Shrimp Salad with Champagne Beurre Blanc
The beauty of this dish is the butter and soy combination. I dress a fresh green salad with a light, lemony soy sauce vinaigrette, then top it with shrimp coated in a creamy beurre blanc. To marry the two elements, I use champagne vinegar in place of the traditional white wine for a sharper beurre blanc.
Recipe information
Yield
Serves 4
Ingredients
Preparation
Step 1
Arrange an oven rack 4 inches from the broiler heat source. Preheat the broiler. Generously butter a rimmed baking sheet.
Step 2
In a small saucepan, combine the vinegar and shallots. Boil over high heat, stirring occasionally, until the liquid has almost completely evaporated and the shallots are glazed, 12 to 15 minutes.
Step 3
Stir in the cream and continue boiling until reduced by half, about 2 minutes. Reduce the heat to low and whisk in the butter, a little at a time, until well incorporated. Season to taste with salt and cayenne.
Step 4
Meanwhile, butterfly the shrimp by cutting each in half along its vein, slicing all the way through the curved middle, but keeping the stubby ends connected. Open the butterflied shrimp (they’ll resemble hearts) and arrange in the prepared pan in a single layer. Season with salt and cayenne, then splash a little water over the shrimp. Broil until the shrimp just become opaque, about 3 minutes.
Step 5
Divide the greens among serving dishes. Arrange the tomatoes and avocados over the greens, then scatter the mushrooms all around. Spoon the dressing all over. Arrange the shrimp around the center and spoon the beurre blanc over the shrimp. Garnish with chives.
c’est bon
Step 6
To keep shrimp moist and juicy while getting lightly browned in the broiler, I add a splash of water to the pan. Think of it as steam-broiling.
