16 to 20 Colossal (U-12) wild American shrimp, peeled and deveined with tail left on
6 tablespoons butter
33 grams (⅓ cup) finely chopped celery
2 tablespoons finely chopped onion
1 clove garlic, minced
150 grams (1½ cups) coarsely crushed crackers
1 tablespoon finely chopped parsley
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Fresh lemon juice, as needed
Preparation
1. Preheat an oven to 177° C/350° F. Cut carefully through the back curve of each shrimp enough to butterfly it and press it open without cutting all the way through. Place the shrimp around a round shallow baking dish so that the tails meet in the center.
2. Place the cracker crumbs in a bowl and set aside. In a skillet over low heat, melt the butter. Add the celery, onion, and garlic, and sauté until the onion is tender. Pour the butter and vegetables into the bowl of cracker crumbs, and mix well. Add the parsley and season to taste with salt and pepper.
3. Place an equal portion of stuffing onto each shrimp, mounding it lightly. Bake until the shrimp are cooked and the stuffing is lightly browned, about 20 minutes. Remove from heat, drizzle with lemon juice, and serve.
Denise Landis had been employed as an archeologist for seven years before a food editor hired her to test some recipes from a cookbook manuscript. This short stint led to longer assignments, and two years later she began testing recipes for the New York Times. She has been a professional recipe tester and editor for over 25 years, is the author of a New York Times cookbook, and has written for numerous publications. She is a member of the New York Chapter of Les Dames d’ Escoffier.