Classic Potted Shrimps Recipes

MARY BERRY'S POTTED BROWN SHRIMP

Steps:

• In a small pan, melt 200g of the butter on a low heat for 10 minutes, until it melts and separates. Carefully pour the golden 'clarified' liquid into a small jug, discarding the milky bits, and leave to cool slightly.
• Meanwhile, melt the remaining butter with the bay, a good fine grating of nutmeg and lemon zest, and a pinch of freshly ground white pepper.
• Add the shrimp, then squeeze in the lemon juice and give it all a good stir. Cook for 1 minute, then spoon into a shallow serving bowl or individual pots and press down tightly with back of a spoon.
• Pour over the reserved clarified butter until completely covered, then chill for 2 hours or until set. Delicious served with freshly baked bread.

POTTED SHRIMP

Steps:

• In a large skillet cook shallots with bay leaf in 1 tablespoon butter over moderate heat, stirring, until soft. Add shrimp and salt and pepper to taste and cook, stirring occasionally, until shrimp are pink and cooked through, about 3 minutes. Add Sherry and boil mixture until almost all liquid is evaporated. Cool mixture and discard bay leaf. Transfer shrimp with tongs to a cutting board, reserving shallot mixture, and chop fine.
• In a bowl stir together remaining 5 tablespoons butter and cream cheese until smooth. Stir in shrimp, shallot mixture, lemon juice, chives, and salt and pepper to taste and transfer to a 1 1/2-cup crock. Chill potted shrimp, covered, at least 4 hours and up to 24.
• Serve potted shrimp with crackers or Melba toast.

SPICED POTTED SHRIMP

Steps:

• Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Let cook, skimming the foam off the top of the butter, until the white milk solids fall to the bottom of the pan. Carefully pour about half the clarified butter into a measuring cup with a spout and set aside. Leave remaining butter and all those milk solids in the skillet.
• Add anchovy, thyme, lemon zest, mace, salt, pepper, cayenne and celery seed to skillet. Stir in shrimp and cook over medium heat until pink, about 3 minutes. Remove pan from heat and stir in garlic.
• Divide shrimp among 8 ramekins, top with the remaining herbed butter from the skillet and chill until set, about 1 hour.
• Pour reserved clarified butter on top and chill until set, about 15 minutes, or up to 5 days (or freeze for up to 1 month). Remove ramekins from the refrigerator at least 20 minutes to 1 hour before serving with lemon wedges, Tabasco and hot toast.

POTTED SHRIMP

Steps:

• Bring two quarts of water to a rolling boil. Add shrimp, return to the boil and cook briefly, no more than 2 minutes or until shrimp are just cooked through. Remove from heat, drain and run shrimp under cold water to halt the cooking. Set aside to cool. When cool enough to handle, peel shrimp and discard shells.
• Heat two tablespoons of the butter in a pan and saute sliced leek very gently until soft. Place in the bowl of a food processor, add peeled shrimp, dill and remaining butter. Process until well blended. Add half the lemon juice, a little salt and pepper, process again and taste. Add remaining lemon juice and more salt and pepper if necessary.
• Serve immediately, with crisp toast fingers or slices of crusty bread.