Ingredients
Ingredients:
- 2 pounds 21/25 shell-on shrimp, fresh or thawed frozen
- 2 tablespoons good-quality olive oil
- ⅓ cup brandy or cognac, warmed
- 3 tablespoons (1.5 ounces) unsalted butter
- 3 large shallots, minced (½ cup)
- 1 carrot, finely chopped (¼ cup)
- 1 celery rib, finely chopped (¼ cup)
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 2 tablespoons (1 ounce) tomato paste
- 2 ounces (about ⅓ cup) cornstarch or rice flour
- 1 cup decent dry white wine
- 1 quart Aromatic Fish Stock, simmering
- 1 big sprig fresh French tarragon or, if it is unavailable, fresh chervil
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon juice from 1 large, juicy lemon
- Pinch of cayenne pepper
- 2 tablespoons dry sherry
- Fine sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
Directions:
- Weigh out 12 ounces of the shrimp. Peel and devein them, reserving the shells. Snip the peeled shrimp into 3 or 4 pieces each (depending on the size of each shrimp) with a pair of kitchen shears. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use. Dry the remaining shell-on shrimp and reserved shells with paper towels. Turn the shrimp into a medium bowl, drizzle with the olive oil, and toss to coat.
- Heat a large skillet—nonstick is good—over high heat for 3 minutes. Lay half of the shell-on shrimp and half of the reserved shells in the skillet in a single layer; sear the shrimp until they blush deeply and their shells begin to color, about 1 minute. Turn the shrimp and sear the other sides. Pour half of the warm cognac or brandy over the shrimp and wave a lit match across the top of the skillet until the spirit ignites. Shake the pan to perfume the shrimp with brandy. Transfer the shrimp to a food processor bowl. Allow the skillet to come back to heat, and then sear and flambé the remaining shrimp and shells and add them to the food processor bowl. Process the shrimp and shells to a fine meal, about 30 seconds.
- Melt the butter in a 5- to 6-quart Dutch oven over medium heat until it foams. Add the shallots, carrot, celery, garlic, and tomato paste. Cover and cook, stirring frequently, until the vegetables are soft and fragrant, about 5 minutes. Uncover the pot and stir in the cornstarch or rice flour. Cook, stirring constantly, for 2 or 3 minutes. Add the wine and simmering fish stock, scraping the bottom of the Dutch oven with a wooden spoon to loosen any browned bits. Stir in the ground shrimp. Increase the heat to medium-high and bring to a simmer, and then reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer gently, stirring frequently, until the flavors meld, 20 to 30 minutes.
- Strain the bisque through a chinois into a large bowl, pressing on the solids with the back of a ladle to extract all the flavor and liquid. Wash and dry the Dutch oven and pour the strained bisque back into it. Bring to a simmer over medium heat. Add the reserved peeled shrimp and the tarragon or chervil, and simmer very gently until the shrimp are firm but tender, about 1 minute. Stir in the cream, lemon juice, and cayenne and simmer very briefly. Stir in the sherry. Season to taste with salt and pepper and serve bright hot.
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