St. Augustine's Famous Fried Shrimp
aka O'Steen's Fried Shrimp - Serves 4
Ingredients
3 dozen extra large shrimp, peeled, deveined, tails on, butterfly along the back going from top to tail
1/2 c. flour
2 whole eggs
2 Tbsp water
1 c. cracker meal
( Cracker meal is simply crushed up crackers – any kind. The taste of the dish will vary with the type of cracker you crush up. Saltines will give a mild, salty flavor. Ritz type crackers will have a slightly buttery, salty taste. Matzo crackers will yield a crunchy texture but not much flavor.
The fineness of the cracker crumbs will also affect the final texture of the shrimp. )
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
peanut oil
Put the flour in a shallow dish. Set aside.
Mix together the eggs and the water in a shallow dish. Set aside.
Mix together the cracker meal, salt and cayenne and set aside.
Heat 2" of oil in a deep skillet to 350°.
Dip each shrimp in the flour, then shake off the excess. Next dip it in the egg wash, then in the cracker mixture. Be sure to evenly coat the shrimp in the cracker mixture.
Cook the shrimp in small batches, do not overcrowd the pan. Cook for 2-3 minutes or until golden brown.
Adapted from Seasonal Florida by Jo Manning
