If you don't have a panini maker, cook the shrimp in a grill pan or sauté pan, toast the bread in a toaster or in the oven, then assemble the sandwiches.
Makes 4 double-decker clubs or 6 regular sandwiches
For the shallot cream sauce
- 5 ml vegetable oil
- 5 large shallots, minced
- 125 ml white wine
- 15 ml Champagne vinegar
- 125 ml heavy cream
- 125 ml unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
- ½ medium lemon, juiced
- Salt and pepper to taste
For the grilled shrimp BLT
- 340 gr medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 30 ml olive or vegetable oil
- Salt and pepper
- 12 thin slices country or sourdough bread
- 125 ml mayonnaise
- 500 ml baby lettuce leaves
- 250 gr Roma tomatoes, cut into 12 slices
- 12 rashers bacon, cook until crisp and drained on paper towels
For the shallot cream sauce
- Heat the oil over medium heat in a medium saucepan ; add the shallots and cook, stirring continuously to prevent browning, until the begin to releasetheir juices, about 2 minutes.
- Add the wine and vinegar, raise the heat to high, stir and scrape with a wooden spoon to dissolve any pan deposits, and boil briefly until the liquid reduces slightly, 1 to 2 minutes.
- Stir in the cream and continue boiling until the liquid has reduced by half, about 5 minutes ; reduce the heat to low and, little by little, whisk in the butter to form a thick sauce.
- Pour the sauce through a fine-mesh strainer into a clean pan ; season with lemon juice and salt and pepper to taste.
- Cover the pan and keep warm if making the sandwiches right away.
For the grilled shrimp BLT
- Preheat a panini maker or double-sided electric grill ; or heat a grill pan over medium-high heat.
- Toss the clean shrimp with the oil and season lightly with salt and pepper.
- Cook the shrimp in the panini maker just until the are cooked through and pink, 1to 2 minutes, taking care not to overcook them ; or cook in the grill pan or 1 to 2 minutes on each side.
- Remove from the heat and allow to cool until you can handle them, then cut each shrimp in half lengthwise and set aside.
- Turn off the grill and allow to cool slightly, then wipe the cooking surfaces clean with paper towels (taking care not to burn your fingers) ; turn the grill back on.
- Toast all of the slices of bread before assembling the sandwiches.
- To assemble the sandwiches, spread a little mayonnaise on all o the bread slices and arrange a layer of lettuce leaves on our of them or double-decker sandwiches, six for regular sandwiches.
- Top the lettuce with a layer of tomato slices and season them lightly with salt and pepper ; arrange 2 bacon slices on top of the tomatoes on each sandwiches (3 i you're making double-decker clubs).
- Add a second slice of bread for double-decker clubs and top with a thin spread of mayonnaise and a little lettuce.
- Heat the shallot cream sauce over medium-low heat ; add the shrimp and stir them in the sauce until warmed through, 3 to 5 minutes ; distribute the shrimp and sauce evenly among the 4 or 6 sandwiches and top them with the remaining lettuce and bread slices.
- Place the sandwiches in the panini maker or double-sided grill, close the machine, and cook until the outer bread slices turn golden brown, 3 minutes.
- Cut each sandwich diagonally in half and serve.
BON APPÉTIT