Home
About

Potted shrimps

Two ramekins of potted shrimps, one with a spoon. Three pieces of toast, one with shrimps spread on it. Brown shrimps scattered around. They are placed on a distressed piece of old wood on top of beach pebbles. For Potted shrimps recipe.

The brown shrimp is common to most coastal areas of the British Isles.  They are easiest to catch in shallow waters such as those of Morcambe Bay where a successful industry began towards the end of the eighteenth century and increased in the nineteenth century with the coming of the railways which transported the increasingly popular shrimps throughout the country.  The custom of ‘potting’ shrimps in flavoured butter is thought to originate in the eighteenth century in East Anglia as well as the north-west.

Equipment

  • Weighing scales
  • Saucepan
  • Jug
  • 4 7cm ramekins

Preparation method

  • Melt the 200g of butter in the saucepan and add the lemon juice, mace, pepper, cayenne and a pinch of salt. 
  • Simmer very gently for five minutes, then take off the heat and allow to cool but not set. 
  • Divide the shrimps between the 4 ramekins, pressing them in tightly.  
  • When just warm, but still liquid, divide the spiced butter between the ramekins and put in the fridge to set. 
  • Serve with a lot of hot toast.   

More shellfish recipes
Lobster pie
 

Georgian

Serves:
4
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cooling time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 30 minutes

Ingredients

  • 200 g clarified butter or ghee
  • Juice of 1/2 a small lemon
  • 1/4 tsp ground mace
  • 1/4 tsp white pepper
  • Pinch of cayenne pepper
  • 200 g cooked and peeled brown shrimps

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Potted shrimps
Serving Size
 
128 g
Amount per Serving
Calories
730
Percent of Daily Value*
Fat
 
76
g
117
%
Saturated Fat
 
45
g
281
%
Cholesterol
 
294
mg
98
%
Sodium
 
76
mg
3
%
Potassium
 
3.6
mg
0
%
Carbohydrates
 
0.7
g
0
%
Sugar
 
0.1
g
0
%
Protein
 
10
g
20
%
Calcium
 
27
mg
3
%
Iron
 
0.8
mg
4
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Share this recipe

Keywords

Brown shrimps, Butter, Mace

© Dr Caroline Gordon 
2026
Illustrations by Chichi Parish
Site by Anselm Eustace