Janet Snow's Shrimp Fritters by Lucy Burdette

 

LUCY BURDETTE: These are allegedly the shrimp fritters that Hayley’s mother Janet Snow was passing around when the catamaran blew up in the first chapter of The Mango Murders. I cannot vouch for that recipe because she did not share it with me and no one on the cruise was able to taste it! I did the best I could to imagine something similar, and included a mango peach salsa which was delicious. The salsa can also be made with avocados instead of peaches, if it’s not peach season. Either way, fair warning, it’s chunky and would be difficult to eat as a canapé. I’m certain a real caterer would come up with a solution! By the way, both of the jalapeños in the photo are from our garden. I was nervous about using the red, riper version, thinking it might be very hot. NB, it wasn’t too hot and it offered a gorgeous red pop.  

Ingredients for the mango salsa

1 ripe mango, peeled and diced

One ripe peach, peeled and diced

1/2 red onion, finely chopped, optional (I did not choose to add this)

1 jalapeño, seeded and minced (use more or less depending on your desired spice level)

1-3 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped

1 lime, juiced

Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Combine the diced mango, peach, red onion if using, jalapeño, and cilantro in a medium bowl.

Add lime juice, salt, and pepper.

Stir to combine and let rest for 10–15 minutes, or refrigerate for up to 30 minutes, to meld flavors. 

Ingredients for the shrimp fritters

1/2 lb shrimp, peeled, deveined, and coarsely chopped

1/4 cup flour 

1/2 tsp baking powder

1 egg

Splash of Guinness

3 scallions, chopped 

1 jalapeno, minced

corn kernels cut from one ear

Vegetable oil, for frying (I used olive)

Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Stir together the chopped scallions, chopped jalapeno, corn, and egg. Chop the shrimp and add that. 

Sprinkle the dry ingredients over the shrimp mixture and mix lightly. Splash in a bit of beer.

Heat olive oil in a large frying pan. Drop batter by tablespoonfuls and fry in batches until golden brown, about 3 minutes per side.

Serve with the mango salsa and possibly also cocktail sauce and a wedge of lemon if desired. 

**Meanwhile, here are some deals for you. The ebook edition of A DISH TO DIE FOR is on sale this month for $1.99! 

**The audio editions of THE KEY LIME CRIME and DEATH WITH ALL THE TRIMMINGS are both on sale for $1.99! (Not sure how long this one will last...)

**Finally, after a several month delay, the audio edition of THE MANGO MURDERS is finally available!

USA Today bestselling author Lucy Burdette writes the Key West food critic mystery series including A POISONOUS PALATE and A CLUE IN THE CRUMBS. Join her mailing list right here.

Book 15 in the Key West series, THE MANGO MURDERS, is in bookstores now!

The trade paperback edition of A POISONOUS PALATE is out now! 

And the trade paperback edition of A CLUE IN THE CRUMBS is out now!