The cold shrimp

I know, I know, it sounds crazy! This time it’s not my fault, but the recipe was created that way, and this is just my version. In Italy, we have this absolutely heavenly recipe that is prepared by combining only two ingredients. It is made by bringing together the sea and the land in a truly magical way.

Prawns

For this recipe, we need red prawns that are as fresh as can be! We’ll be cleaning them by removing the legs, head and the carapace that surrounds the flesh. Now it’s time to remove the innards! To do this, we simply incise the entire surface of the gut. Then, with the help of some running water, we can remove the gut and rinse it of any other impurities.

The lard from Colonnata

In a moment, the prawn is totally eclipsed by this magnificent ingredient, which we cut thinly and wrap the prawn as if we were wrapping it in blankets.

This lovely recipe is so quick and easy to make! I’d really recommend saving the shrimp scraps, as you can easily make a fish stew with them for another preparation.

Ingredients

• 7 prawns
• 7 slices of lard

Let me tell you how to prepare this delicious dish.

• First, preheat your oven to 150° (ventilated).
• Now, take your lovely shrimp and carefully remove the shell and head, but leave the tail intact. Don’t forget to remove the intestines.
• And now for the finishing touch! Wrap each prawn in a slice of lard.
• Now, pop them in the oven and bake for about 5 minutes. Then, turn off the oven, open it slightly and let them rest for another 2 minutes.

Tips

Just a quick note on cooking the shrimp: it’s really important to make sure you don’t overcook them, as you don’t want them to become too mushy!

If you can’t find lard, don’t worry! We can still make this delicious dish. If you can’t find lard, we can use bacon, pancetta, or whatever you like best. The most important thing is that it’s nice and thin!