Seafood Chimichangas with Savory Cream Sauce


Joanne


Savory Cream Sauce:
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 cups half-and-half, warmed
1 teaspoon Redi-Base Lobster, Crab or Shrimp or Seafood base
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves
Salt and Freshly ground pepper to taste

Seafood Chimichangas:
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
1/2 cup finely chopped green onions
1 to 2 fresh jalapeno peppers, seeded, ribbed and finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, finely minced
2 medium-sized tomatoes, seeded and chopped
1 pound shrimp, shelled and deveined
1/2 pound fresh lump or jumbo crabmeat, picked over
1/2 pound fresh bay scallops
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves
Salt and Freshly ground pepper to taste
8 (12-inch) flour tortillas
Oil for frying

Accompaniments:
Shredded lettuce
Guacamole (optional)
Additional chopped green onions
Additional chopped cilantro
For Savory Cream Sauce: Melt butter in saucepan over medium heat; stir in flour and cook, stirring constantly, for 2 to 3 minutes or until bubbly and golden in color. Slowly stir in cream, bring to a boil and cook until sauce thickens. Remove from heat and stir in the base and 1/4 cup chopped cilantro. Cover, set aside and keep warm. - Makes 2 cups.
For Chimichangas: Heat butter in a large skillet over medium heat and saute onion, jalapeno peppers and garlic until onion is softened. Add the tomatoes and cook for 1 minute. Add the shrimp, crabmeat, scallops and 1/4 cup cilantro and saute, stirring frequently, for 2 to 3 minutes or until shrimp turns pink and scallops are opaque. Remove from heat. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Place 1/8 portion of seafood mixture on a flour tortilla, fold the ends in and roll up burrito-style. Repeat until all tortillas are filled.
Heat about 3/4 to 1-inch of oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. When hot, cook 1 to 2 chimichangas at a time, seam-side down (do not crowd the pan.) Fry until golden, turn and cook the other side until golden. Drain on a brown paper bag lined with paper towels. Keep warm. Repeat until all chimichangas are fried.
To Serve: Place chimichanga(s) on a bed of shredded lettuce, ladle Savory Cream Sauce on top, spoon a dollop of guacamole on the side and garnish with chopped cilantro and green onions, if desired.
Makes 8.