SHRIMP IN SHERRY BUTTER SAUCE

Shrimp in Sherry Butter Sauce image

Yield Makes 8 main-course servings

Number Of Ingredients 14

1 tablespoon vegetable oil
3 pounds medium shrimp in shell (31 to 35 per pound), rinsed, peeled, and shells reserved
8 cups water
1 onion, halved, plus 1/2 cup minced onion
1 carrot, halved
1 Turkish or 1/2 California bay leaf
2 fresh parsley sprigs
1 fresh thyme sprig
1/2 teaspoon whole black peppercorns
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 1/2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, cut into tablespoon pieces and softened
1/2 cup medium-dry Sherry
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice, or to taste

Steps:

Heat oil in a 4- to 5-quart heavy pot over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then cook shrimp shells, stirring, 1 minute. Add water, onion halves, carrot, bay leaf, parsley, thyme, peppercorns, and salt and simmer, uncovered, 30 minutes.
Pour stock through a large sieve lined with a dampened paper towel into a large bowl, discarding solids. Return stock to cleaned pot. Add shrimp and cook over high heat (stock will be hot but not boiling), stirring frequently, until just cooked through, about 2 minutes. Transfer shrimp with a slotted spoon to a large shallow baking pan, spreading in 1 layer to cool quickly. Boil stock until reduced to about 1 1/2 cups, 30 to 40 minutes, then transfer to a bowl.
Stir together flour and 1 1/2 tablespoons butter until a paste forms, then set aside. Cook minced onion in 1 tablespoon butter in cleaned pot over moderately low heat, stirring, until softened, about 3 minutes. Add Sherry and boil until liquid is reduced to about 1/3 cup, about 2 minutes. Add shrimp stock and bring to a simmer, then reduce heat to low and whisk in remaining 5 1/2 tablespoons butter until just incorporated. Whisk in flour paste, bit by bit, and simmer sauce, whisking, until slightly thickened, about 2 minutes. Add lemon juice, shrimp, and salt and pepper to taste and cook over moderate heat, stirring, until shrimp are just heated through, about 1 minute.