Tortillitas de Camarones: A Taste of Spanish Tradition
Tortillitas de camarones, also known as shrimp fritters, are a popular Spanish dish, especially in the Andalusian region. They are small, crispy fritters made with shrimp and a light, flavorful batter. Here's a recipe for making tortillitas de camarones:
Ingredients
- 1 cup Small Shrimp (150g), peeled and deveined
- 1 cup Chickpea flour (also known as besan or gram flour) (125g)
- ½ cup Cold water (120ml)
- ½ tsp Salt or to taste
- ½ tsp Ground cumin (optional)
- ½ tsp Paprika (optional)
- 2-3 Cloves of garlic minced
- 2-3 Onions finely chopped
- Freshly ground black pepper to taste
- Vegetable oil, for frying or extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, combine the chickpea flour, cold water, salt, ground cumin, and paprika (if using). Whisk the mixture until it forms a smooth batter. Let it rest for at least 30 minutes at room temperature. This resting time allows the flavors to meld and the batter to thicken slightly.
- After the batter has rested, add the minced garlic, chopped green onions, and freshly ground black pepper. Mix them into the batter until well combined.
- Gently fold in the peeled and deveined shrimp into the batter. Make sure the shrimp are well coated.
- Heat vegetable oil in a deep skillet or frying pan over medium-high heat. You'll need enough oil to submerge the fritters.
- Once the oil is hot (around 350°F or 180°C), use a spoon or your hands to drop small portions of the batter mixture into the hot oil. You can make them as small or as large as you prefer.
- Fry the fritters until they are golden brown and crispy, about 2-3 minutes on each side. Be careful not to overcrowd the pan; fry them in batches if necessary.
- Use a slotted spoon to remove the tortillitas de camarones from the oil and place them on a plate lined with paper towels to drain any excess oil.
- Serve the tortillitas de camarones hot as a tapa or appetizer, garnished with a pinch of salt and a squeeze of lemon juice, if desired.
Notes
They're delicious when served fresh and crispy.