Our shrimp melt, made with flavorful bay shrimp and topped with sharp cheddar, is simple but surprisingly satisfying.
Ingredients
½lb.bay shrimp; cooked, peeled, deveined, and patted dry*
juice of ½ lemon
3Tablespoonsfull-fat mayo, divided
¼teaspoonpaprika
fresh cracked pepper and kosher salt to taste
2large, thick slicessourdough bread or country bread
2oz.cheddar cheese, grated
Instructions
In a medium-sized bowl combine the shrimp, lemon juice, 2 Tablespoons of mayo, paprika, fresh cracked pepper, and salt.
Spread the remaining mayo on one side of each slice of bread (about ½ Tablespoon per slice). Place the bread in a skillet, mayo side face down, and then turn the skillet to medium heat, allowing the bread to toast slowly while the pan heats. While the skillet warms, divide the shrimp salad evenly between the two pieces of bread. Sprinkle grated cheese on top. Cook the toast until the bread is a deep golden brown (about 3-5 minutes). While the toast is cooking, heat oven to broil (high if you have the option), and place one oven rack in the middle and the other rack at the top of the oven.
Transfer the entire skillet** with toasts inside into the oven on the middle rack. Let cook for 2-3 minutes, until cheese is melted. Transfer skillet to top rack and cook for 30 seconds-1 minute, until cheese is nice and bubbly. Watch your toasts carefully so they do not burn. Remove from oven and serve immediately.
Notes
*You’ll almost always see bay shrimp sold cooked, peeled, and deveined. If you don’t have access to bay shrimp, purchase cocktail shrimp at the best seafood market you have access to and coarsely chop into smaller pieces. You'll want to buy the cocktail shrimp already peeled, deveined, and cooked for this recipe. **The easiest way to make these shrimp melts is to use an oven-safe skillet, which will allow you to complete the first and second portions of making the melts in one pan. If you don't have an oven-safe skillet, follow the recipe through step 2 using any kind of nonstick pan. Then transfer the melts to a cookie sheet and complete step three.