Crispy Fried Shrimp Basket
Golden, crunchy shrimp fried until the coating is as crispy as potato chips. Serve hot with lemon and your favorite dipping sauce for an instant crowd-pleaser.
- Total time
- 20 min
- Servings
- 2
- Calories
- 420
- Protein
- 28g
Ingredients
- 1 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 quarts neutral oil for frying
Instructions
- 1
Pat the shrimp dry with paper towels by pressing each shrimp gently between two sheets. This removes surface water so the coating crisps up instead of steaming.
- 2
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, salt, and black pepper until evenly combined and no lumps remain, about 30 seconds.
- 3
Pour the flour mixture into a shallow bowl or plate so the coating is easy to access while frying.
- 4
Heat the oil in a heavy-bottomed pot or deep skillet over medium-high heat until it reaches 375°F on a deep-fry thermometer, about 8–10 minutes. If you do not have a thermometer, the oil is ready when a tiny piece of shrimp sizzles vigorously and rises immediately.
- 5
Working one at a time, roll each shrimp in the flour mixture until fully coated on all sides, then gently place it into the hot oil. Do not crowd the pot; fry 6–8 shrimp at a time.
- 6
Fry the shrimp for 1.5 to 2 minutes, stirring once halfway through, until the coating turns deep golden like caramel and the shrimp float to the surface.
- 7
Remove the shrimp with a slotted spoon and place them on a paper-towel-lined plate to drain excess oil. Repeat steps 5–6 with the remaining shrimp, working in batches.
- 8
Transfer the warm shrimp to a serving basket or plate and serve immediately while the coating is still crispy, with lemon wedges and your favorite dipping sauce on the side.
Tools you’ll need
- paper towels
- medium mixing bowl
- whisk
- shallow bowl or plate
- heavy-bottomed pot or deep skillet (3–4 quarts minimum)
- deep-fry thermometer (optional but recommended)
- slotted spoon
- paper-towel-lined plate
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