Popcorn Shrapia Napoleon

Real Popcorn Shrimp and Tilapia in an Apricot Bean sauce. Delicious!  The spice and crunch on the shrimp is a great counterpart to the fruity and juicy tilapia.  These both would be great as individual meals as well!

As we were visiting my Grandmother to say farewell I sent Jonathan into the cuisine to pick out six ingredients for her and I to create a wonderful dish.  I know she shares the same love of cooking as I do so I thought it would be fun.  Little did I know that Jonathan was not going to be easy on us! These were our ingredients:

1. Apricot Preserves

2. Unpopped Popcorn

3. Canned Black Beans

4. Taco Shells

5. Shrimp

6. Tilapia

Additional Ingredients: 2 Eggs, Cayenne Pepper, Pepper, Salt, Garlic Salt, Dried Parsley, Canola Oil, Tinfoil

These ingredients definitely threw us both for a loop; we started giggling trying to figure out what to do with taco shells and popcorn?!  We decided to make a REAL Popcorn Shrimp.  Why is popcorn shrimp even called that if it doesn't use popcorn?  I think initially it was because they were pieces similar to the size of popcorn and you could eat them in the same fashion.

To prepare Tilapia:

-Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

-Place foil in baking dish and add the Tilapia.

-Salt and pepper both sides.

-Add enough Apricot preserves to cover the Tilapia.

-Add 1 can of black beans per two Tilapia Fillets.

-Bake until fish is flaky and white. Approximately 15 minutes.

To prepare Popcorn Shrimp:

-Thaw and peel deveined shrimp. Season with salt, pepper, and a dash of cayenne pepper.

-Pop one bag of popcorn.

-Either place popcorn in ziploc bag and crunch up all of the pieces or use a food processor.

-Place popcorn in a large dish. Add salt, pepper, a few dashes of cayenne pepper and dried parsley. *be generous with the parsley.

-In a large bowl mix two whole eggs and 3 tablespoons of water.  Season with salt, pepper, and a dash of cayenne pepper. *I like to season each part of the breading process! Adds more flavor!

-Using tongs to avoid messy hands dip the shrimp in the egg wash and then into the popcorn crumbs. Make sure all sides of the shrimp are coated.  Repeat until all shrimp are coated in popcorn crumbs.

-To cook heat approximately 2 inches deep of Canola Oil in a pot. *To test if the oil is hot enough: Add 1 drop of water to the oil - if it starts to bubble and fizz the oil is ready.

-Add about 8-10 shrimp at one time depending on the size of your pot. *Adding too many shrimp will lower the temperature of the oil.

To plate:

-Place 3 shrimp on top of 1/2 taco shell.

-Add another 1/2 taco shell and top with the Tilapia.

-Top with another 1/2 taco shell and add 3 more shrimp.

-Finished! You have a Popcorn Shrapia Napoleon.

Jonathan's recommendation: I'm going to pick Frito's next time!

Mardigan's recommendation: I wasn't there but I heard popcorn is amazing.