FRIED SHRIMP WITH PEANUT SAUCE

Fried Shrimp with Peanut Sauce image

Yield Serves 2

Number Of Ingredients 12

1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
4 teaspoons soy sauce
4 teaspoons fresh lemon juice, or to taste
2 teaspoons firmly packed light brown sugar
1 large garlic clove, minced
1/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons water
cayenne to taste
2 tablespoons thinly sliced scallion greens
1 large egg
3/4 pound small shrimp (about 32), shelled
all-purpose flour seasoned with salt and pepper
vegetable oil for deep-frying the shrimp

Steps:

In a small heavy saucepan combine the peanut butter, the soy sauce, the lemon juice, the brown sugar, the garlic, 1/3 cup of the water, and the cayenne, bring the mixture just to a boil, whisking until it is smooth, and whisk in the scallion greens. Keep the sauce warm. In a small bowl whisk together the egg and the remaining 2 tablespoons water and add the shrimp. In a large plastic bag have ready the flour. Add the shrimp, drained well, to the flour, and in a sieve shake them to knock off the excess flour. In a deep skillet heat 1 inch of the oil until a deep-fat thermometer registers 275°F., in it fry the shrimp in 2 batches, stirring them once, for 1 minute, or until they are just cooked through, and transfer them with a slotted spoon to paper towels to drain. Serve the shrimp with the sauce.