TASTY LITTLE BITES!
Popcorn shrimp an appetizer everyone will crave
Friday is National Popcorn Day. So why not mark the occasion with some popcorn shrimp? The sweet, bite-sized morsels are addictive! At Legal Sea Foods, we offer them as an appetizer with a tangy buffalo blue cheese sauce. But they are just as tasty with cocktail sauce or a spritz of lemon. We've adjusted our recipe for you to try at home, and hopefully it will become a family favorite — enjoy!
POPCORN SHRIMP
3 c. canola oil 1 A lb. shrimp (70/90 count per pound), peeled and
deveined
Buttermilk
1 c. Fried Fish Coating (recipe follows)
Salt to taste
Heat the oil to 365 degrees in a heavy, deep, nonreactive pot or deep-fat fryer. Dip the shrimp first in buttermilk, and then in the coating mixture. Shake the shrimp well to remove any excess coating, and place on a dish next to the stove.
Test the oil with a deep-fat thermometer to make sure it is hot enough, and fry the shrimp until they are cooked and crispy (about 45 seconds). Sprinkle lightly with salt, if you wish. Serves four.
FRIED FISH COATING 1 c. white cornmeal
1 c. unbleached all-purpose flour (or gluten-free flour) A t. dry mustard A t. salt
Spicy variation: Add J t. cayenne pepper and
2-3 t. Old Bay Seasoning
Place the cornmeal, flour, dry mustard and salt in a blender. Blend at medium speed until thoroughly combined, about 20-30 seconds. Makes 2 cups. Store the remaining coating in a plastic zip-lock bag in the refrigerator, which keeps the mixture dry and makes it easy to shake before using.