Every month, the “Club del 27” is a special event for me and many friends, a chance to cook together and discover new recipes from foreign books. This time, during the Christmas season, we chose to focus on appetizers, and I decided to bring Shrimp Beignets to the table, a dish that combines the delicacy of the sea with the crunchiness of frying. Taken from the volume “Le bible des recettes de fête”, this recipe is perfect to elegantly and tastefully start a festive menu, transforming a simple bite into a moment of conviviality.
The charm of beignets lies in their simplicity: few ingredients, a light batter enriched with milk and beer, and the magic of frying that provides a golden and fragrant touch. The shrimp, immersed in this batter, become small golden jewels, ideal to serve hot and accompanied by a fresh sauce based on white cheese and aromatic herbs. They are perfect for a Christmas aperitif, an elegant buffet, or to surprise guests with an appetizer that tells tradition and festivity.
“The Club del 27” is not just about cooking, but also sharing: every recipe becomes a bridge between cultures, a way to bring flavors from afar into our homes and intertwine them with our traditions. In this case, the Shrimp Beignets remind us how French cuisine can be refined yet accessible, capable of transforming a simple ingredient into a memorable dish.
Preparing this recipe during the holiday season means celebrating the light, the joy, and the conviviality that characterize the festivities. It is an invitation to sit together, to toast, and to be enchanted by an appetizer that brings with it the scent of the sea and the crunchiness of celebration.
Here are some ideas for holiday appetizers, to enjoy with a good glass of bubbly.
- Difficulty: Very Easy
- Cost: Medium
- Preparation time: 15 Minutes
- Portions: 4 people
- Cooking methods: Frying
- Cuisine: French
- Seasonality: All Seasons, Christmas
- Energy 287.03 (Kcal)
- Carbohydrates 5.43 (g) of which sugars 0.30 (g)
- Proteins 6.58 (g)
- Fat 26.88 (g) of which saturated 3.06 (g)of which unsaturated 21.78 (g)
- Fibers 0.82 (g)
- Sodium 250.00 (mg)
Indicative values for a portion of 60 g processed in an automated way starting from the nutritional information available on the CREA* and FoodData Central** databases. It is not food and / or nutritional advice.
* CREATES Food and Nutrition Research Center: https://www.crea.gov.it/alimenti-e-nutrizione https://www.alimentinutrizione.it ** U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, 2019. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov
Ingredients for Shrimp Beignets
- 1 cup flour
- 1 egg
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 0.4 cup milk
- 0.4 cup beer
- 25 shrimp
- to taste salt
- to taste sunflower oil (for frying)
Tools
- Greaseproof Paper
- Tongs
Preparation of Shrimp Beignets
Put the flour in a large bowl and add the egg, a pinch of salt, and the oil. Mix carefully.
Pour in the milk and beer, and with the help of a whisk, mix vigorously to prevent the formation of lumps.
Pour the sunflower oil into a tall pot and turn on the heat. Once the oil is at temperature, dip the cleaned shrimp tails into the batter and fry until completely golden.
As they are ready, place them on a tray lined with absorbent paper, keeping them warm.
Serve the shrimp beignets hot, accompanied by a light sauce made with fresh cheese and aromatic herbs.
