Fry

Spicy Shrimp Tortillitas with Mango Mayonnaise

October  4, 2022
0
0 Ratings
  • Makes 45-50 tortillitas
Author Notes

Tortillitas are tiny Spanish pancakes featuring shrimp, scallion and herbs. You can find a recipe for the “basic version” in Mark Bittman’s New York Times article “Simplicity From Spain: Tiny Seafood Pancakes”, while Paula Wolfert offers the more adventurous “Los Remos’s Shrimp and Seaweed Fritters” in her book “The Slow Mediterranean Kitchen". The flavors in this recipe are somewhat bolder than in traditional tortillitas, and there is definitely more than a touch of heat. Those who are not fans of hot peppers can adjust the flavors accordingly. You can also use only the chickpea flour, which contains no gluten -- it will produce crispier and more fragile tortillitas. —QueenSashy

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Ingredients
  • 8 ounces shrimp, shelled and cleaned
  • 7 scallions
  • 4 garlic cloves
  • 1/2 habanero pepper, seeds removed
  • 1 jalapeno pepper, seeds removed
  • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1 cup chickpea flour
  • 1 cup all purpose flour
  • Juice of two limes, plus another two limes for serving
  • Finely grated zest of one lime
  • 1/2 teaspoon parsley, finely chopped
  • 1 cup mango juice
  • 1 tablespoon mayonnaise
  • 1 tablespoon sour cream
  • 1/4 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • Oil for frying
  • Salt
Directions
  1. Put the shrimp in a food processor, add the scallion, garlic, habanero, jalapeno, lime zest and salt, and pure. Reserve 1/2 teaspoon of the lime juice, and add the rest to the shrimp mixture. Add both flours, about four cups of water, and parsley, and process until combined in a thin batter. Pour the batter into a bowl and refrigerate for 3-6 hours.
  2. In the meantime, pour the mango juice into a small skillet or saucepan, and bring to boil over medium heat. Lower the heat and simmer until the juice is very thick and reduced to about 1 ½ tablespoons. Let it cool completely.
  3. In a small bowl, combine the mayonnaise, sour cream, mustard, reserved lime juice and mango reduction. Mix well and leave in the refrigerator.
  4. About an hour before frying, let the batter come to room temperature. The batter should be very thin -- to check if it is the right consistency, lift a spoonful; it should fall back into the bowl in a steady stream. If the batter is too tick, add more water.
  5. In a frying pan heat the oil. Drop a heaping tablespoon of the batter into oil and fry until dark golden and very crisp, turning once. Place the fritters on a paper towel to absorb excess oil.
  6. Serve right away with the mango mayonnaise and lime wedges.

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Aleksandra aka QueenSashy is a scientist by day, and cook, photographer and doodler by night. When she is not writing code and formulas, she blogs about food, life and everything in between on her blog, Three Little Halves. Three Little Halves was nominated for 2015 James Beard Awards and the finalist for 2014 Saveur Best Food Blog Awards. Aleksandra lives in New York City with her other two halves, Miss Pain and Dr. V.

9 Reviews

epbowler January 19, 2014
this makes a lot. Can I successfully half the recipe? Freeze the batter or freeze the pancakes?
QueenSashy January 19, 2014
Absolutely... I would freeze the batter, because pancakes will loose the crispiness in the freezer. (BTW, it does sound like 40 pancakes is a lot, but these are tiny and it's still just 8 ounces of shrimp.) I have not made them in a long time, thanks for reminding me!
EmilyC September 21, 2012
These look crazy good. Love the way you've photographed them, too.
QueenSashy September 21, 2012
Thanks!
dymnyno September 20, 2012
This is definitely must try soon-print it out now! Nice pic too.
QueenSashy September 20, 2012
Thank! Let me know if you liked it.
QueenSashy September 20, 2012
oops, sorry for the typo. Meant to say "thanks" :)
savorthis September 20, 2012
These look wonderful. I love any sort of pancake thing enveloping other fabulous things.
QueenSashy September 20, 2012
Thanks savorthis. Actually, you can make them as big as “real” pancakes, and then go wild with the fillings. Have fun!