Alex Guarnaschelli Coconut Cauliflower Recipe Recipe For Shrimp

CAULIFLOWER FRITTERS

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, combine the flour, 2 teaspoons canola oil, coriander seeds, and red pepper flakes. Stir to blend. Whisk in the beer. Set aside in a warm place for 15 to 20 minutes. It will puff up slightly, like bread dough.
• Gather the cauliflower in a medium-size bowl and use a small strainer to sprinkle it with an even layer of the paprika. Toss to blend.
• In a large pot, heat the remaining 6 cups oil to 375 degrees F.
• Line a baking sheet with paper towels and place the florets on the tray as they come out of the oil.
• Stir the batter slightly. To test the consistency of the batter and the temperature of the oil, put a couple of pieces of cauliflower on a slotted spoon and submerge them in the batter. It should coat the pieces lightly. Cook's Note: If the batter is too thick, add a little water to thin it out. If the batter is too thin, sift and whisk in a little more flour.
• Drain the excess batter and lower the cauliflower into the oil. It should bubble slightly and the cauliflower should gradually rise to the top. Fry until light brown, about 3 to 5 minutes and then transfer them to the prepared baking sheet. Fry the cauliflower in small batches. Season with salt, sprinkle with the cilantro and serve immediately.

SHRIMP WITH A YUZU DRESSING

Steps:

• For the batter: Combine the beer, vodka and soda water in a medium bowl. Slowly whisk in the flour, paprika and baking soda. The batter should be fairly thick but also easy to stir. If a little loose, whisk in a little more flour. If too thick, add a splash of soda water. Do not overmix. Set aside on the counter for 15 to 20 minutes.
• For the yuzu dressing: In a medium bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise and yuzu juice. Whisk in the mustard, paprika and lemon zest and set aside.
• For the shrimp: Pour the oil into a heavy-bottomed pot. Heat the oil to 320 degrees F, using a deep-frying thermometer to monitor the temperature. Put a wire rack into a rimmed baking sheet.
• Arrange the Bibb lettuce in an overlapping circle in a large shallow serving bowl or platter.
• Once the oil reaches 320 degrees F, add the lemon slices and fry until crispy and lightly browned, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to the rack over the baking sheet with a slotted spoon. Fry the basil (take care as it can splatter when it hits the oil) until crispy, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer to the same rack. Season with salt.
• Raise the oil temperature to 350 degrees F.
• Add the shrimp to the batter to coat. Transfer the shrimp to the oil in batches with a slotted spoon, holding the spoon just over the oil and carefully dropping them in one by one to prevent clumping and splashing. Fry each batch until golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes, then transfer them to the rack; raise the oil temperature back to 350 degrees F between batches.
• Drizzle the shrimp with some of the yuzu sauce and immediately spoon the shrimp into the center of the bowl of lettuce. Sprinkle with the fried lemon and basil leaves. Top with the remaining yuzu dressing to taste.

BROILED CAULIFLOWER STEAKS WITH PARSLEY AND LEMON

Steps:

• For the cauliflower: Place the first head of cauliflower upright (stem-side down) on a flat surface. Using a large knife and imagining that you are creating two large steaks from each head of cauliflower, trim a little off each end so that when you split the cauliflower in half, each half will lie flat. Cut the cauliflower in half. You should yield two "steaks," each weighing about 14 to 15 ounces. Repeat with the other cauliflower.
• Bring 6 quarts of water to a rolling boil in a pot large enough to hold the cauliflower steaks. Add salt until the water tastes like mild seawater. (How will you know? Take a little water with a spoon and taste a drop of it.) Layer a baking sheet with a kitchen towel. Add the cauliflower steaks to the boiling water and cook until they are slightly tender when pierced with the tip of a knife, 6 to 8 minutes. Use a large slotted spoon or spatula to carefully transfer the steaks to the baking sheet to drain.
• In a container large enough to fit the cauliflower snugly, whisk the coconut milk together with the coriander, red pepper flakes and a generous pinch of salt. Submerge the steaks in the coconut milk marinade and refrigerate for at least 2 hours and up to 24 hours.
• For the vinaigrette: Whisk together the lemon juice, mustard and vinegar in a medium bowl. Slowly whisk in the olive oil. Set aside.
• For the gremolata: Combine the parsley, lemon zest and garlic in a small bowl. Set aside.
• Finish the cauliflower: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Remove the cauliflower steaks from the coconut milk marinade and arrange them in a single layer on a baking sheet. Season with salt. Place in the oven and cook until tender, 10 to 15 minutes. Heat the broiler and place the cauliflower under the broiler for a few minutes, until the top chars. Transfer the steaks to a serving platter (or individual plates) and drizzle liberally with all of the vinaigrette. Top with all of the gremolata. Add a pinch more salt if desired. Serve immediately.

CLASSIC SHRIMP SCAMPI

Steps:

• Melt 1 1/2 teaspoons butter in a small skillet over medium-high heat, then add the panko and cook, stirring constantly, until the breadcrumbs are golden and toasty-scented, about 2 minutes. Set aside.
• Sprinkle the shrimp on both sides with salt. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add the canola oil. When the oil begins to smoke lightly, quickly arrange the shrimp in a single layer, with a little space between each. Brown the shrimp on their first sides, adding a couple of pieces of the butter around the shrimp to add flavor as they brown, 1 to 2 minutes. Turn the shrimp on their second sides and brown, 1 to 2 minutes. Quickly transfer the shrimp to a plate.
• Return the skillet to medium heat. Add the remaining butter and the garlic to the skillet. Press the garlic into the melting butter to break up any clumps. Add the wine and stir up the brown bits in the bottom of the skillet. Add the Worcestershire, hot sauce and lemon zest. Simmer until the garlic softens and the wine reduces down to a lush sauce, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the parsley and squeeze the juice from half a lemon into the sauce.
• Return the shrimp to the skillet and sprinkle with the red pepper flakes. Toss the shrimp in the sauce to coat well. Remove the skillet from the heat. Sprinkle the shrimp with some more lemon juice and the toasted panko and transfer to a platter.
• Serve with crusty bread, if using.