To ensure this delicacy of first-rate quality you must buy your shrimps
alive, and boil and pick them at home with all possible despatch. Set
a gallon of live shrimps in three quarts of boiling water, in which
one and half pounds of bay or rock salt has been dissolved, and boil
them fifteen minutes, then strain off the water and as soon as possible
commence shelling them, and keep them covered with cloths as you
proceed. Be particular that no refuse or pieces of the shells remain
to disgrace the preparer, and laying them lightly on clean dishes,
mix amongst them the following seasoning in very fine powder, being
well sifted and dried the day previous and kept bottled up. I repeat
that the shrimps must have been deprived of all their moisture with
the assistance of a moderately cool oven, and not two fish to be seen
sticking together. Nor can any excuse avail in this instance, as the
less time that is occupied in potting these sorts so much better chance
will there be of your total success in the product.
Mace, in finest powder 1 oz.
Nutmeg, in finest powder 2 oz.
Cloves, in finest powder 2 oz.
Table salt, in finest powder 1 lb.
Loaf sugar, in finest powder ¾ lb.
When seasoned to your entire satisfaction, the fish however fully
retaining their own fine flavour, fill your pots, which must be the
cleanest and best dried possible; press the shrimps well down, and set
them as you proceed at the mouth of your cool oven until there is no
evaporation observable. Now take them up, press down again, and laying
one or two bay leaves on the top, fill up with the best olive oil, and
set away in a cool dry room. Next day replenish the oil that has been
absorbed, and not till after the third day tie bladder over. Plenty of
oil must cover the fish, and although potted shrimps are not expected
to keep well after three or four days, yet you may expect every
satisfaction from this process. If decay soon takes place, it will be
owing to the fish not having been well dried in the process. As to the
preservation of the true flavour of the fish, this preparation demands
our decided preference.