Firecracker Shrimp Roll with Crab Aioli

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Description

Inspired by a shrimp po’boy with crab mayo seen on ‘Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives,’ I decided to do an extra spicy version and give it a 4th of July-friendly name. The result is an explosively flavored combination of hot, crunchy shrimp and cold crabby mayo. This was one of the best things I’ve had in a long time, and that’s after eating it barely warm; for best results, though, be sure to enjoy this just as soon as it’s safe to eat, in all its crunchy glory.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • 1 cup lump crabmeat
  • 2 cloves garlic, finely crushed
  • salt to taste
  • 1 pinch cayenne pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh tarragon
  • 2 pounds shrimp, peeled and deveined
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 2 teaspoons hot sauce
  • 1 teaspoon ground chipotle pepper
  • 2 teaspoons cayenne pepper
  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • ⅓ cup cornmeal
  • 2 teaspoons paprika
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 6 soft sandwich rolls
  • 2 cups thinly sliced romaine lettuce
  • canola oil for frying
  • 1 pinch cayenne pepper

Instructions

  1. Combine mayonnaise
  2. crab
  3. garlic
  4. salt
  5. cayenne
  6. Worcestershire sauce
  7. lemon juice
  8. and tarragon in a bowl for the crab aioli. Stir to combine and refrigerate until needed.
  9. Remove tails from shrimp and keep chilled until ready to use.
  10. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
  11. Whisk buttermilk
  12. hot sauce
  13. chipotle pepper
  14. cayenne
  15. black pepper
  16. and salt together in a bowl.
  17. Mix flour
  18. cornmeal
  19. paprika
  20. and salt together in a shallow dish for the breading.
  21. Slice partway through each sandwich roll
  22. splitting it open. Scoop out some bread from the top to make room for the filling.
  23. Toast rolls in the preheated oven until crisp
  24. 7 to 10 minutes.
  25. Soak shrimp in the buttermilk mixture for about 5 minutes.
  26. Heat oil in a pan over medium-high heat. Spread crab aioli generously over both sides of each roll; top with sliced lettuce.
  27. Toss shrimp in the breading to coat; shake off any excess. Fry shrimp in the hot oil until golden brown and crispy
  28. about 2 minutes per side. Drain on a paper towel-lined plate and immediately transfer shrimp onto the rolls. Sprinkle cayenne pepper on top.

Prep Time: 25 mins

Cook Time: 15 mins

Total Time: 45 mins

Servings: 6

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