Coconut Tempura Shrimp

Ingredients

• 2/3 cup of flour
• 1/2 cup cornstarch
• 1 large egg, beaten
• 1 cup grated fresh coconut
• 1 cup ice-cold soda water
• Salt
• 1 pound large shrimp, peeled, deveined and tail on
• Creole seasoning (Essence), recipe follows
• 1 plantain
• 1 recipe of mango chutney
• 12 fresh litchee fruit, washed and patted dry
• 1 tablespoon cilantro, finely chopped

Directions

Preheat the fryer. In a medium sized mixing bowl, combine the flour, cornstarch, egg, coconut and soda water. Mix well to make a smooth batter. Season with salt. Season the shrimp with Creole seasoning. Holding the tail of the shrimp, dip in the batter, coating completely and shaking off the excess. Fry the shrimp in batches until golden brown, about 4 to 6 minutes. Remove and drain on paper towels. Season with Creole seasoning. Peel the plantains. Slice the plantains thinly, lengthwise. Fry the plantains until golden brown. Remove and drain on paper towels. Season with Creole seasoning. Mound some of the Mango Chutney in the center of each plate. Lay the shrimp around the chutney. Garnish with fried plantains, litchee fruit and cilantro.

• EMERIL'S CREOLE SEASONING (ESSENCE)
• Recipe from New New Orleans Cooking by Emeril Lagasse and Jessie Tirsch, Published by William and Morrow, 1993.
• 2 1/2 tablespoons paprika
• 2 tablespoons salt
• 2 tablespoons garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon black pepper
• 1 tablespoon onion powder
• 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
• 1 tablespoon dried leaf oregano
• 1 tablespoon dried thyme

Combine all ingredients thoroughly and store in an airtight jar or container. Yields: about 2/3 cup