Easy Shrimp Po' Boy ("dressed")

Total Time: 30 mins Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 10 mins

Ingredients

• 1 lb peeled and deveined shrimp, 26-30/lb
• 1/2 cup flour, in a gallon size baggie
• 2 eggs, beaten with a fork
• 3/4-1 cup cracker meal, enough to coat the shrimp
• shredded lettuce, ... enough for 4 ten inch sandwiches (like very course cole slaw)
• 2 tomatoes, thin sliced (12 slices total)
• 4 small wide french baguettes, about 10-inch long
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• vegetable oil, to fry (or use a deep fryer)

Recipe

• 1 rinse shrimp and shake off excess water.
• 2 in small batches (7-8 at a time), shake shrimp in flour.
• 3 wash in beaten eggs, remove excess.
• 4 coat in cracker crumbs.
• 5 heat oil (1/2" deep) in skillet to hot -- about 350 degrees.
• 6 fry shrimp until medium brown -- about 8-10 minutes, turning once halfway. in a deep fryer, cut the time in half.
• 7 while shrimp are frying, spread 1 tbs mayo on both sides of the baguettes.
• 8 drain shrimp on paper towels.
• 9 assemble sandwich as follows:.
• 10 on bottom of baguettes, arrange 7 shrimp.
• 11 cover with lettuce.
• 12 add 3 slices of tomato.
• 13 put on the top part of the baguettes and slice in half.
• 14 serves 4 -- including your 3 new best friends. enjoy.
• 15 note about the bread -- ciabattas look right, but they are too dry. find a bakery that has subtantial, non-wimpy french baguettes -- about 3" across. better yet, if you are a baker, make them yourself with square ends. if all you can find is "skinny" baguettes, just make more sandwiches with fewer shrimp.
• 16 note on roumalade sauce -- many recipes will call for roumalade sauce instead of mayo. this is a trendy affectation that ignores the humble beginnings of the po' boy (a free sandwich for striking new orleans transit workers). if you need a "kick" just add a tablepoon of cayenne (or less) to the flour.