Make Ahead

Potted Shrimp for Butter Lovers

July 26, 2012
0
0 Ratings
  • Serves 4 as an appetizer
Author Notes

If you fear butter, this one's not for you, but if an occasional splurge is in your diet, potted shrimp is a great appetizer served on toast or crackers. This is traditionally served at room temperature but also makes a lovely butter sauce over roasted fish. —inpatskitchen

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • 1/2 pound unsalted butter
  • 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
  • 3 teaspoons anchovy paste, divided 1 - 2
  • 3 gratings nutmeg on a micro plane
  • 1/2 teaspoon white pepper
  • 1 tablespoon finely chopped parsley
  • 1 pound peeled and deveined shrimp, preferably from the Gulf of Mexico and chopped finely
Directions
  1. Clarify the butter by cutting it into cubes and very slowly melting it in a medium sauce pan. When it begins to foam , skim off as much of the "milk" as you can with a spoon and then pass the butter through a cheese cloth lined sieve into a bowl.
  2. Reserve 1/4 cup of the clarified butter and add the rest to a medium skillet. Over low heat stir in one teaspoon of the anchovy paste, the nutmeg and the white pepper and stir and heat for about a minute. Stir in the chopped shrimp and continue to cook over the low heat for about 5 minutes until the shrimp are just barely cooked through.
  3. Remove the skillet from the heat and let cool to room temperature. Once cooled stir in the parsley and remaining 2 teaspoons of the anchovy paste.
  4. Pack the shrimp mixture into a 2 cup ramekin or crock. Cover and refrigerate until the butter hardens up a bit. Gently reheat the reserved 1/4 cup of butter until just spreadable and pour over the shrimp. Return, covered to the refrigerator.
  5. At this point, refrigerate overnight or even for a few days before serving. To serve, remove from the fridge for at least two hours until that top layer of butter becomes spreadable. Serve with toast or water crackers.
Contest Entries

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  • Vivian Henoch
    Vivian Henoch
  • mrslarkin
    mrslarkin
  • inpatskitchen
    inpatskitchen
inpatskitchen

Recipe by: inpatskitchen

I think I get my love for food and cooking from my mom, who was an amazing cook. She would start baking and freezing a month before Christmas in order to host our huge open house on Christmas afternoon. I watched and I learned...to this day I try not to procrastinate when it comes to entertaining. My cooking style is pretty much all over the place, although I'm definitely partial to Greek and Italian cuisine. Oh yes, throw a little Cajun in there too!

4 Reviews

Vivian H. July 30, 2012
No fear of butter. Great idea! I'll tuck this one away for future use.
 
inpatskitchen July 31, 2012
Thanks Vivian! Please let me know what you think if you do try it.
 
mrslarkin July 26, 2012
Mmmm...buttah. Perfect pub food! Well done, ipk!
 
inpatskitchen July 27, 2012
Thanks so much mrslarkin!