Bibb Lettuce Salad with Fiery Shrimp Dressing

Adapted by StarChefs.com
May 2005
Yield: 10-15 Servings

INGREDIENTS:

Salad
4 heads bibb or Boston lettuce
1 quart plain aioli (recipe follows)
1 teaspoon sriracha (hot chili sauce available at most Asian markets)
1 teaspoon salted capers
1 teaspoon chopped anchovy
6 ounces chopped chives
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
lemon juice to taste
salt and pepper
Blended oil for deep frying
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
2/3 cup semolina flour
1 pound rock shrimp
2 bunches mâche or lamb’s lettuce
Plain aioli
1 cup coarsely chopped garlic
4 teaspoons coarse sea salt
4 cups extra-virgin olive oil

METHOD:

For salad:
Wash and dry lettuce, refrigerate.

Add sriracha, capers, anchovy, chives, mustard, lemon juice, salt and pepper to aioli base and mix until creamy. Set dressing aside.

Heat oil in deep fryer. Combine flour and semolina in a shallow dish. Coat rock shrimp with flour mix and deep fry until golden. Place fried shrimp on several layers of paper towel to drain excess fat.

Toss shrimp and lettuce with dressing and divide among serving plates. Garnish each plate with mâche.

For plain aioli:
All ingredients should be at room temperature. Place 1/4 cup of garlic, 1 teaspoon salt and 2 Tablespoons of oil in a blender and blend on high for about 2 minutes. Transfer to a marble mortar. Add 3/4 cup + 2 Tablespoons of the oil, about 1 teaspoon at a time, stirring vigorously with the pestle. The process will take about 15 minutes, and the mixture will become very thick and glossy. Transfer to a bowl. Repeat with remaining ingredients.