Shrimp Boulettes
¾ cup coarsely chopped
green bell pepper 2 tablespoons coarsely
chopped green onion ¼ cup coarsely chopped
celery
2 tablespoons coarsely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1¼ pounds peeled and deveined small or medium shrimp
1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more as needed 1⁄8 teaspoon cracked black pepper, plus more as needed 1⁄8 teaspoon cayenne pepper, plus more as needed 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon hot sauce, preferably Original Louisiana Hot Sauce, plus more as needed
Peanut oil, for frying
Instructions: In a large bowl, combine the bell pepper, green onion, celery, parsley, shrimp, salt, black pepper, cayenne and hot sauce, and toss to distribute the ingredients evenly. Using an oldfashioned meat grinder or a food processor, grind the mixture together. If using a food processor, work in small batches and pulse until smooth, then transfer to a bowl. In either case, after grinding, you should not see any vegetables; the boulette mix should be a homogenous paste.
Fill a large heavy-bottomed pot with 4 inches of peanut oil and heat the oil over mediumhigh heat to 375 degrees.
Using two spoons or a small cookie scoop, form a ball of the boulette mix no bigger than the diameter of a quarter and carefully drop it into the hot oil. Fry this tester boulette for about 6 minutes, until golden brown on the outside. Transfer the boulette to a paper towel or a brown paper bag to drain excess oil and let it cool. Taste the boulette: Does the mix need more salt? More pepper or more heat? Add salt, black pepper, cayenne, or hot sauce to your liking — I like boulettes to have a slight vinegary taste, and hot sauce gives them that flavor. There is no one perfect formula. You have to taste your mix every time.
Once you have adjusted your mix, drop about 15 balls at a time into the hot oil and fry until golden brown, about 6 minutes. Transfer the boulettes to paper towels or brown paper bags to drain and cool briefly, then serve.
The boulette mix will keep, covered, in the refrigerator for 2 days. If making ahead of time, add the salt right before frying to keep the mix from getting watery. Makes 6 servings