the Breville Test Kitchen
Salt Crusted Shrimp in Banana Leaf
Shrimp slathered in a marinade of lemongrass, chili and cilantro, wrapped in banana leaves and encased in a clever salt crust. Tap open at the table to reveal aromatic wafts of steam. Serve as an appetizer or with steamed rice as a main course.
40 mins total time
30 mins active time
Easy
Serves 2
Ingredients
Measurements:
12 (1¼ lb) raw shrimppeeled and deveined, tails intact
2 banana leaves 10-inch x 5-inch
½ tsp vegetable oil(optional)
For the marinade
6 cloves garlicpeeled
2 long green chiliescoarsely chopped
1 green onioncoarsely chopped
1 lemongrass stalkwhite part only, thinly sliced
¼ cup coarsely chopped cilantro
¼ cup (2 fl oz) fresh lime juice
¼ cup (1¾ oz) sugar
1 tsp kosher salt
1 tsp fish sauce
For the salt crust
2 large egg whites
1 lb kosher salt
1 lb rock salt
Instructions
- 1Place all the marinade ingredients in a blender and blend to a coarse paste, scraping down the side occasionally. Transfer to a medium bowl. Remove 2 tablespoons of the marinade and set aside.
- 2Add the shrimp to the marinade and turn gently to coat. Cover and allow to marinate in the refrigerator for 15 minutes.
- 3Insert the wire rack into position 4. Set the oven to Bake, Convection, 400°F, for 8 minutes and press Start to preheat. Meanwhile, continue to the next step.
- 4Place the egg whites and both salts in a large bowl and mix with a balloon whisk to combine.
- 5Line the roasting pan with foil. Press approximately a third of the salt mixture over the base of the pan, ensuring it covers an area larger than the banana leaf. Place a banana leaf on the salt mixture. Top with the shrimp, top to tail, neatly in a line. Place the other banana leaf on top. Cover with the remaining salt mixture, ensuring that the edges are well covered. Using a knife, score a line down the center of the salt, ensuring it doesn’t go all the way through.
- 6Once preheated, place the pan in the oven and bake for 8 minutes.
- 7Remove the pan from the oven and allow to stand for 5 minutes.
- 8Crack open the crust by tapping with a spoon and remove. Brush off any remaining salt.
- 9Add the oil to the reserved marinade to loosen, if necessary. Drizzle the shrimp with the marinade and serve.
