Dried Shrimp Cakes with Cactus Salsa

Name: Dried Shrimp Cakes with Cactus Salsa
Total time: PT0D0H0M
Yield: serves 6
Ingredients: 5 pasilla or mirasol chiles; 2 medium tomatoes, halved lengthwise; 2 tbsp. dried pumpkin seeds; 1 ⁄ 2 tsp. ground cumin; 6 whole cloves; 8 sprigs fresh cilantro; 2 1 ⁄ 2 cups dried shrimp; 2 ⁄ 3 cup fine dried bread crumbs; 2 ⁄ 3 cup freshly grated parmigiano-reggiano; 10 egg yolks, lightly beaten; 10 egg whites; 4 tbsp. vegetable oil; 1 tbsp. masa harina; 1 cup canned nopalitos; 1 small piece ginger (about 2'' x 1/2''), peeled and finely chopped

Serves
serves 6

This dish is a sampling of the cuisine you would find, at an open-air restaurant, in the heart of Mexico.

Ingredients

5 pasilla or mirasol chiles
2 medium tomatoes, halved lengthwise
2 tbsp. dried pumpkin seeds
¹⁄₂ tsp. ground cumin
6 whole cloves
8 sprigs fresh cilantro
2 ¹⁄₂ cups dried shrimp
²⁄₃ cup fine dried bread crumbs
²⁄₃ cup freshly grated parmigiano-reggiano
10 egg yolks, lightly beaten
10 egg whites
4 tbsp. vegetable oil
1 tbsp. masa harina
1 cup canned nopalitos
1 small piece ginger (about 2'' x 1/2''), peeled and finely chopped

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Instructions

Step 1

Place a small skillet over medium heat. Halve chiles, flatten on hot skillet, and toast, turning once, 10-15 seconds in all. Place chiles in a small bowl and add 1 cup hot water. Cover and set aside until soft and pliable, about 30 minutes. In same skillet, cook tomatoes over medium-high heat until soft but firm, about 2 minutes per side, then remove from skillet and set aside.

Step 2

Drain chiles; remove stems and seeds. Combine chiles, tomatoes, pumpkin seeds, cumin, cloves, ginger, garlic, and cilantro in a blender and process until smooth. Combine mixture with 4 cups water in a saucepan. Bring to a simmer, uncovered, over medium-low heat. Simmer for 30 minutes, then strain sauce and set aside.

Step 3

Process shrimp and bread crumbs in a blender until a fine paste is formed. Transfer to a medium bowl; stir in parmigiano-reggiano and egg yolks. In another bowl, whisk egg whites until stiff peaks form. Gently fold shrimp mixture into egg whites.

Step 4

Scoop out 1⁄4 cup shrimp mixture and press gently between your palms to form a 2 1⁄2'' cake. Repeat with remaining shrimp mixture (yields 12 cakes).

Step 5

Heat 2 tbsp. oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Fry shrimp cakes in batches until golden brown, about 2 minutes per side, adding more oil if necessary. Transfer cakes to a platter as they're done.

Step 6

Pour 1⁄4 cup sauce into a bowl and whisk in masa harina until dissolved. Combine mixture and remaining sauce in shrimp skillet and simmer over medium-low heat. Add shrimp cakes and nopalitos. Cook for 25 minutes, periodically spooning sauce over cakes to moisten, and serve.

Place a small skillet over medium heat. Halve chiles, flatten on hot skillet, and toast, turning once, 10-15 seconds in all. Place chiles in a small bowl and add 1 cup hot water. Cover and set aside until soft and pliable, about 30 minutes. In same skillet, cook tomatoes over medium-high heat until soft but firm, about 2 minutes per side, then remove from skillet and set aside.
Drain chiles; remove stems and seeds. Combine chiles, tomatoes, pumpkin seeds, cumin, cloves, ginger, garlic, and cilantro in a blender and process until smooth. Combine mixture with 4 cups water in a saucepan. Bring to a simmer, uncovered, over medium-low heat. Simmer for 30 minutes, then strain sauce and set aside.
Process shrimp and bread crumbs in a blender until a fine paste is formed. Transfer to a medium bowl; stir in parmigiano-reggiano and egg yolks. In another bowl, whisk egg whites until stiff peaks form. Gently fold shrimp mixture into egg whites.
Scoop out 1⁄4 cup shrimp mixture and press gently between your palms to form a 2 1⁄2'' cake. Repeat with remaining shrimp mixture (yields 12 cakes).
Heat 2 tbsp. oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Fry shrimp cakes in batches until golden brown, about 2 minutes per side, adding more oil if necessary. Transfer cakes to a platter as they're done.
Pour 1⁄4 cup sauce into a bowl and whisk in masa harina until dissolved. Combine mixture and remaining sauce in shrimp skillet and simmer over medium-low heat. Add shrimp cakes and nopalitos. Cook for 25 minutes, periodically spooning sauce over cakes to moisten, and serve.