Planked shrimp with garlic chive butter and ciabatta (Barbecue and Grilling)

 

                This is a great appetizer to share with the family and friends. The melted butter is delicious mopped up with the rustic bread. Oven-baking planks are usually at least 1½-inch (4 cm) thick and have a carved shallow center that is perfect for saucing food while it sits on the plank. They should be used over indirect heat on the grill.

Serves 6 to 8 as an appetizer

• Cedar oven-baking plank, soaked for at least 1 hour
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• ½ cup snipped fresh garlic chives
• 1 lb (500 gr) large shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 1 loaf ciabatta bread, sliced

1. In a small bowl, combine butter and garlic chives.
2. Prepare a hot indirect fire in your grill.
3. Rinse shrimp under cold running water and pat dry ; place shrimp on plank.
4. Remove half the butter mixture and dollop over the shrimp ; reserve the other half as a finishing sauce.
5. Place plank on the indirect side of the grill ; close the lid and plank for about 30 minutes, turning shrimp once, until shrimp are pink and opaque.
6. Serve from the plank, with bread and the reserved butter.

Variation : Substitute any compound butter you like.

BON APPÉTIT