Potted Shrimp Recipe

What is Potted Shrimp?

Potted shrimp is a classic British dish that involves cooking shrimp in spiced clarified butter and then sealing them in a pot. It results in a rich and flavorful spread that can be served on toast or crackers.

This recipe makes approximately 4 servings, but it can be easily adjusted based on your needs. It's a rich dish, so a little goes a long way.
Here's a simple potted shrimp recipe:

Potted Shrimp Recipe:

Ingredients:

• 1 pound (450g) small brown shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 1 cup (225g) clarified butter
• 1/2 teaspoon ground mace
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• Salt and black pepper to taste
• Zest of 1 lemon
• Juice of half a lemon
• Fresh parsley for garnish

Instructions:

Prepare the Shrimp:

Ensure the shrimp are peeled and deveined.

Clarify the Butter:

Melt the butter in a saucepan over low heat. Skim off the foam and milk solids from the top. The clear liquid remaining is clarified butter.

Cook the Shrimp:

• Add the shrimp to the clarified butter in a saucepan.
• Cook over low heat for 3-4 minutes until the shrimp turn pink.

Add Spices:

• Stir in the mace, nutmeg, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper.
• Add the lemon zest and juice. Mix well.

Potting:

• Spoon the shrimp and butter mixture into small pots or ramekins.
• Allow it to cool slightly before refrigerating for at least a few hours or until set.

Serve:

• Serve the potted shrimp on toasted bread or crackers.
• Garnish with fresh parsley.

Tips:

• Quality of Shrimp: Use fresh, high-quality shrimp for the best flavor.
• Clarifying Butter: Clarifying the butter is essential to prevent the spread from becoming greasy.
• Adjusting Spice: Adjust the amount of spices and lemon to suit your taste preferences.
• Presentation: Consider serving in small, individual pots for an elegant touch.
• Storage: Store the potted shrimp in the refrigerator for up to a week.

Enjoy your delicious homemade potted shrimp!