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four Argentinian Red Shrimp dusted each with a different type of flour or cornmeal on an Epicurean Cutting board and a line of masking tape below the lined up shrimp indicating what has been used on each shrimp in the lineup

How to Make Featherlight Fried Shrimp 4 Ways (using four types of flour)


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  • Author: Kelly
  • Total Time: 7 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x
  • Diet: Gluten Free

Description

This is the quickest 2-Minute fried shrimp recipe that actually tastes (really) great and makes the whole family happy. If you love fried shrimp, you won’t find an easier recipe to get dinner on the table for your hungry bunch. Light, crispy, and tender sweet Argentinian red shrimp are the star of this dish, but feel free to swap them out for your favorite local variety. Frozen shrimp works really well too.


Ingredients

Scale
  • Argentinian Red Shrimp (or other sweet shrimp)
  • 1/2 cup flour or cornmeal of your choice (60g)
  • up to 1/2 teaspoon of kosher salt or Lawry’s Seasoning Salt (1.5 to 2g)
  • additional powdered spices, seasonings, and cayenne pepper to taste (optional)


Instructions

  1. Clean and devein the shrimp.  Remove any shells from the shrimp, leaving the tail intact, and remove the black vein. Pat the shrimp dry. You may butterfly the shrimp if you like, but it’s not necessary for this recipe. 
  2. Preheat the oil to 375°F/190°C.  In a deep fryer or heavy gauge pot, add enough oil for the amount of shrimp you’ll be frying, Generally, you’ll need at least about 1 to 2 inches of oil for deep frying, and less if you use a cast-iron skillet to shallow fry. *Alternatively, these shrimp can be made in the air fryer if you choose, just follow the instructions for guidelines. 
  3. Prepare the shrimp coating. Add the flour or cornmeal of choice to a medium-sized bowl and add salt to taste. Add any spices or seasonings to taste (if using). Set the
  4. Cook the Shrimp. Working in batches carefully add the coated shrimp to the hot oil being sure not to over-crowd the fryer or pot with too many shrimp at once. Fry for 1 to 2 minutes, or until super crispy and golden. Strain shrimp on a paper towel-lined plate, or directly on a metal cooling rack. Serve immediately and Enjoy!

Notes

  • Air Fryer Fried Shrimp Method.  Place the coated shrimp into the air fryer in a single layer leaving plenty of space in between each one. Do not to over-crowd the shrimp. Doing so will steam them instead of crisping them up. Spray the shrimp with olive oil spray, or another cooking spray, flip them over by the tails, and spray on the other side. Cook the shrimp for about 5-7 minutes, or until golden brown and crispy. Repeat with any remaining shrimp.
  • If you want to add extra flavor or spice to the shrimp, add your seasoning of choice directly to the flour or cornmeal and stir to combine with the salt. Add powdered garlic, smoked paprika, onion powder, white pepper, Cajun or Creole seasoning, or even a little cayenne pepper. The possibilities are endless and the flavors are up to you.
  • Don’t add too many shrimp to the hot oil all at once, this results in the oil temperature dropping too much, too fast, and results in soggy, greasy shrimp. Shrimp fries so quickly that even having to cook them in batches takes no time at all.
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 2 Minutes
  • Category: Fish + Seafood
  • Method: Deep Fried or Air Fryer
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 6 shrimp
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