Shrimp Cakes with Asparagus Salsa

Recipe by The View From the Great Island

Shrimp Cakes with Asparagus Salsa ~ these crispy tender shrimp cakes with their unique salsa is one of the most luxuriously healthy meals I've ever made!

Ingredients

• for the shrimp cakes
• 1 lb shell on shrimp
• 1 tbsp butter
• ½ cup finely minced colorful bell peppers
• 1 small chili pepper, minced, seeds and all (I used a thai chili pepper, you can use a small jalapeno
• ¼ red onion (finely minced)
• 1 large egg, lightly beaten
• ½ cup panko bread crumbs, plus extra for coating
• 2 tbsp finely chopped fresh cilantro (more if you like)
• 1 tbsp mayonnaise
• ½ tsp salt
• lots of fresh cracked black pepper (1/2 tsp or to taste)
• a few dashes of hot sauce (optional)
• olive oil for frying
• asparagus Salsa
• 1 bunch of very thin asparagus
• ¼ red onion (minced)
• ⅓ cup colorful bell pepper (finely minced)
• juice of lime
• chopped cilantro to taste
• of salt

Method

1. Peel the shrimp and de-vein. Melt the butter in a skillet and saute the shrimp until just turning pink on both sides, but not curling tightly. This should only take two minutes.
2. Put the shrimp and any juices in the bowl of a food processor and pulse the machine 12 times until the shrimp is well chopped, but hasn't turned to paste. You want the mixture to retain some texture.
3. Put the shrimp and all the rest of the ingredients (except the olive oil) into a bowl and mix gently but thoroughly.
4. Using a 1/4 cup measure, form the mix into patties, gently pressing it together as you form them. Coat each patty with more breadcrumbs, just pat them on with your hand if they are very delicate. Set on a plate and cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for an hour or more to allow the patties to set up a bit.
5. Coat the bottom of a skillet with olive oil and heat on medium high. When the oil is hot, cook the shrimp cakes until they are golden on each side. This should take about 5 minutes per side.
6. To make the salsa, trim the ends off the asparagus and blanch it in boiling water. To do this, bring a pan of water to a boil, drop the asparagus in, and after about 30 seconds, take it out and plunge it into a bowl of ice water. This takes the raw 'edge' off the asparagus and brightens the color. DO NOT leave the asparagus in the boiling water any longer than 30 seconds, and do not wait for the water to come back to a boil or you will get limp asparagus.
7. Pat the asparagus dry and chop it into very small slices. Toss with the minced onion, bell pepper, lime juice, cilantro and salt and mix well. Taste to adjust the seasonings. Refrigerate until needed.
8. Serve the shrimp cakes hot on a bed of lettuce, topped with the salsa.

View the recipe instructions at The View From the Great Island