Who doesn’t love crispy, delicious, golden brown fried shrimp? It’s the most popular type of seafood in the US for a reason! My simple recipe will have you enjoying this popular seafood staple in the comfort of your own home!
This fried shrimp recipe pairs excellently with my fried catfish recipe. They use the same breading, which makes them an efficient combo. All you need is a batch of hush puppies and French fries and you will be in seafood heaven!
Ingredients:
- 1# shrimp, 16-20 count
- cornmeal
- flour
- Louisiana fish fry mix
- season salt
- pepper
- 3 eggs
Prepping The Fried Shrimp Recipe
The first step in prepping fried shrimp is getting the dredge mixed. This is a simple process, all you need to do is combine a half cup of flour, a half cup of cornmeal, a quarter cup of Louisiana fish fry mix, and a teaspoon each of season salt and pepper. Whisk the dry ingredients together until they are thoroughly blended.
The next step will depend on the type of shrimp you buy. You will need to peel and devein your shrimp if you bought whole shrimp. In a future video, I will show you how to do this quickly and easily. The entire process should take 10 to 15 minutes.
Alternatively, you can buy frozen shrimp that is already peeled and deveined. If are able to get some, simply defrost the shrimp and you are ready to go.
I listed 16/20 count shrimp in the recipe. However, you can go with whatever size you like. If you prefer a “popcorn” shrimp, get a smaller count like 90/130. If you want a massive shrimp, you can go with something like a 9/12. Again, this all comes down to preference and availability.
The final step of prep is to get the egg wash ready. Crack three eggs into a decent-sized bowl. Whisk them until homogenous. Add in about a cup of water and a half teaspoon of season salt. Add some hot sauce to the mixture if you want spicy shrimp.
How To Cook Fried Shrimp
Set up your ingredients for frying by lining up the shrimp, egg wash, and dredge. Keep the egg wash and breading close together. You are going to be double dipping the shrimp, and this will help keep the mess to a minimum.
Dunk the shrimp in the egg wash and pull it through the dredge. Shake off excess breading. Once the shrimp is breaded, dunk it back into the egg wash and give it another run through the dredge. Shake off the excess again. Set the shrimp aside for cooking. Repeat the process until all of the shrimp is breaded.
Set your deep fryer to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. As soon as the fryer comes to temp, lift the basket out and set it on a hanging hook if it has one. If not, simply hold the basket up. Dump the shrimp into the basket and submerge it back into the oil.
Let the shrimp cook for at least 1 minute uninterrupted. After a minute, give the basket a little shake to move the shrimp around. This will help everything cook evenly.
The fried shrimp will take roughly 3 to 4 minutes to cook. The first sign that they are done is once they begin floating. You can lift the basket out of the oil and check for firmness if you are unsure. The shrimp should be a beautiful golden brown color.
What Goes With Fried Shrimp?
Fried shrimp has a number of sides that go well with it. The same combo that frequents a catfish dinner will also compliment a shrimp plate. You can’t go wrong with French fries, coleslaw, and hush puppies.
Unlike catfish, shrimp is an actual product of the sea. It pairs amazingly well with other seafood fares, such as crab cakes, seafood dressing, and gumbo.
Shrimp is an outstanding entree on its own, but it’s also a great addition to a seafood platter. Pair it with fried fish, oysters, crab claws, or any of your seafood for fabulous results.
Condiments can help spice up shrimp if you find it missing something. Cocktail sauce, tartar sauce, and even plain old ketchup go great with shrimp. Don’t be afraid to experiment with other sauces if you don’t like the common options!
Sometimes a dipping sauce is not enough. You can toss your fried shrimp in a sauce too. Buffalo sauce makes for a spicy treat. If you want something more exotic you can try bang bang shrimp. Combine mayo, sweet chili sauce, hot sauce, and honey for this popular mix!
[…] to mix together our dredge and egg wash. This is the same dredge I used in my fried catfish and fried shrimp recipes. It is a versatile mix that works for numerous fried seafood […]
[…] am going to list frying the shrimp as part of the prep. I have already posted my fried shrimp recipe, so I will refer you there for more details. In summary, whisk the two eggs into an egg wash, mix […]
[…] for some good shrimp recipes? Check out my fried shrimp recipe! You can take that fried shrimp to the next level by making a delicious shrimp po’boy. For […]