Firecracker Shrimp | Diethood

Firecracker shrimp is considered one of my all-time favourite restaurant orders, and it tastes even higher once I make it at dwelling! This recipe makes use of frivolously battered and pan-fried shrimp tossed in a sticky, candy, and spicy Asian firecracker sauce.

I like recreating my favourite takeout dishes with shrimp, like Common Tso’s shrimp and curried prawns. This firecracker shrimp is really easy to make, and turned out so filled with taste!

Cooked shrimp in a skillet garnished with cilantro and lime leaves.

What’s cracking? I’ll inform you: This firecracker shrimp! Plump, juicy jumbo shrimp has by no means tasted higher than when it’s frivolously battered, fried, and paired with a fiery sauce (see: bang bang shrimp). We piled this candy and spicy firecracker shrimp over rice the opposite evening and it was too scrumptious. It’s like Panda Specific, however higher!

Why I Love This Firecracker Shrimp Recipe

Fast. This selfmade firecracker shrimp takes all of half-hour and wishes only one skillet on the stovetop.
Taste-packed. You don’t earn the title of “firecracker” with out some cracking taste. Firecracker sauce packs a scrumptious punch of chili, garlic, ginger, and zesty lime. It’s not unbearably sizzling, and there’s simply sufficient spice to maintain you craving extra.
Versatile. I’ll gladly eat a complete plate of firecracker shrimp by itself as a spicy appetizer. As a meal, it’s nice over rice or noodles, or I’ll tuck it into lettuce wraps for a lightweight lunch.

Ingredients for firecracker shrimp with text labels overlaying each ingredient.

Substances You’ll Want

This recipe is nice to adapt relying on how fiery you want your firecracker shrimp. It’s additionally simple to make a light model in case you’re cooking for teenagers, or if warmth isn’t your factor.

I’ve included suggestions and strategies within the ingredient notes right here. Make sure you scroll to the recipe card for a printable checklist with quantities.

Firecracker Sauce

Candy Chili Sauce – Select your most well-liked model and warmth stage relying on how sizzling you want your shrimp.
Lime Juice – Freshly squeezed.
Soy Sauce – Be happy to substitute soy sauce for tamari or coconut aminos if wanted.
Seasonings – Onion powder, garlic powder, and floor ginger. In the event you’d choose to exchange the dried seasonings with recent herbs, finely mince 1 small onion, 4 garlic cloves, and 4 tablespoons of recent ginger.
Lemon – Simply the zest. I prefer to squeeze among the leftover lemon over the shrimp when serving, although.
Sriracha – Or your favourite chili sauce. Be happy so as to add roughly to style, or go away it out for a light sauce.

For the Shrimp

Cornstarch – To coat the shrimp earlier than frying. That is a straightforward approach referred to as “velveting” utilized in Asian eating places for tender, juicy shrimp.
Shrimp – I like jumbo shrimp since they’re simpler to deal with and keep tremendous juicy. Keep in mind to peel and devein the shrimp first, and take the tails off in case you’d like (I generally ask my native fishmonger to do that!). Frozen shrimp may also work on this recipe, simply remember to thaw and drain them properly.
Eggs – Frivolously crushed.
Oil – Vegetable oil (like canola oil) with a excessive smoke level, for frying.

Tips on how to Make Firecracker Shrimp

Comply with these quick steps to make this simple selfmade firecracker shrimp. The printable directions are within the recipe card!

Overhead view of firecracker shrimp sauce in a bowl with a whisk. — 1. Make the sauce.

Shrimp coated in cornstarch and seasonings in a glass bowl. — 1. Make the sauce.

Make the sauce. To start out, whisk collectively the substances for the sauce and set that apart.
Dredge the shrimp. In the meantime, give the shrimp an excellent toss with cornstarch, salt, and pepper to coat.
Fry. Warmth some cooking oil in a heavy skillet. One by one, you’ll dip the shrimp into an egg wash after which add them to the skillet. They’ll fry shortly, about 30 seconds per facet.
Put all of it collectively. Lastly, the shrimp goes again into the skillet together with the ready sauce. Toss till the shrimp is coated and shiny, then serve over rice!

Overhead view of firecracker shrimp in a skillet garnished with cilantro and lime leaves, surrounded by small bowls of ingredients.

Ideas and Variations

Dimension issues. I take advantage of jumbo shrimp, however shrimp is available in many sizes, from king prawns to small cocktail shrimp. Smaller shrimp will cook dinner sooner so regulate them whereas they fry.
Fry in batches. I often fry not more than 6 shrimp at a time. Overcrowding the skillet reduces the oil temperature, and the shrimp gained’t fry as evenly.
Drain the fried shrimp. A slotted spoon works nice to fish the fried shrimp out of the new oil. Afterward, place the cooked shrimp onto paper towels to empty the surplus oil.
Totally different protein. Technically, you should use this firecracker sauce and frying technique with any protein you’d like. Firecracker rooster? Yum! Firecracker meatballs? I do know what I’m making subsequent!

Close-up of a spoon scooping firecracker shrimp from a skillet.

Serving Options

I’ll serve this saucy firecracker shrimp over white rice, fried rice, or teriyaki noodles for a straightforward Asian-inspired dinner. It’s nice with a crunchy sesame cucumber salad on the facet, or my family-favorite crab rangoon and crispy spring rolls cooked within the air fryer.

Firecracker shrimp served over rice in a bowl.

Storing and Reheating Leftovers

Refrigerate. Retailer the shrimp in an hermetic bag or container and hold it within the fridge for as much as 3 days.
Reheat. I prefer to reheat firecracker shrimp in a skillet, or the oven. The microwave tends to make the batter soggy and the shrimp inside rubbery.
Freeze. You too can freeze your leftover firecracker shrimp for as much as 3 months. Defrost the shrimp within the fridge earlier than reheating.

Extra Shrimp Recipes

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Prep the sauce. In a small mixing bowl, whisk collectively the candy chili sauce, lime juice, soy sauce, onion powder, garlic powder, floor ginger, lemon zest, and sriracha. Put aside.
Put together your dredging station. Add the cornstarch, salt, and pepper to a big mixing bowl and whisk it collectively. Then, add the eggs to a smaller mixing bowl.
Dredge. Toss the shrimp within the bowl with the cornstarch till every shrimp is totally coated.
Fry. In a big heavy-bottomed pan, warmth the oil over medium-high warmth till shimmering. Dip every shrimp within the crushed egg and shake frivolously to do away with any extra. Place the shrimp within the frying pan, 6 at a time. Fry for 1 ½ minutes, flipping midway via. Use a slotted spoon to switch the shrimp to a plate lined with paper towels. Repeat with the remaining shrimp, including recent oil as wanted. Don’t flip off the burners.
Put all of it collectively. Add the sauce to the skillet and cook dinner for 1 minute earlier than including the shrimp. Toss the shrimp within the sauce till totally coated after which take away the skillet from the warmth.
Serve. Serve over white rice.

Dietary information is an estimate and offered as courtesy. Values could range based on the substances and instruments used. Please use your most well-liked dietary calculator for extra detailed information.