Shrimp in Caul Fat

Name: Shrimp in Caul Fat
Total time: PT0D0H0M
Yield: serves 4
Ingredients: 1 ⁄ 2 lb. milkfish or gray mullet filets, skinned and coarsely chopped; Salt; 1 lb. medium shrimp, peeled, deveined, and coarsely chopped; 6 canned water chestnuts, drained and minced; 5 sprigs cilantro, finely minced; 4 scallions, trimmed and finely minced; 1 Tbsp. Asian sesame oil; Freshly ground white pepper; 1 lb. caul fat, cut into eight 5" x 6" sheets; 2 Tbsp. cornstarch; 1 lb. lard; 1 ⁄ 2 cup sweet potato flour; 1 ⁄ 8 tsp. ground anise; 2 eggs, lightly beaten

Serves
serves 4

SAVEUR

(Hsia-chuan)

Milkfish is available at Chinese markets.

Ingredients

¹⁄₂ lb. milkfish or gray mullet filets, skinned and coarsely chopped
Salt
1 lb. medium shrimp, peeled, deveined, and coarsely chopped
6 canned water chestnuts, drained and minced
5 sprigs cilantro, finely minced
4 scallions, trimmed and finely minced
1 Tbsp. Asian sesame oil
Freshly ground white pepper
1 lb. caul fat, cut into eight 5" x 6" sheets
2 Tbsp. cornstarch
1 lb. lard
¹⁄₂ cup sweet potato flour
¹⁄₈ tsp. ground anise
2 eggs, lightly beaten

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Instructions

Step 1

Put fish and 2–3 pinches salt into a food processor. Gradually add 2 tbsp. ice water through feed tube in lid of processor while motor is running, until a thick paste forms. Transfer to a medium bowl. Add shrimp, water chestnuts, cilantro, scallions, oil, and salt and pepper to taste and mix well.

Step 2

Spread 1 sheet of fat out on a clean surface with short ends perpendicular to you. Form one-eighth of the shrimp filling into a 5" cylinder and put in center of caul fat parallel to you. Roll fat around filling, folding in sides halfway through, then sprinkle a little cornstarch on edge of fat farthest from you, moisten with a little water, and press to seal shut. Repeat process with remaining fat and filling.

Step 3

Heat lard in a deep medium pot over medium heat until temperature reaches 360° on a candy thermometer. Meanwhile, combine sweet potato flour, anise, and 1⁄4 tsp. pepper in a shallow bowl. Working in batches, dip shrimp rolls into eggs, dredge in flour mixture, then deep fry until golden all over, 5-6 minutes per batch. Drain on paper towels. Slice shrimp rolls on the bias and serve hot with hoisin sauce and prepared wasabi or with wedges of lime, if you like.