Santa Barbara Spot Prawns In Pernod Recipes

SANTA BARBARA SPOT PRAWNS WITH TOMATO CONFIT, GARLIC, AND CHILE

Steps:

• Use kitchen scissors to cut the shells of the spot prawns down their backs, from the base of their heads to the tip of their tails. (Don't remove the shells.) If the prawns are wet, dry them with paper towels.
• Heat two heavy-bottomed sauté pans over high heat for 3 to 4 minutes. Swirl 2 tablespoons olive oil into each pan, and carefully place the prawns in the pans, on their sides. (You will need to cook the prawns in batches to avoid overcrowding them.) Season each batch of prawns with 1/2 teaspoon salt and some pepper. Pour another 2 tablespoons oil into each pan, and cook about 5 minutes, until the shells get some color and the flesh begins to turn opaque on the first side.
• Turn the prawns over, drizzle another 2 tablespoons oil into each pan, and season the second side of each batch with 1/2 teaspoon salt and some pepper. Cook another 3 minutes or so, until the prawns are just cooked. (You can peek inside the cut shell to see that the flesh is completely opaque.)
• Remove the prawns to a platter, and turn the heat under both pans down to medium-low. Divide the shallots, thyme, and sliced chiles between the two pans. Season with 1/4 teaspoon salt and some pepper. Cook 2 minutes, until the shallots are translucent, scraping the pan with a wooden spoon to release all the flavorful shrimp bits. Divide the garlic between the pans, and cook 3 to 4 minutes, stirring often, until the shallots and garlic are soft and just starting to color. Turn the heat back up to high, and add half the cherry tomatoes, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and lots of freshly ground black pepper to each pan. Taste for seasoning, and cook a minute, stirring often.
• Spoon the hot yellow tomato confit onto a large warm platter.
• Add half the prawns, sliced parsley, oregano, and the two basils to each pan, and roll the prawns in the cherry tomatoes to coat well. This final step is a little cumbersome but really helps coat the prawns in the cherry tomato sauce.
• Arrange the prawns on the platter, and squeeze a generous amount of lemon juice over them. Spoon the remaining cherry tomato sauce over the top.
• Serve with lots of crusty bread for sopping up the sauce and juices. The prawns would also be great with steamed rice or over pasta.
• Yellow Tomato Confit
• Preheat the oven to 400°F.
• Scatter the red onion, chiles, garlic, and basil and oregano sprigs in a baking dish. Core the yellow tomatoes and place them, stem side down, on top of the onions. Sprinkle with 2 teaspoons salt, and pour the olive oil and 1 cup water over the tomatoes.
• Cook the tomatoes in the oven about 50 minutes, until they soften and blister. Remove the pan from the oven, and let cool 10 minutes. Strain the tomatoes and onions over a bowl, saving the juice. Discard the herbs and half the chiles.
• Transfer half the tomato mixture to a blender with 1/2 cup of the liquid. (You will need to purée in batches.) Process at the lowest speed until the tomatoes are puréed. Pour in more liquid, a little at a time, until the tomato confit is the consistency of heavy cream. Turn the speed up, and blend about a minute, until completely smooth. Transfer to a container, and repeat with the second half of the tomatoes. (You may not need all the liquid.) Season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and some pepper. Taste for seasoning.
• Note
• If you can't find spot prawns, make this summer dish with another type of fresh prawn or large gulf shrimp sold in their shells.
• You can make the yellow tomato confit in the morning. The rest of the cooking must be done at the last minute, but you can get all the slicing and herb-prepping done ahead, so that when it comes time to cook you'll be ready. The spot prawns should be cleaned right before they're cooked and not any earlier. When it comes to sautéing the prawns, for six people you'll need two or three sauté pans, or you can do them in batches. While cooking the shallots and tomatoes in one pan, you could be sautéing the last batch of prawns in the other.

GRILLED SPOT PRAWNS

Steps:

• Using a small knife or kitchen shears, butterfly shrimp from tail to base of head, leaving peel and head on; devein.
• Heat 3 tablespoons oil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add garlic and pepper flakes; saut&eactue; until aromatic, about 30 seconds. Transfer to a medium bowl; stir in Pernod and 1 tablespoon fennel fronds. Season with salt and pepper. Add prawns; toss to coat. Marinate at room temperature, tossing occasionally,for 30 minutes.
• Prepare a grill to high heat. Grill prawns, brushing with marinade from bowl, until bright pink and just opaque in center, about 2 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate. Mix sliced fennel bulb and arugula in a large bowl. Drizzle lemon juice and remaining 2 tablespoons oil over; toss to coat. Season with salt and pepper.
• Arrange salad on a plate. Top with shrimp, garnish with 1 tablespoon chopped fronds.

SANTA BARBARA SHRIMP WITH MUSTARD

Steps:

• Season the shrimp with salt and pepper. Using 2 large saute pans, heat the oil until it begins to smoke. Over very high heat, saute the shrimp for 6 to 7 minutes. Transfer to a warm plate, set aside, and keep warm.
• To each saute pan, add 1 minced shallot and 1 tablespoon minced tarragon. Saute for 2 to 3 minutes. Deglaze each pan with the sherry and then combine the sauce in one pan. Add the cream and reduce the sauce until it coats the back of a spoon. Whisk in the butter, 1 small piece at a time. Whisk in the mustard, just at the last minute. Do not let the sauce boil, or the mustard will become grainy. Correct seasoning to taste.
• Arrange the shrimp decoratively on serving plates, nap with sauce, and sprinkle with chives.

GRILLED SANTA BARBARA PRAWNS WITH BLOOD ORANGE GLAZE

Steps:

• Place prawns in a small bowl and marinate with 1 cup of the blood orange sauce for 1 to 2 hours. Place on a hot grill, season with salt and pepper and brush with remaining cup of blood orange sauce. Grill for about 1 to 2 minutes per side or until cooked through.
• Simmer blood orange juice over low heat until reduced to 1/4 cup, stirring occasionally to prevent scorching. Remove from heat and reserve. In a small saucepan, combine shallots and red wine vinegar and reduce over low heat. Add white wine, chicken stock and reduce again. Remove from heat and slowly whisk in olive oil until incorporated. Stir in reserved blood orange syrup, strain sauce and keep warm.

SHRIMP IN PERNOD CREAM SAUCE

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a skillet, add the peppercorns and sauté for about 1 minute.
• Add the shrimp and cook 1 to 1 1/2 minutes on each side or until they are just pink.
• Pour over the Pernod and flame. Add chives and cream and heat just to simmer. Serve immediately with lots of crusty bread to mop up the sauce!