Description
Crispy firecracker shrimp coated in a bold, sweet, and spicy sauce. This easy homemade recipe delivers restaurant-quality flavor in just 25 minutes—perfect as an appetizer or main dish!
Ingredients
Scale
For the Shrimp
- 1 lb shrimp, peeled and deveined
- ½ cup cornstarch
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 egg
- ¼ cup water
- Oil for frying
For the Firecracker Sauce
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup sweet chili sauce
- 1 tbsp sriracha sauce (adjust to taste)
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1 tsp rice vinegar
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes
For Garnish
- 2 tbsp green onions, chopped
- 1 tsp sesame seeds
Instructions
-
Prepare the Shrimp
- Pat shrimp dry with paper towels.
- In a bowl, combine cornstarch, flour, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper.
-
Make the Batter
- In another bowl, whisk together the egg and water.
- Dip each shrimp into the egg mixture, then coat evenly in the dry flour mixture.
-
Fry the Shrimp
- Heat oil in a deep pan or fryer to 350°F (175°C).
- Carefully add shrimp in batches and fry for 2–3 minutes until golden brown and crispy.
- Remove and drain on paper towels.
-
Make the Sauce
- In a bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, sriracha, honey, rice vinegar, and red pepper flakes until smooth.
-
Coat the Shrimp
- Toss the fried shrimp in the sauce until evenly coated.
-
Garnish and Serve
- Transfer to a serving dish and top with green onions and sesame seeds.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
- Baked Version: Bake at 400°F (200°C) for 10–12 minutes, flipping halfway.
- Air Fryer Method: Air fry at 375°F (190°C) for 8–10 minutes.
- Mild Version: Reduce sriracha and red pepper flakes for less heat.
- Gluten-Free Option: Use rice flour or a gluten-free flour blend.
- Extra Crunchy: Double-coat the shrimp by repeating the egg and flour coating process.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Main Course
- Method: frying
- Cuisine: Asian-Inspired
Keywords: Firecracker shrimp, spicy shrimp, crispy shrimp recipe, Asian shrimp appetizer, easy shrimp dish