Description
Bang Bang Shrimp is a crispy, flavorful appetizer featuring battered and fried shrimp tossed in a creamy, spicy-sweet sauce. This quick and easy recipe delivers a perfect balance of heat and sweetness with a crunchy coating, making it an irresistible finger food or starter for any occasion.
Ingredients
Shrimp and Batter
- 1 pound shrimp (large or jumbo, cleaned and deveined)
- ¾ cup buttermilk
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup cornstarch
- 1 egg
- ½ tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ tablespoon hot sauce
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Coating
- 1 cup Panko breadcrumbs
- Oil (for frying)
Sauce
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons sweet chili sauce (Frank’s recommended)
- ½ tablespoon hot sauce (Frank’s hot sauce recommended)
- 1 tablespoon honey
- Salt and pepper (to taste)
Instructions
- Prepare the sauce: In a small bowl, mix together mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, hot sauce, honey, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Refrigerate the sauce until ready to serve to allow flavors to meld.
- Make the batter: In a medium mixing bowl, combine flour, cornstarch, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Add hot sauce, egg, and buttermilk, then whisk vigorously until the batter is smooth and well blended.
- Coat the shrimp in batter: Add the cleaned shrimp to the batter and toss thoroughly, ensuring each shrimp is evenly coated. Set aside to let the batter adhere.
- Prepare breadcrumb coating: Pour Panko breadcrumbs into a separate shallow bowl. One at a time, dredge each battered shrimp in the breadcrumbs until fully coated, adding more breadcrumbs as needed.
- Heat the oil: In a deep skillet or frying pan, heat the oil over medium-high heat. The oil should be hot enough to fry but not smoking.
- Fry the shrimp: Carefully place shrimp in batches into the hot oil, avoiding overcrowding. Fry each side for about 2 minutes or until golden brown and crispy. Use tongs to flip shrimp gently for even cooking.
- Drain excess oil: Transfer the cooked shrimp to a plate lined with paper towels. Pat gently to remove any excess oil.
- Serve: Drizzle the prepared Bang Bang sauce over the fried shrimp or serve it on the side for dipping. Enjoy immediately for best texture and flavor.
Notes
- For best results, use large or jumbo shrimp that are peeled and deveined.
- Maintain the oil temperature to avoid soggy shrimp; oil should remain around 350°F (175°C).
- You can adjust the heat level by increasing or decreasing the amount of hot sauce in the batter and sauce.
- Serve immediately after frying for optimal crunchiness.
- This dish pairs well with a simple green salad or steamed vegetables.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
