Best Cheesy Popcorn Shrimp Potato Nests Recipes

HASH BROWN MAC AND CHEESE CUPS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Grease a 12-cup muffin tin with nonstick spray.
• Divide the hash browns between the muffin tin cups and firmly press into the base and up the sides of each to create a cup shape. Bake until golden around the edges, 25 to 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, cook the macaroni in a large pot of salted boiling water according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
• Melt 2 tablespoons of the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and cook for 1 minute. Add the milk and whisk constantly until the milk thickens slightly, about 2 minutes. Reduce the heat to low and add the salt, cayenne and nutmeg. Slowly fold in the Gruyere and Cheddar and stir until the cheeses are melted, about 2 minutes. Stir in the macaroni.
• Divide the macaroni among the hash brown cups. Bake until the tops of the cups are golden brown, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, melt the remaining 1 tablespoon butter and combine with the breadcrumbs.
• Remove the mac and cheese from the oven, top with the breadcrumbs and bake until the breadcrumbs are golden brown, about 5 more minutes. Top with chives.

CHOCOLATE BIRDS' NESTS

Steps:

• Melt 8 ounces chopped semisweet chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water, stirring. Remove the bowl from the pan and stir in 2 cups canned potato sticks. Coat a 6-cup muffin pan with cooking spray and scoop some of the chocolate mixture into the cups; make an indentation in each to form nests. Chill until set, at least 3 hours. Fill with marcona almonds.

POTATO NESTS

Steps:

• Fill a large, heavy-bottomed pot with about 4 inches of oil. Heat the oil to 350 degrees F over medium heat.
• Peel the potato and grate it with a mandoline, making strings about 2 millimeters thick. Rinse the potato strings in a strainer under cold running water. Line a baking sheet with paper towels and spread the potato strings on the towels. Top with more paper towels to dry.
• Place the potato strings in a spider strainer, filling the bottom and going up the sides creating a "nest." Place a slotted spoon on top of the strainer to keep the potato strings in place and carefully lower the strainer and spoon together into the hot oil. Fry until golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Drain on a baking sheet lined with a paper towel. Sprinkle with salt. Continue with the remaining potato strings.

POPCORN-CRUSTED POPCORN SHRIMP

Steps:

• Pulse the popcorn, panko, cornstarch, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of black pepper in a food processor until coarsely ground. Transfer to a rimmed baking sheet. Combine the flour, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of black pepper in a medium bowl; set aside. Beat the eggs in a separate bowl; set aside. Melt the butter with the cayenne, half of the lemon zest and a pinch of salt in a small saucepan; set aside.
• Heat 2 inches vegetable oil in a large deep skillet or heavy-bottomed pot until a deep-fry thermometer registers 350 degrees F. Working in batches, toss the shrimp in the flour mixture until coated. Shake off the excess, then dip the shrimp in the eggs and let the excess drip off; coat in the popcorn mixture. Fry the shrimp until golden, about 2 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and transfer to a platter.
• Mix the mayonnaise with the remaining lemon zest and the lemon juice. Drizzle the shrimp with the melted butter right before serving. Serve with the mayonnaise.

CHEESY SHRIMP-STUFFED TWICE-BAKED POTATOES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). Prick potatoes several times with a fork and place onto a baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until potatoes are easily pierced with a fork, 50 minutes to 1 hour. Remove from the oven and let sit until cool enough to handle, about 30 minutes.
• Slice off the top 1/3 of each baked potato. Use a spoon to scoop out all of the pulp from the potatoes and the tops, and place in a large mixing bowl. Set the emptied potato shells and tops onto a baking sheet.
• Add softened butter to the potato pulp; mix on medium to high speed until well combined. Then blend in sour cream, salt, and pepper.
• Roughly chop all but 4 shrimp. Stir chopped shrimp into the potato mixture with the Cheddar cheese until combined, then spoon it into the potato shells, molding it high. Add any overflow that won't fit into the top pieces. Slice 4 remaining shrimp in half lengthwise and arrange 2 pieces on top of each filled potato.
• Bake in the preheated oven until cheese is melted, filling is heated through, and top is lightly browned, 20 to 25 minutes.