Gulf Coast Garlic Shrimp Linguine
With it's common main ingredients, this recipe is one found in practically all cuisines. Garlic and spices like the hot, red pepper along with parsley plays into Italy's Scampi, Spain's Gambas al Ajillo, a spicy version of Thai's Goong Pong Gari and of course, our America's southern Barbecued Shrimp.
Like a good southerner, I chose to flash-fry these Alabama wild shrimp with a light crust of flour, which I think helps keeps them tender throughout the cooking and also adds to the creamy sauce. I then incorporate these Gulf beauties into a Creole lemon-wine-butter sauce similar to our heritage white Bordelaise sauce we so adore with crab claws and our much loved seafood dishes.
The Bordelaise recipe today is my take on the American-Italian Shrimp Scampi with a little of our BBQ shrimp way of doing it thrown in for added taste. Enjoy!
Gulf Coast Garlic Shrimp Linguine
Southern Style Shrimp & Sausage Scampi
serves 4 to 6
2 pounds large Alabama or Gulf Coast shrimp, peeled, deep deveined (almost butterflied)
1 tablespoon no-salt Creole Seasoning
1 cup all purpose flour
1 cup oil for frying (peanut oil is best, extra light olive oil is okay)
1 pound smoked sliced sausage, optional
2 tablespoons minced garlic or about 12 toes, minced
1 tablespoon Worcestershire
5 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (about 1 1/2 lemons)
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1/4 teaspoon bay leaf powder, or 1 large bay leaf
1 cup chicken stock
1 1/2 cups dry white wine (Vermouth is great)
salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste
1 stick (4 oz) unsalted cold butter (yes, use real butter here) cut into teaspoon size pieces
1/4 cup thinly sliced green onions
2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley, plus more for plating
1 pound fresh linguine, cooked
Pat the shrimp completely dry. Sprinkle with the Creole seasoning and toss in a paper bag with the flour. Lay on a wire rack until ready to cook.
Heat the oil in a medium saucepan or deep fryer to 365 degrees F. A good test is to fry a piece of bacon and when it turns brown the oil is hot and also flavored. Carefully fry the shrimp in batches for about 1 minute each side or until the shrimp turns a light brown. Remove to a wire rack on a sheet pan and keep warm (a 200 degree over works great). Continue frying the shrimp until all is cooked.
Over medium high heat, add about a tablespoon of oil to a large skillet cook the sausage until brown on both sides. Remove to drain on a paper lined plate. Set aside.
Add the garlic to the skillet and sauté over medium high heat for about 1 minute. Add the Worcestershire, lemon juice, crushed red pepper, bay leaf powder, chicken stock and wine. Allow mixture to reduce to half in volume. Season with salt and pepper to taste and incorporate in the butter by whisking it off-heat into the sauce. When emulsified and velvety, return skillet over medium heat and add in the shrimp and green onions. Tenderly toss the shrimp coating with the sauce, cover and bring to a simmer. Remove from heat, toss again adding the parsley and serve over warm linguine.
Be sure to serve with crusty hot French bread.
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This looks delicious Drick. When I think of a dish like this, I envision something with just enough light sauce to coat the pasta, but Bev & I much prefer lots of a thicker sauce.
ReplyDeleteGood grief drooling over here another fabulous meal! That looks spectacular my friend! hope all well... have a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteSounds delicious Drick. I agree about the dusting of flour on shrimp. Bing land locked and not an expert at cooking shrimp, flour always seems to work witha good result in my kitchen.
ReplyDeleteIt's been far too long since I've visited your site, Drick. This linguine dish reminds me of the wonderful recipes I've been missing out on!
ReplyDelete11 pounds of sausage?!!! Surely you meant one.
ReplyDeleteAs much as I like sausage, that's a little much for me. Thanks for the catch ... updated to the 1 pound from my notes.
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