Skampi auf wienerische Art

SKAMPI AUF WIENERISCHE ART

Viennese-Style Shrimp

I wasn’t really expecting too many seafood dishes in The German & Viennese Cookbook, let alone a shrimp recipe. But, as luck would have it, this surprise turned out to be quite pleasant!

Skampi auf wienerische Art/Viennese-Style Shrimp

2 lbs fresh shrimp with shells

1 qt water

¼ C lemon juice

1 tbsp salt

1 bay leaf

¼ C butter

2 tbsp green onion, chopped

½ C white wine

1 tbsp tomato paste

¼ tsp sugar

½ tsp salt

¼ tsp MSG

Few grains cayenne pepper

A word on shrimp: fresh raw shrimp can taste very fishy if you don’t rinse them in anything first. I recommend 15 minutes or so in lime or lemon juice – the acid will help break down the fishy taste, plus the shrimp will be nicely marinated. Be careful not to let them sit much longer: too long and the acid could actually cook the shrimp (ceviche)!

Rinse shrimp in cold water. Bring water, lemon juice, salt, and bay leaf to boiling. Drop shrimp into boiling mixture. Cover tightly and simmer 5 minutes or until shrimp are pink and tender. Drain and cover with cold water to chill. Drain again. Peel and de-vein shrimp. Rinse again in cold water and drain.

Heat butter in a skillet. Add shrimp and green onion and cook until onion is tender.

Mix together remaining ingredients. Blend mixture into shrimp in skillet. Simmer for 15 minutes.

Heat 1 tbsp butter and 1 tbsp flour in a saucepan to create a roux. Gradually add 3 tbsp of the shrimp sauce, stirring constantly. Immediately blend the rest of the liquid into the sauce. Bring to boiling and cook 1 to 2 minutes or until of desired thickness. Add shrimp and cook over medium heat 5 minutes or until thoroughly heated.

We liked this. A lot. No, really, this was really good! I’m not going to lie and say that I love peeling and de-veining shrimp (it’s a lot of work), but the sauce was very tasty! I served these Viennese shrimp with Parsley Potato Balls and Cucumber Salad for a refreshing, yet filling dinner. The flavors all complemented one another. I especially liked the crispness of the cucumber with the shrimp.

Have a question or a request? Put it in the comments below and I’ll be sure to respond. Fröhe essen!