If you’re asking yourself, “What is firecracker shrimp?” you are in for a real treat. This is a must-try spicy shrimp dish that is fabulously flavorful and super straightforward to make. One bite and your next question will be, “Firecracker shrimp, where have you been all my life?” 😜 Truly, there is so much to love about firecracker shrimp. The combination of crunchy, tender, and sticky textures and the vibrant flavors make just about everyone a fan. Plus, these little beauties work great as a side dish, appetizer, or main course! And even though it’s homemade, I promise you it is effortless. You’ll have it whipped up in less than 5 minutes. Plus, a perk of making your firecracker sauce from scratch is that you can make it more or less spicy, depending on your preferences. 🧨
Recipe Ingredients
How to Make Firecracker Shrimp
Marinate the Shrimp
Make the Marinade – Add the marinade ingredients to a large bowl: soy sauce, rice vinegar, grated ginger, garlic powder, and black pepper. Mix well. (Photo 1) Marinate – Stir the shrimp into the marinade, completely coating them. Let them marinate for 15-20 minutes. (Photo 2)
Fry the Shrimp
Coat the Shrimp – Place the cornstarch on a plate. Shake each shrimp lightly to drain excess marinade, then coat it in cornstarch. Press the cornstarch down lightly on the shrimp to get a good coating. Set the cornstarch-coated shrimp aside. (Photos 3-4) Fry – Add about 3 inches of oil to a deep skillet or fryer and heat it to 350°F (175°C) on medium-high heat. Carefully place the coated shrimp in the hot oil, a few at a time, and fry for about 2-3 minutes until they turn golden brown and crispy. Don’t overcrowd the pan because it will lower your oil’s temperature too quickly. (Photo 5) Drain – Once the shrimp are cooked, put them on a paper-towel-lined plate to drain excess oil. (Photo 6)
Sauce the Shrimp
Combine honey, sriracha sauce, soy sauce, rice vinegar, minced garlic, grated ginger, and red pepper flakes in a separate saucepan. (Photo 7) Simmer – Cook over low for 2-3 minutes, stirring continuously until well combined and slightly thick. Coat Shrimp – Take the saucepan off the heat and add the fried shrimp to the sauce. Toss the shrimp gently until they are all evenly coated with the sauce. (Photo 8) Serve – Transfer the firecracker shrimp to a serving dish and garnish with green onions and sesame seeds. Serve immediately with rice, noodles, or your favorite veggies.
Recipe Variations
Tips and Tricks
Make Ahead Instructions
Like most fried foods, this dish is best eaten fresh, not stored and reheated. Still, you can make the marinade and the firecracker sauce the day before, saving you some time when you’re ready to cook.
Serving and Storage Instructions
Serve firecracker shrimp hot out of the pan over a bed of steaming rice, noodles, or veggies. If you have leftovers, be sure to store them in an airtight container in the fridge. They’ll keep for 3-5 days. Or you can freeze them for 3 months. The microwave is your quickest option to reheat leftovers. But if you want to get some of the crisp back, try reheating them in the oven at 350℉/177℃ or pop them in your air fryer for a few minutes.
What Goes With Firecracker Shrimp
Firecracker shrimp pair well with so many options, but I like to keep things simple by serving them over steaming jasmine rice alongside some spicy roast garlic broccoli. Since I make mine pretty spicy, I also like serving refreshing drinks with this meal. Try offering your guests some sorrel drink or tropical sangria, which make a surprisingly delicious combination. 😋
More Sensational Shrimp Recipes to Try
Conclusion
Quick, easy, and ridiculously delicious, firecracker shrimp might make it onto your regular weeknight meal rotation. Tried it already? Please drop a comment below; I can’t wait to hear from you.
Watch How to Make It
[adthrive-in-post-video-player video-id=”1u5vIlbV” upload-date=”2023-08-02T17:16:03.000Z” name=”FIRECRACKER SHRIMP.mp4″ description=”Firecracker Shrimp fried to a perfect crisp and then tossed in a sticky sauce that perfectly balances sweet and spicy” player-type=”collapse” override-embed=”false”]