Shrimp Butter Toasts

Elegant appetizer featuring a rich shrimp-flavored compound butter spread on crispy toast points. Made with fresh shrimp, butter, and aromatic seasonings, these toasts are perfect for entertaining.

8 servings
6 hr 40 min

Ingredients

  • ¾ cup unsalted butter
  • 1 lb medium shrimp
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • ¼ cup minced onion
  • teaspoons fresh lemon juice
  • teaspoon cayenne
  • 10 slices firm white sandwich bread
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 serving whole cooked shrimp

Cooking Instructions

  1. 1.

    Heat 2 tablespoons butter in a 10-inch heavy skillet over moderately high heat until foam subsides, then sauté shrimp with salt and black pepper, stirring, until just cooked through, 1 1/2 to 2 minutes. Transfer shrimp with a slotted spoon to a food processor, reserving skillet (do not clean).

    2 min

  2. 2.

    Cook onion in 1 tablespoon butter in skillet over moderately low heat, stirring occasionally, until softened, 2 to 3 minutes. Scrape onions into processor and cool mixture to room temperature, about 15 minutes. Add lemon juice, cayenne, and remaining 9 tablespoons butter and pulse until shrimp are finely chopped. Pack shrimp butter into a 2-cup ramekin or serving bowl and chill, its surface covered with plastic wrap, at least 6 hours (to allow flavors to develop). Bring to room temperature 45 minutes before serving.

    380 min

  3. 3.

    Put oven rack in upper third of oven and preheat oven to 400°F.

    10 min

  4. 4.

    Brush 1 side of bread triangles lightly with melted butter and toast, buttered sides up, in a large shallow baking pan until golden around edges, 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer to a rack to cool. Serve toast points with shrimp butter.

    8 min

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