Pims Nyt Shrimp Tiles With Cucumber Ajaad Recipes

AJAD (AUTHENTIC THAI CUCUMBER SALAD)

Steps:

• Combine vinegar, water, sugar, and salt in a saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil and cook until sugar and salt are dissolved, 3 to 5 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning so the pickling liquid is pleasantly sweet, sour, and lightly salty.
• Combine cucumbers, shallots, and chile peppers in a large bowl. Cover with pickling liquid. Refrigerate for a few hours to let flavors combine.

SHRIMP WITH PINEAPPLE AND PICKLED KUMQUATS

Steps:

• To pickle the kumquats, bring the vinegar to a boil in a small pan. Add the cardamom pods. Put the kumquats in a heatproof container, then pour in the vinegar mixture. Let cool, then refrigerate for 2 days.
• In a small bowl, whisk together the honey and 3 tablespoons of the kumquat vinegar. Season with black pepper and piment d'Espelette. Whisk in the olive oil.
• Thinly slice 6 pickled kumquats and remove the seeds; set aside. Thinly slice the pineapple cubes. (You need only 12 slices total.) In a mixing bowl, combine the frisee, pineapple and pickled kumquats.
• Place the shrimp in a bowl and season generously with salt; add the thyme and toss. Heat a large cast-iron pan until almost smoking, then pour in enough oil to thinly coat the base. Carefully add the shrimp and thyme and brown on both sides until just cooked through, about 2 minutes; discard the thyme. Transfer to the bowl with the frisee. Pour in just enough vinaigrette to coat (about half) and toss. Divide among 4 plates.

SHRIMP TILES WITH CUCUMBER AJAAD

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, combine the vinegar, sugar, salt, garlic and jalapeños. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low and simmer for 15 minutes. Taste it; it should be sweet, sour, salty and a little spicy (in that order). Adjust the flavors as needed. Discard the garlic clove and transfer the mixture to a medium serving bowl to cool. Once cooled, fold in the cucumber, then cover and refrigerate. When ready to serve, garnish with cilantro leaves and chopped peanuts.
• Using a food processor, purée the shrimp, salt and pepper. Sauté a small spoonful of the mixture in a bit of oil to check for seasoning; if needed, add more salt and pepper to the raw mixture.
• Cut the square sheets of spring-roll skins diagonally. In a large wok or skillet, pour in oil to a depth of 2 inches and heat over medium-high heat. Meanwhile, assemble the tiles by spreading a teaspoon of the shrimp mixture evenly over an entire triangle (to the edges). Place a cilantro leaf in the middle, then cover with another triangle, pressing them together firmly to adhere. Repeat until all the filling is used.
• Test the oil by dropping in a piece of spring-roll wrapper. It should immediately puff up. Adjust heat as necessary and fry the tiles, a few at a time, until golden. Use a slotted spoon to transfer to a baking sheet lined with paper towels. Place the tiles on a serving platter, and top each with a bit of ajaad. Serve.