Red Hot, South Texas, Shrimp en Escabache

The weather is getting warm and at this time of year I start to think of my favorite hot weather shrimp dish. Make up a big bowl of this and serve it over butter lettuce with key lime wedges and Hass avocado slices. If you can find it a good baguette and an ice cold chardonnay will make this the perfect warm day meal.

Red Hot, South Texas, Shrimp en Escabache

1 Lemon, sliced

1-cup celery tops

½ cup crab boil

1 ½ Tbl. Kosher salt

½ tsp black pepper

2 ½ Lbs raw medium shrimp, peeled and de-veined

2 medium white onions, sliced thin

12 bay leaves

1 ¾ cups canola oil

2 cups white vinegar

1 ½ Tbl. sea salt

1 Tbl. Crushed red chile

2 tsp. Pink peppercorn

1/3 cup capers, brine

¼ cup celery seeds

15 cloves garlic, cut in half

2 sprigs fresh thyme

8-10 pickled bird peppers or 2 pickled Jalapeno chiles, cut in quarters lengthwise

5 dashes Tabasco sauce

1 tsp. White pepper

1 tsp. Black pepper

Fill a stockpot half way and add the lemon, celery, crab boil, kosher salt and black pepper. Bring to a rolling boil and then add the shrimp. Stir well and then remove from heat. Allow shrimp to stew in the hot liquid for 10 minutes and then remove shrimp and plunge in ice bath to stop cooking. Drain the shrimp well.

In a glass bowl layer the shrimp, onion slices, and bay leaves.

Emulsify the oil, vinegar and salt, either with an electric hand whisk, or in the blender. Then stir in remaining ingredients. Pour over layered shrimp.

Cover and refrigerate for 24 to 48 hours, stirring every 6 to 8 hours.