Make restaurant-style crispy fried shrimp at home quickly. This easy recipe uses a buttermilk marinade and panko coating for a golden, crunchy texture every time.
Author:leogrant
Prep Time:15 min
Cook Time:10 min
Total Time:55 min
Yield:4 servings 1x
Category:Dinner
Method:Stovetop Frying
Cuisine:American
Diet:Low Lactose
Ingredients
Scale
1 lb large or jumbo shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
1/4 cup cornstarch
1 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
Vegetable oil, for frying
Instructions
Place the peeled and deveined shrimp in a bowl. Pour the buttermilk over the shrimp, add salt and pepper, and toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or up to 2 hours. This step tenderizes the shrimp.
In a shallow dish, whisk together the flour, panko breadcrumbs, cornstarch, paprika, and garlic powder. This is your dry coating mixture.
Heat about 2 inches of vegetable oil in a deep, heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven to 350°F (175°C). Use a thermometer to monitor the temperature.
Working in batches, remove the shrimp from the buttermilk, letting excess drip off. Dredge each shrimp thoroughly in the dry coating mixture, pressing gently to make sure the coating adheres well.
Carefully place the coated shrimp into the hot oil, ensuring you do not overcrowd the pot. Fry for 2 to 3 minutes per side, until golden brown and cooked through.
Remove the fried shrimp with a slotted spoon and place them on a wire rack set over a baking sheet to drain excess oil. Sprinkle lightly with salt immediately after removing from the oil.
Serve the crispy fried shrimp hot with your preferred dipping sauce.
Notes
For extra crispiness, place the coated shrimp on a tray and chill them in the freezer for 15 minutes before frying.
Maintain the oil temperature between 340°F and 350°F for the best results. If the oil is too cool, the shrimp will absorb too much oil and become soggy.
This recipe works well as an appetizer or a quick seafood dinner.