Cactus Shrimp With Cactus-lime-butter Sauce

A recipe by Jay's Mestena as presented in Texas Monthly in response to a recipe request.

• Ready In: 45 mins
• Serves: 2
• Yields: 4 appetizers

Ingredients

• 5 -6  prickly pears, dethorned if necessary,peeled,yielding 1 1/4 cup of puree (tunas, the fruit of the cactus)
• 1 (8 ounce) box  tempura mix (some will be left over)
• 1  tablespoon  achiote paste
• 1⁄2 lb large shrimp or 1⁄2 lb medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 1⁄4 cup cornstarch
•  peanut oil, for frying

• Cactus-Lime-Butter Sauce

• 1⁄4 cup white wine
• 1⁄2 bunch cilantro, stems removed
• 1  shallot, minced
• 1  lime
• 1⁄4 cup heavy cream
• 1⁄4 lb unsalted butter, at room temperature

Directions

1. Pulse tunas (cactus fruit) briefly in a food processor or blender; strain.
2. Set aside 1 cup puréed tunas, and reserve remaining 1/4 cup for Cactus-Lime-Butter Sauce.
3. Combine 1 cup tempura mix and the achiote paste in a blender or food processor, and pulse until smooth.
4. Place mixture in a medium-size bowl, add 1 cup puréed tunas, and mix well.
5. Chill.
6. Dust shrimp with cornstarch.
7. Dip each shrimp individually into tempura-tuna batter, and fry in hot oil (375°) until golden brown, frying only 3-4 at a time.
8. Drain well.
9. For the Cactus-Lime-Butter Sauce: Combine wine, cilantro, and shallot in a heavy 2 quart saucepan.
10. Cook over medium heat until wine is almost gone.
11. While the wine is reducing, zest the lime; set zest aside.
12. Juice the lime; set juice aside.
13. When the wine has reduced to almost nothing, add lime zest, lime juice, and heavy cream, stirring constantly with a whisk.
14. Lower heat, and simmer for 3-5 minutes.
15. Remove from heat for about 5 minutes.
16. While the pot is still hot, slowly begin whisking in the butter, a tablespoon at a time, until smooth.
17. Strain through a fine sieve.
18. Keep sauce warm—if it becomes too cold or too hot, the sauce will separate, and you’ll have to begin the process again.
19. Fold in the remaining 1/4 cup cactus fruit purée.
20. Yield: Enough sauce for Cactus Shrimp.