changing sturdy ergonomic design that will help aging home cooks prep food in comfort.
Pair this easy-to-use knife with NoCry Cut Resistant Gloves for worry-free meal prepping.
