Focaccia Shrimp Salad Sandwiches

I love herby, spicy, intensely delicious food. Flavortown. Can you believe, I took a simple white bread, mushed it out on a sheet pan, added some spices and herbs and created my own focaccia bread? It's so easy, you'll want to make one too.

I created this focaccia bread with seafood seasoning. McCormick is a Maryland Icon. We've been proud to have them here since 1889. Old Bay is a staple in our house, I remember growing up summers eating crabs and loving the salty spice. It's pretty much a must if you are making seafood around here. So when I was thinking of making some Shrimp Salad Sandwiches, I naturally came to think of what I could do with my beloved Old Bay.

Oh YUM! Crispy celery, creamy mayo and the spicy saltiness of the Old Bay are perfect with this slightly crispy on the outside and soft bread of the inside of the focaccia, combined with the fresh pop of the shrimp. I don't know if I could create a more summery dish. But these would be fabulous for any gathering.  

Remove one loaf of Frozen White Bread from the package and allow to thaw fully. Add about 2 tablespoons of olive oil to a 11x9 baking sheet.

Using your fingers, begin pushing the dough out the loaf shape and pushing into a flat sheet. I found that some of the oil was added to the top of the dough as I was moving it around on the sheet. It will help the seasonings stick. You can use a rolling pin for this, but it was easier to use my fingers. Get the kids involved, they can help with this step!

One you have the full loaf spread out as much as you can, without tearing the dough, you are ready to season.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Add a little olive oil to the dough if you haven't gotten enough on the top of the dough, I mentioned earlier that my dough ended up with some of the pan oil on top of the dough so I didn't need extra. Sprinkle on a tablespoon of Old Bay Seasoning, and then top with your 1/4 cup of Parmesan Cheese.

To finish, add a tablespoon to the top of the bread.

Now it's ready for the oven!

Bake at 400 degrees for about 18-20 minutes, until brown and gorgeous!

Allow it to cool, then cut into squares. I also cut the square in half to make a sandwich. To make the shrimp salad. Add 1 lb cooked, shelled, and deveined shrimp to 1/2 cup of diced celery, and 1/2 cup mayonaise. Also add in 1 tablespoon of Old Bay Seasoning.

Mix well. Extender tip****If you want this salad to go farther, add cooked macaroni noodles to serve a crowd. You may have to increase the spices and the mayo, but you could easily double this serving size by adding 2 cups of cooked elbow macaroni.  

Bread- One loaf of Rhodes Frozen White bread- thawed olive oil- for the pan 1 tablespoon Old Bay Seasoning 1/4 cup parmesan cheese 1 tablespoon parsley flakes This bread can be cut into many sizes to create squares of bread for sandwiches, you can make sliders or full sized sandwiches. Shrimp Salad- 1 lb medium shrimp shelled, deveined, cooked 1/2 cup of celery stalks ( about 3 stalks) diced 1/2 cup of mayonaise 1 tablespoon Old Bay Seasoning serves about 5 people.

Such a pretty sandwich!

Enjoy! kris