Cajun Shrimp with Chili Pepper Sauce

Cajun Shrimp with Chili Pepper Sauce

Ingredients:

For Sauce:

• 1 egg yolk

• 1/3 cup olive oil

• 1 tsp lemon juice

• 1 tsp chili powder

• 1/8 tsp salt

• a few drops hot sauce*

For Shrimp:

• 1 1/2 lb. large shrimp, peeled and deveined

• 3 sprigs fresh oregano leaves

• 3 sprig fresh thyme leaves

• 10 fresh basil leaves

• 1/2 tsp each: cayenne pepper, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder

• 1 tsp each: chili powder, paprika, salt

• 1 1/2 cups flour

• 1/4 cup milk

• oil for frying

1. Place egg yolk in a blender, turn blender on and very slowly add the oil as the machine is running until a thick sauce is formed.

2. Add the lemon juice, salt, chili powder and hot sauce* (the amount of hot sauce you add, depends on how spicy you'd like the sauce). Turn machine off, pour the sauce in a bowl.

3. Wash and pat dry the shrimp. In a mini food processor, process all the fresh herbs until finely chopped.

4. Place the flour in a shallow bowl and add the fresh herbs along with all the other seasonings; mix thoroughly to combine.

5. Place the milk in a bowl.

6. Heat the oil in a large pan or an electric fryer to 375°F.

7. Dip shrimp into milk, then into seasoned flour, shaking off excess. Fry in batches in hot oil for about 3 or 4 minutes, until golden brown.

8. Serve with the sauce.

Serves: 4 to 6

Notes&Tips:

• This is one of the few deep fried foods that I enjoy and don't feel guilty after eating it. It is also not heavy on the stomach like other fried foods.

• The fresh herbs were really refreshing and pleasant in this dish!

• I have also used fish "nuggets" instead of shrimp and it tasted wonderful. So if you're not a shrimp lover, and you'd rather fish this would work in your favor, too.

• This Cajun Shrimp could be an appetizer, a main course for lunch or dinner served with a salad and some steamed seasonal vegetables.