Gambas Villeroy
Béchamel, often referred to as "white sauce," adds its rich and creamy flavor to many tapas and main courses. In this recipe, it serves as a delightful coating for crispy fried shrimp.
Prepare the cooking liquid: Follow the instructions in step 1 of the recipe.
Add the shrimp and simmer until they turn pink, which takes about 2 to 3 minutes.
Transfer the shrimp to a medium bowl, reserving the cooking liquid.
Return the shrimp shells to the broth and continue cooking for an additional 15 minutes.
Remove from heat and strain the liquid through a fine sieve, reserving ¾ cup of the broth and discarding the solids.
(Save the remaining broth for future use when boiling shellfish to enhance the flavor.)
In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat.
Add the flour and cook, stirring, for about 1 minute.
Stir in the reserved broth, milk, lemon juice, salt, and pepper.
Continue to cook, stirring constantly, until the sauce thickens and becomes smooth (the sauce will be quite thick; when you coat the back of a spoon, you can swipe a clean line through it with your finger).
Let it cool, stirring occasionally.
Dip each shrimp into the sauce, ensuring that they are coated on all sides.
Place them on a dish, cover, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or until the sauce has hardened.
Heat at least ½ inch of oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat or use a deep fryer set at 365°F until a cube of bread turns light brown in 60 seconds.
Place the eggs and bread crumbs in separate shallow bowls.
Dip each shrimp in the eggs and then dredge them in the bread crumbs.
Place the coated shrimp in the hot oil.
(You may need to cook them in batches to avoid overcrowding.
) Cook, turning once, until they turn golden brown, which takes about 5 minutes.
Drain the fried shrimp on paper towels, season with salt and pepper, and serve hot.
Notes / Tips / Wine Advice:
Enjoy these Béchamel-coated fried shrimp as a delightful and delicious treat.