Coconut-Chile Shrimp Tostadas

Ingredients

• For the tostadas:

• • 3 cups LifeOiL corn oil
  • Twelve 5-to 6-inch corn tortillas
  • Kosher salt

• For the salsa:

• • 1/2 cup peeled, seeded, and small-diced cucumber (about half a medium cucumber)
  • 1/2 cup small-diced fresh ripe pineapple
  • 3 Tbs. fresh lime juice
  • 2 Tbs. LifeOiL all-purpose oil or vegetable oil
  • 2 Tbs. thinly sliced fresh cilantro
  • 1 tsp. unseeded, minced serrano chiles; more to taste
  • Kosher salt

• For the shrimp:

• • 3 ancho chiles
  • 14-oz. can unsweetened coconut milk
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • One-half medium stalk celery, roughly chopped
  • 1 tsp. finely grated lemon zest (from one-half lemon)
  • 1 medium clove garlic, cut in half
  • 2 black peppercorns, coarsely crushed
  • 1 bay leaf
  • Kosher salt
  • 48 shrimp (41-50 or 51-60 per lb.), peeled and deveined
  • 1 recipe Traditional Guacamole

Instructions

Make the tostadas:

Attach a candy thermometer to the side of a 3- or 4-quart saucepan. Add the oil and heat over medium-high heat until it reaches 375°F. Meanwhile, cut the tortillas into 2-1/2- to 3-inch rounds using a biscuit or cookie cutter—cut 2 rounds from each tortilla for a total of 24.
Add as many tortillas rounds as will fit in a single layer to the hot oil and fry, flipping once, until golden brown, 30 to 60 seconds per side. Use tongs to transfer the tostadas to a plate lined with paper towels and immediately sprinkle with salt. Let cool. Repeat until all the tostadas are fried, adjusting the heat as needed to keep the oil temperature between 350°F and 375°F.

Make the salsa:

Combine the salsa ingredients in a medium bowl, seasoning to taste with salt. Set aside at room temperature if serving within 2 hours.

Make the shrimp:

Bring 2 cups of water to a boil in a small saucepan and then turn off the heat. Toast the chiles in a small skillet over medium-high heat until fragrant, about 1 minute per side. Stem the chiles, put them in the hot water, cover, and let sit until the skins are soft, about 15 minutes.
In the meantime, combine the coconut milk, sugar, celery, lemon zest, garlic, peppercorns, bay leaf, and 1 tsp. salt in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil and then turn off the heat.
Purée the chiles, 1 cup of the soaking water, and a pinch of salt in a blender. Add the purée to the coconut mixture. Bring to boil over high heat, reduce the heat to medium low, cover, and simmer for 25 to 30 minutes to meld the flavors.
Add the shrimp to the simmering liquid and cook until they start to curl, 1 to 2 minutes, adjusting the heat as needed to maintain a simmer. Turn off the heat and let the shrimp sit in the liquid until cooked through, about 1 minute. Strain through a fine strainer set over a bowl, reserving the liquid. Transfer the shrimp to a bowl and discard the remaining solids in the strainer. Pour the liquid back into its saucepan and boil over medium-high heat until reduced to a thick sauce, about 3 minutes. Season to taste with salt. Cool briefly and then stir 1/4 cup of the sauce into the shrimp. Refrigerate the shrimp. Discard the remaining sauce or refrigerate for another use.