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Fried shrimp po'boy
Cornmeal-fried prawns 'dressed' in a crusty New Orleans loaf
The po'boy was born in 1929 when two former streetcar drivers fed striking workers free sandwiches at their New Orleans restaurant, and today every neighbourhood joint from Mid-City to the Bywater fries them. The bread is a light, flaky-crusted French loaf, and a shrimp po'boy comes 'dressed' with shredded lettuce, tomato, pickles and rémoulade or mayonnaise. Chef's tip: use the lightest, crustiest baguette you can find and warm it; dense bread fights the filling.
- Total time
- 40 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 1 ⅓ lb medium raw prawnspeeled and deveined
- ¾ cup buttermilk
- 1 tbsp hot sauce
- 3 ½ oz fine cornmeal
- 2 ⅛ oz plain flour
- 2 tsp Cajun seasoning
- 4 ¼ cups vegetable oilfor frying
- 2 light French baguettescut into 4 pieces and split
- 6 tbsp mayonnaise or rémoulade
- ¼ iceberg lettuceshredded
- 2 tomatoessliced
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Toss the 1 ⅓ lb medium raw prawns with the ¾ cup buttermilk and 1 tbsp hot sauce and chill for 15 minutes.
15 minStep 2: Mix the 3 ½ oz fine cornmeal, 2 ⅛ oz plain flour and 2 tsp Cajun seasoning. Heat the 4 ¼ cups vegetable oil in a deep pan to 350°F.
8 minStep 3: Lift the prawns from the buttermilk, roll in the coating and fry in batches for 2–3 minutes until golden and crisp, and opaque all the way through when one is cut. A common mistake is crowding the pan, which makes them soggy. Drain on paper.
10 minStep 4: Warm the 2 light French baguettes in the oven for 3 minutes. Spread with 6 tbsp mayonnaise or rémoulade and layer with ¼ iceberg lettuce, 2 tomatoes and 12 dill pickle slices.
4 minStep 5: Pile the hot prawns in, close and press lightly. Eat at once.
2 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 690 kcal
- Protein
- 32 g
- Carbs
- 72 g
- Fat
- 30 g
- Fibre
- 4 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does fried shrimp po'boy take?
- About 40 minutes in total: 25 minutes to prepare and 15 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- What can I use instead of buttermilk?
- Milk with lemon juice or white vinegar: 1 tbsp per 240ml (1 cup) milk, left for 5 minutes.
- What can I use instead of plain flour?
- Self-raising flour, same amount (then leave out the baking powder).
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