Prawns Provençale

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon olive oil, or as needed
• 2 pounds raw shrimp (16-20 per pound)
• 3 cloves garlic
• 0.25 teaspoon dried oregano leaves
• 0.25 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
• kosher salt to taste
• 1/3 cup chopped fresh Italian parsley, divided
• 1/3 cup olive oil
• 1 cup plain dry bread crumbs
• 0.5 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
• 0.5 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 pinch kosher salt
• 1 pinch cayenne pepper, or to taste

Steps

1. Preheat the oven to 475 degrees F (245 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil; brush with 1 tablespoon olive oil.
2. Carefully remove shells and legs from shrimp; leave tails attached. Butterfly shrimp by cutting a slit lengthwise down belly side of shrimp almost to the skin on the back using a small sharp knife; open shrimp like a book. Repeat with remaining shrimp.
3. Place garlic, oregano, thyme, and large pinch kosher salt in a mortar; pound and stir with a pestle for a few seconds. Add 1 tablespoon parsley; pound and stir until it turns into a paste, 1 to 2 minutes. Add ⅓ cup olive oil; stir until olive oil is infused with herbs and garlic, about 1 minute.
4. Place bread crumbs in a bowl; stir in herb-garlic infused oil. Add cheese, remaining parsley, black pepper, 1 pinch kosher salt, and 1 pinch cayenne pepper; mix with a fork until evenly combined. Pinch off a bit of bread crumb mixture; if it feels a bit dry and doesn't stick to your finger, drizzle in a bit more olive oil. Stir until mixture reaches desired consistency, 2 to 3 minutes.
5. Lightly but thoroughly top cut-sides shrimp with bread crumb mixture; place on the prepared baking sheet.
6. Bake in the preheated oven until cooked through and tails curl up, 8 to 10 minutes.