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Salt and Pepper Shrimp - Chinese restaurant-style crispy shrimp recipe for you to make at home. SO easy, yummy & budget friendly!
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Chinese Salt and Pepper Shrimp
Salt and pepper, two of the most basic ingredients in a kitchen. They do wonders for Chinese deep-fried dishes, such as this Salt and Pepper Shrimp.
This Salt and Pepper Shrimp is one of the most requested recipes from my readers. Finally, you can have the recipe to make it at home.
Ingredients for Salt and Pepper Shrimp
For the shrimp, I recommend buying it with the shell and head on because the recipe will not be the same if it’s made with peeled shrimp.
I usually get my shrimp from the seafood section of Asian supermarkets.
They are frozen and come in a rectangle paper box, but you can always buy the quantity you want from the seafood section.
Somehow, the shrimp sold in regular supermarkets usually has an ammonia taste and they are not ideal for this recipe.
How to Make Salt and Pepper Shrimp
My recipe calls for a two-step process that promises restaurant-style Salt and Pepper Shrimp.
First, deep fry the shrimp with a light and crispy frying batter, and then lightly toss the fried shrimp in a wok with chopped green onion, red chili, salt, and pepper.
The end result is a serving that tastes like it’s straight from a Chinese restaurant kitchen!
This recipe is actually adapted from the salt and pepper squid recipe in my cookbook Easy Chinese Recipes.
The cooking process is the same, which means that you can use the same recipe to make squid.
How Many Calories per Serving?
This recipe is only 210 calories per serving.
What Dishes to Serve with This Recipe?
For a wholesome meal and easy weeknight dinner, I recommend the following recipes.
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Salt and Pepper Shrimp
Salt & Pepper Shrimp - Chinese restaurant-style salt & pepper shrimp recipe. SO easy, yummy & budget friendly!!
4.57 from 32 votes
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By Bee Yinn Low
Yield 4people
Prep 15 minutesmins
Cook 10 minutesmins
Total 25 minutesmins
Ingredients
10oz.head-on, shell-on shrimp
¼teaspoonsalt
¼teaspoonwhite pepper
Oil for deep-frying
Frying Batter:
½cupall-purpose flour
¼cupcorn starch
½teaspoonbaking powder or baking soda
1egg white
½cupwater
1tablespooncooking oil
1pinchsalt
Stir-fry:
½tablespoonoil
1tablespoonchopped green onion(scallion)
Some sliced red chili or green jalapeno
½teaspoonsalt
½teaspoonwhite pepper
Instructions
Rinse the shrimp with cold running water. Pat dry with paper towels and then marinate with the salt and white pepper, about 15 minutes.
Mix all the ingredients in the Frying Batter until well combined. Add the shrimp into the Frying Batter, stir to coat evenly with the batter.
To deep fry the shrimp, heat 2 to 3 inches (5 to 7.5 cm) of the oil in a wok or stockpot to 350° F (175°C). Gently drop the shrimp into the oil and loosen them up immediately with the spatula to prevent them from clumping together.
Deep-fry the shrimp to a light golden brown or until the batter becomes crispy. Dish out with a strainer or slotted spoon, draining the excess oil by laying the shrimp on a wire rack or a dish lined with paper towels.
To stir-fry, heat the oil in a skillet over high heat. Add the chopped green onion and chili/jalapeño and stir quickly for a few times. Add the fried shrimp into the skillet and then add the salt and white pepper. Stir to combine all the ingredients well, dish out and serve immediately.
Course: Chinese Recipes
Cuisine: Shrimp
Keywords: Salt and Pepper Shrimp
Nutrition
Nutrition Facts
Salt and Pepper Shrimp
Amount Per Serving (4 people)
Calories 210Calories from Fat 54
% Daily Value*
Fat 6g9%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Cholesterol 178mg59%
Sodium 1012mg44%
Carbohydrates 19g6%
Protein 16g32%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Notice: Nutrition is auto-calculated, using Spoonacular, for your convenience. Where relevant, we recommend using your own nutrition calculations.
Velveting shrimp is a cooking technique commonly used in Chinese cuisine to achieve a tender, succulent texture. It involves marinating the shrimp in a mixture of cornstarch, and other seasonings like soy sauce, rice wine, or sesame oil.
The Chinese salt and pepper recipe generally involves coating crispy fried seafood, like shrimp or squid, in a combination of cornstarch, salt, black pepper, and regularly other spices like white pepper and Chinese five-spice powder.
Yes, you can eat the shell of the shrimp! Since they're coated in cornstarch and then deep-fried and coated in cornstarch, they'll be light and crispy enough to consume. But if you prefer not to eat the head or tail, you can easily pull them off before eating.
When we make shrimp co*cktail, shrimp skewers, shrimp scampi, or shrimp wontons, we've found that a quick brine of salt and baking soda works wonders. The salt helps keep the shrimp moist and juicy as they cook, while baking soda gives them a crisper, snappier texture.
Should I Soak My Shrimp? This one comes down to the chef's preference. Some prefer to soak seafood in milk before cooking to keep it from tasting too fishy. If you choose to soak your shrimp, you should do so with whole milk for at least 10 minutes.
Mix the salt and pepper in a pile. Then, quickly rub the balloon on your head and hold it close to the pile. Watch as the pepper jumps away from the salt! Rub the balloon for different lengths of time to hold different amounts of static to pick up more pepper.
Mix 1 part pepper with 12 parts kosher salt or 8 parts fine or flake sea salt. Store in a metal spice can or glass jar away from the light. Transfer a small amount to a ramekin or small bowl and keep on the countertop for seasoning, using your fingers to measure.
Mix ¼ cup kosher salt with ¼ cup granulated sugar, 1 cup boiling water and 2 cups of ice. Add shrimp into a bowl of brine and let sit for 20-30 minutes for peeled shrimp and 40-60 minutes for your unpeeled shrimp. Rinse well with cold water and pat dry afterward. That's all there is to it!
You might not know this, but 30 minutes of brining ensures tender, succulent shrimp every time, regardless of the cooking method. I discovered this technique on my own after successfully brining other types of meat - mostly pork, chicken and turkey.
What is the purpose of using cornstarch when frying shrimp? Cornstarch is commonly used when frying shrimp because it helps to create a crispy and golden outer coating. It also helps to seal in the moisture and flavor of the shrimp, resulting in a perfect texture and taste.
When prepared properly, shrimp is safe for dogs and puppies to eat in small portions. Shrimp does contain a high amount of cholesterol and sodium. Make sure that the shrimp is thoroughly cooked, and always remove the shell, veins, and tail. The shells can become a choking hazard or even lead to an intestinal blockage.
Quickly put the HOT pan full of shrimp under the broiler.Broil (6" away from flame) for 2 minutes, then flip the shrimp over, and broil for 1 more minute. Remove the shrimp from your broiler, AND TAKE THEM OFF OF THE HOT PAN IMMEDIATELY(or they will continue to cook and get rubbery). That's it!!
In Chinese cooking, proteins like beef, pork or chicken are velveted first before stir-frying them. There are several ways to velvet, but at its most basic level, it involves marinating meat with at least one ingredient that will make it alkaline. This is what tenderizes the meat, especially cheaper, tougher cuts.
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