Chilled Cucumber-Avocado Soup with Spicy Glazed Shrimp

• 1 large European cucumber, seeded and coarsely chopped
• 2 Hass avocadospitted, peeled and quartered
• 1 1/2 cups buttermilk
• 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 1/2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
• Kosher salt
• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 3/4 pound large shrimp, shelled and deveined, shells reserved
• 3 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
• 1 shallot, thinly sliced
• 1 small carrot, thinly sliced crosswise
• 1 teaspoon black peppercorns
• 1 teaspoon coriander seeds
• 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds
• 1 teaspoon tomato paste
• 2 cups water
• 1 tablespoon honey
• Freshly ground pepper
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
• 6 mint leaves, chopped

1. In a blender, combine the cucumber, avocados, buttermilk, vinegar, sugar, 1/2 tablespoon of the lime juice and a pinch of salt.
2. Blend until smooth.
3. Strain the soup through a fine sieve and refrigerate until chilled, about 40 minutes.
4. In a large saucepan, heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil.
5. Add the shrimp shells, garlic, shallot and carrot and cook over moderate heat, stirring until the shells are lightly browned, and the vegetables are softened, about 8 minutes.
6. Add the peppercorns, coriander seeds, crushed red pepper and cumin seeds and cook, stirring, for 1 minute.
7. Add the tomato paste and cook, stirring, for 1 minute.
8. Add the water, honey and remaining 1 tablespoon of lime juice and bring to a boil.
9. Simmer over moderate heat until reduced to 1/2 cup, about 15 minutes.
10. Strain the shrimp sauce into a heatproof bowl.
11. In a medium skillet, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil until shimmering.
12. Add the shrimp, season with salt and pepper and cook over high heat for 1 minute.
13. Turn the shrimp, add the shrimp sauce and simmer just until the shrimp are cooked through, about 2 minutes.
14. Swirl in the butter.
15. Place the shrimp in soup bowls, spoon the cucumber soup all around and drizzle the shrimp sauce on top.
16. Sprinkle with the mint and serve right away.

european cucumber, buttermilk, red wine vinegar, sugar, lime juice, kosher salt, extravirgin olive oil, shrimp, garlic, shallot, carrot, black peppercorns, coriander seeds, red pepper, cumin seeds, tomato paste, water, honey, freshly ground pepper, unsalted butter, mint

Taken from www.foodandwine.com/recipes/chilled-cucumber-avocado-soup-spicy-glazed-shrimp (may not work)