Fried Shrimp Recipe with spicy tempura

I love a tasty fried shrimp recipe, and “tempura” is just a fancy pants word for “fried”. This dish is a knock-off of a dish I love to order at a Chinese restaurant when I’m down in Tampa, but since I don’t live in Tampa, I had to figure out how to make this fried shrimp recipe for myself—and I’ve done it!

The key is cilantro, and lots of it—also lots of garlic and a little hot pepper, too! Be sure to use a non-stick pan to cook up the spicy pepper mix, otherwise you’ll be setting yourself up for a headache and burned garlic!

What you need for Spicy Fried Shrimp

1 lb SHRIMP (peeled and deveined, tail on)
1 bunch CILANTRO (1 to 2 cups chopped)
10-12 cloves GARLIC (chopped)
1 or 2 hot PEPPERS (chopped)
1/2 cup GREEN ONION (chopped)
1 tsp RED PEPPER FLAKES (or two tsp!—optional)
1 cup ALL PURPOSE FLOUR
1 EGG
1 cup ice-cold WATER
frying OIL
SALT (to taste)

How to make Spicy Fried Shrimp

• Chop up 1 bunch of cilantro, stems AND leaves.
• Chop 2 green onions and dice peppers, I like to use 2 green chili peppers, but use whatever peppers you like depending on how much heat you want in the dish.
• Chop 10-12 cloves of garlic.
• Heat a non-stick skillet with 2 Tbsp of oil—definitely use a non-stick skillet! If you don’t have a decent skillet, here’s a link to check out some current skillet prices on Amazon.
• Add peppers to skillet and allow to cook 1 minute, then add garlic and red pepper flakes (adjust pepper flakes to taste).
• Cook for 1 minute and then add green onions. Be sure to keep ingredients stirring, reduce heat as necessary to prevent garlic from burning.
• As garlic browns, add the cilantro and continue to stir ingredients, cooking out the moisture. It’s okay if the garlic browns well, as long as it’s not burned; the dryer the ingredients get the better. Cook the ingredients down and then remove the skillet from the heat and set aside.
• Heat up the oil for the shrimp.
• While the oil heats, prepare the tempura batter. It’s best not to prepare the batter ahead of time. In a bowl, beat 1 egg, add 1 cup of ice-cold water, then add 1 cup of all purpose flour.
• Mix together into a thin batter, but don’t over mix—it’s okay if there are some lumps.
• Test the batter in the frying oil; the batter will sizzle and float if it is ready.
• Use peeled and deveined shrimp with the tail still attached—the tail makes a perfect handle.
• Dip shrimp in batter and then shake off the excess.
• Lay shrimp in the hot oil and cook 3-4 minutes, turning once. DO NOT cook too many shrimp at the same time because they will stick together and not crisp and brown evenly.
• When the shrimp are golden, remove from oil and drain on a paper towel (the 1st batch I put into the pepper mix to drain).
• When all the shrimp are fried, add them to the pepper mix and return the skillet to the burner on low heat.
• Salt to taste and toss the shrimp GENTLY and thoroughly with the spice mix.
• Remove from heat and serve immediately.

I like to serve this dish with sticky rice and a sautéed green, something like cabbage or bok choy. Give fried shrimp recipe a try a let me know what you think, and bon appétit!

If you want another tasty shrimp idea, one of my favorite is this fancy Shrimp Pancake Recipe.

Check current prices for a new non-stick skillet on Amazon.

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