Crispy fried firecracker shrimp coated in a sweet, spicy sauce is absolutely delicious and easy to make, coming together in 20 minutes.
What is Firecracker Shrimp?
Firecracker shrimp was first created by Panda Express and has become an American-Chinese take out classic. Crispy fried shrimp is tossed with a sweet, spicy sauce and is a delicious dish. It’s incredibly easy to make and takes only minutes to come together.
Ingredients
- Shrimp/Prawns. Use peeled, deveined jumbo shrimp.
- Cornstarch / Potato starch.
- Salt and black pepper.
- Sweet chilli sauce. This is easily bought at most grocery stores.
- Soy sauce. Use tamari or coconut aminos to keep this recipe gluten free.
- Lemon juice. Rice vinegar can be substituted.
- Sriracha sauce.
- Fresh garlic cloves.
How to make Firecracker Shrimp
Start by making the firecracker sauce. In a large skillet or pan set over medium heat, combine the sweet chili sauce, soy sauce, lemon juice, sriracha and crushed garlic then cook until hot and bubbling. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary. Remove from the heat and set aside.
Place the corn starch in a large bowl then season with a pinch of salt and half teaspoon of pepper. Coat the shrimp in the corn starch, making sure each shrimp is thoroughly coated. Heat enough neutral oil in a deep pan to deep fry the shrimp over medium-high heat. You can use a deep fryer too. Once hot (test this by pressing a a wooden chopstick or skewer to the bottom of the pan. If a lot of small bubbles appear, the oil is hot enough), add the shrimp in batches and fry until golden brown and crisp – approximately 1-2 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and allow to drain on paper towels.
Toss the crispy fried shrimp in the sauce then serve topped with green onions/spring onions as garnish.
Serving suggestions
The spicy shrimp is an excellent appetizer or snack to serve on its own but can easily be made into a meal by serving with rice/noodles and veggies like broccoli. I love serving it with my easy 5-minute miso noodles for the quickest, most delicious meal. This firecracker shrimp recipe also makes great shrimp tacos with shredded cabbage.
Easy shrimp recipes
Firecracker shrimp
Ingredients
- 500 g (1lb) peeled shrimp
- 2 cups cornstarch / potato starch
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
For the firecracker sauce
- ¼ cup sweet chili sauce
- 2-3 tbsp soy sauce tamari/coconut aminos is a good gluten free substitution
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 1-2 tsp sriracha sauce
- 2 garlic cloves crushed
Instructions
- Start by making the firecracker sauce.
- In a large skillet or pan set over medium heat, combine the sweet chili sauce, soy sauce, lemon juice, sriracha and crushed garlic then cook until hot and bubbling.
- Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary. Remove from the heat and set aside.
- Place the corn starch in a large bowl then season with a pinch of salt and half teaspoon of pepper.
- Coat the shrimp in the corn starch, making sure each shrimp is thoroughly coated.
- Heat enough neutral oil in a deep pan to deep fry the shrimp over medium-high heat. You can use a deep fryer too.
- Test if the oil is hot enough by pressing a a wooden chopstick or skewer to the bottom of the pan. If a lot of small bubbles appear, the oil is hot enough.
- Add the shrimp in batches and fry until golden brown and crisp - approximately 1-2 minutes.
- Remove with a slotted spoon and allow to drain on paper towels.
- Toss the crispy fried shrimp in the sauce then serve topped with green onions/spring onions as garnish.
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