Ingredients

  • 12 very large, fresh shrimp, peeled, deveined and butterflied
  • 1 cup cooked and mashed yuca (or potato)
  • 1 scotch bonnet chile, stem and seeds discarded, minced
  • 3 cloves of peeled garlic, minced
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • 1 cup seasoned all purpose flour
  • 1 egg and 3 tablespoons water, beaten together
  • 2 cups seasoned panko crumbs (Japanese)
  • Tartar Salsa
  • 3 egg yolks*, see note below
  • 1/2 cup virgin olive oil
  • 1/2 cup canola oil
  • 1 tablespoon Champagne vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon juice from the pickles (just below)
  • 3 tablespoons chopped sweet pickles
  • 2 tablespoons red onion, peeled and diced small
  • 1 hard cooked egg yolk, yolk sieved, white chopped small
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • Mojo
  • 6 cloves raw, peeled and minced garlic
  • 1 scotch bonnet, stem and seeds discarded, minced
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons, whole cumin seeds (freshly toasted)
  • 1 cup pure olive oil
  • 1/3 cup sour orange juice
  • 2 teaspoons Spanish sherry wine vinegar
  • Salt and pepper, to taste

Method

  • Combine the mashed yuca with the bonnet, garlic, salt and pepper.
  • Push the filling into the deep incision of the butterflied cut shrimp.
  • Note: If sour orange is unavailable use 1/2 orange juice to 1/2 lime juice as a substitute.
  • Keep warm, (or rewarm at the last moment).
  • To serve:
  • Have a simple mesclun of lettuces and a simple vinaigrette set aside to mix at the last moment.
  • Heat a large skillet with peanut oil until very hot.
  • When the oil is hot (350 degrees), lay the shrimp in it and cook until golden and cooked through on each side.
  • Remove them to a plate with absorbent toweling and keep warm.
  • Spoon some of the tartar salsa onto the plate in four equidistant places.
  • Place a shrimp over the dots of salsa.
  • Whisk the mojo and spoon some of it over each of the shrimp.
  • Serve.
  • Dust the shrimp first in the flour, then the egg wash and then the panko.
  • Set aside
  • Put the egg yolks in an electric mixer, beat the egg yolks until pale.
  • Add the olive and canola oils very slowly until it is all incorporated.
  • Whisk in the vinegar and pickling juice..
  • Gently stir in the remaining ingredients.
  • Reserve, covered and refrigerated until ready to use.
  • Yield 1 1/2 cups
  • *RAW EGG WARNING
  • Food Network Kitchens suggest caution in consuming raw and lightly-cooked eggs due to the slight risk of Salmonella or other food-borne illness.
  • To reduce this risk, we recommend you use only fresh, properly-refrigerated, clean, grade A or AA eggs with intact shells, and avoid contact between the yolks or whites and the shell.
  • Mash the raw garlic, chilies, salt and cumin together in a mortar with the pestle until fairly smooth.
  • Scrape this into a bowl and set aside a moment.
  • Heat the olive oil until fairly hot and pour it over the garlic chilies mix and allow to stand 10 minutes.
  • Now whisk in the sour orange juice and the vinegar.
  • Season as desired and set aside until ready to use.
  • Yield: 1 1/4 cups