This Bang Bang shrimp recipe features crispy fried shrimp tossed in a sweet and spicy sauce. It’s an absolute flavor-banger!
What Is Bang Bang Shrimp?
Bang Bang shrimp is an appetizer consisting of fried shrimp and a creamy, sweet, and spicy sauce. It was originally created by the chain restaurant Bonefish Grill, but it’s also a fan-favorite at The Cheesecake Factory.
Why is it called “Bang Bang shrimp?” The sauce in this dish is similar to the one used for Bang Bang chicken, a Chinese specialty made by “banging” the chicken with a cleaver to tenderize and help it absorb the sauce better. Bang Bang shrimp is slightly different, but it’s still a mouthwatering medley of bold flavors and contrasting textures that everyone is sure to love.
Bang Bang Shrimp Video
How To Make Bang Bang Shrimp
Minimal ingredients, simple steps, and less than 30 minutes of your time? That’s right — this Bang Bang shrimp recipe comes together in a snap!
- Make the sauce: In a small bowl, mix together the mayo, sweet chili sauce, and red pepper flakes.
- Marinate the shrimp: Place the shrimp and buttermilk in a separate bowl and toss until well coated.
- Heat the oil: In a large pot, heat 2-3 inches of oil until it registers 360-375°F with a deep-frying thermometer.
- Dredge the shrimp: Sprinkle the cornstarch into a shallow bowl or plate and dredge the shrimp in it, shaking off any excess starch.
- Fry the shrimp: Working in batches, carefully lower the shrimp into the hot oil. Fry for 3-4 minutes, flipping halfway. Place the cooked shrimp on a paper towel-lined plate.
- Get saucy: Toss the warm shrimp and sauce together until well coated. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Hot tip: Not planning to finish all the shrimp in one sitting? Skip tossing the fried shrimp in sauce until you’re ready to enjoy them again — that way, the shrimp stay nice and crispy!
Tips for the Best Bang Bang Shrimp
Want to get the most bang for your buck? Listen up to these five tips for restaurant-quality Bang Bang shrimp!
- Consider removing the shrimp tails. Tail-on shrimp work perfectly fine, but if you prefer a one-bite approach, use shrimp without the tails.
- Check the oil temperature. Use a deep-frying thermometer to ensure the oil temperature is 360-375°F. If the oil is too hot or cool, the shrimp run the risk of becoming greasy or burnt.
- Fry the shrimp in batches. Avoid overcrowding the pot, which lowers the oil temperature and increases the likelihood of unevenly cooked shrimp.
- Add a garnish. Who doesn’t love a pop of green? Sprinkle freshly chopped chives, green onions, or parsley over the fried shrimp for an herby taste.
Ways To Serve
Bang Bang shrimp is a tantalizing appetizer sure to please everyone at the table. Serve it hot with a side of basmati rice and Asian cucumber salad, then bring out the main dishes. Dive into a steaming plate of teriyaki chicken skewers and spicy chili noodles, or keep the seafood theme with pan-fried tilapia and salmon stir fry. Last but not least, serve it taco style in corn or flour tortillas with coleslaw on top!
Storage & Reheating
Are you ready to put away your leftovers? Follow these pointers to get the most out of your Bang Bang shrimp for days to come.
- Storage: Refrigerate the fried shrimp and sauce separately in airtight containers (these are my favorite) for up to two days.
- Reheating: To restore the crisp of the shrimp, warm them on an oiled pan set on high heat until they begin to sizzle. Or, reheat them in an air fryer at 350°F for 3-5 minutes. Then, toss the shrimp with the sauce and enjoy!
More Shrimp Recipes
- 15 Minute Air Fryer Shrimp — Garlicky and perfectly cooked
- Creamy Shrimp Scampi — Shrimp and pasta tossed in a garlic-lemon-cream sauce
- Shrimp Quesadillas — Cheesy and packed to the brim
- Sheet Pan Shrimp Fajitas — A speedy weeknight meal that just needs shrimp, veggies and fajita seasoning
- Shrimp Spring Rolls — Cooked shrimp and crunchy veggies rolled in rice paper
- Shrimp Lo Mein — Shrimp, veggies, and noodles stir fried with a sweet soy sauce
Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 lb extra large shrimp tail on, peeled and deveined
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 3/4 cup corn starch
- oil for frying
Sauce
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup sweet chili sauce
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
Instructions
- In a small bowl, whisk together the mayo, sweet chili sauce, and red pepper flakes. Set aside.
- In another bowl, toss the shrimp and buttermilk until well coated. Place the cornstarch in a shallow bowl or plate and set aside.
- Add 2-3 inches of oil to a large pot and place it on the stove over high heat. Heat until the oil registers 360-375°F with a deep-frying thermometer.
- Drain the buttermilk from the shrimp. Then, dredge the shrimp in the cornstarch, shaking off any excess.
- Working in batches, add the shrimp to the hot oil. Fry for 3-4 minutes, flipping halfway. Place the cooked shrimp on a paper towel-lined plate. Repeat until all the shrimp is cooked.
- Add the warm shrimp and Bang Bang sauce into a bowl and mix together until well coated. Serve immediately and enjoy!
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