(Serves 4)
Beer Batter
¾ can of beer, (8oz)
1/3 cup flour, white all purpose
½ tblsp garlic, dried granulated
¼ tsp cayenne pepper
½ tsp black pepper
1 tsp salt
32-40 shrimp
1&rac12; tsp Tony Chachere's Cajun Spice
1½ - 2 cups of canola oil (or other frying oil)
½ Roma tomato, diced very small
1/3 red onion, diced very small
1 jalapeno, most of the seeds can be removed, diced very small
¼ - 1/3 cup pineapple, diced very small
½ carrot, cut into small sticks (julienne) then dice small
¼ cup fresh mint leaves, minced
juice of ½ lime
5 cabbage leaves, julienne very thin
8 soft taco shells, corn or flour (I prefer corn in this recipe)
½ cup shredded cheese, any variety, I used the mozzarella/provolone blend
In a medium bowl mix the flour, garlic, cayenne, black pepper and salt. Add the beer slowly, mixing with a whisk or fork until the batter resembles glue, then add a little more beer. Keep cold until ready to use.
Make your salsa right away, so it has time "to marry" inside a bowl. Mix well, the tomato, onion, jalapeno, pineapple, carrot, mint leaves, 1 tsp salt and the juice of ½ lime. Set aside or in the fridge.
Slice up and set aside your cabbage, set aside or in the fridge
Get your oil in a small pot and bring it up to 365°F using a hot oil thermometer. Otherwise medium heat but a smidgen more. If the oil smokes too much its too hot. You can test the heat with a drop of batter, it should crisp up alone in 8-10 seconds.
Coat your shrimp with Tony' Chachere's Cajun spice (or just use salt and pepper). Dip your shrimp in the batter. I do 4-5 at a time. Put the shrimps, one at a time, into the hot oil. Leave in until crispy golden in color, about 1+½ minutes. Drain on a paper towel and set aside.
All those steps could be done in advance. When guests arrive, pop the shrimps back in the oven on warming temp and start a skillet on medium heat, one by one heat up one side of the tortilla, flip it over, add some cheese, let it melt remove from heat and assemble the taco. Tortilla, cheese, shrimp (4-5 per taco), a small hand-full of shredded cabbage and some delicious pineapple salsa on top, don't be scared, heap it on!
Repeat three more times for round one!
Start round two after you've eaten the first one, or just get it over with :) Delicious - enjoy!