Salt and Pepper Shrimp (Easy Chinese Recipe) - Rasa Malaysia (2024)

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Salt and Pepper Shrimp - Chinese restaurant-style crispy shrimp recipe for you to make at home. SO easy, yummy & budget friendly!

Salt and Pepper Shrimp (Easy Chinese Recipe) - Rasa Malaysia (1)

Salt and Pepper Shrimp (Easy Chinese Recipe) - Rasa Malaysia (2)

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Chinese Salt and Pepper Shrimp

Salt and pepper, two of the most basic ingredients in a kitchen. They do wonders for Chinese deep-fried dishes, such as this Salt and Pepper Shrimp.

This Salt and Pepper Shrimp is one of the most requested recipes from my readers. Finally, you can have the recipe to make it at home.

Ingredients for Salt and Pepper Shrimp

For the shrimp, I recommend buying it with the shell and head on because the recipe will not be the same if it’s made with peeled shrimp.

I usually get my shrimp from the seafood section of Asian supermarkets.

They are frozen and come in a rectangle paper box, but you can always buy the quantity you want from the seafood section.

Somehow, the shrimp sold in regular supermarkets usually has an ammonia taste and they are not ideal for this recipe.

Salt and Pepper Shrimp (Easy Chinese Recipe) - Rasa Malaysia (3)

How to Make Salt and Pepper Shrimp

My recipe calls for a two-step process that promises restaurant-style Salt and Pepper Shrimp.

First, deep fry the shrimp with a light and crispy frying batter, and then lightly toss the fried shrimp in a wok with chopped green onion, red chili, salt, and pepper.

The end result is a serving that tastes like it’s straight from a Chinese restaurant kitchen!

This recipe is actually adapted from the salt and pepper squid recipe in my cookbook Easy Chinese Recipes.

The cooking process is the same, which means that you can use the same recipe to make squid.

How Many Calories per Serving?

This recipe is only 210 calories per serving.

What Dishes to Serve with This Recipe?

For a wholesome meal and easy weeknight dinner, I recommend the following recipes.

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Salt and Pepper Shrimp

Salt & Pepper Shrimp - Chinese restaurant-style salt & pepper shrimp recipe. SO easy, yummy & budget friendly!!

4.57 from 32 votes

Print

By Bee Yinn Low

Yield 4 people

Prep 15 minutes mins

Cook 10 minutes mins

Total 25 minutes mins

Ingredients

  • 10 oz. head-on, shell-on shrimp
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon white pepper
  • Oil for deep-frying

Frying Batter:

  • ½ cup all-purpose flour
  • ¼ cup corn starch
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder or baking soda
  • 1 egg white
  • ½ cup water
  • 1 tablespoon cooking oil
  • 1 pinch salt

Stir-fry:

  • ½ tablespoon oil
  • 1 tablespoon chopped green onion (scallion)
  • Some sliced red chili or green jalapeno
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon white pepper

Instructions

  • Rinse the shrimp with cold running water. Pat dry with paper towels and then marinate with the salt and white pepper, about 15 minutes.

  • Mix all the ingredients in the Frying Batter until well combined. Add the shrimp into the Frying Batter, stir to coat evenly with the batter.

  • To deep fry the shrimp, heat 2 to 3 inches (5 to 7.5 cm) of the oil in a wok or stockpot to 350° F (175°C). Gently drop the shrimp into the oil and loosen them up immediately with the spatula to prevent them from clumping together.

  • Deep-fry the shrimp to a light golden brown or until the batter becomes crispy. Dish out with a strainer or slotted spoon, draining the excess oil by laying the shrimp on a wire rack or a dish lined with paper towels.

  • To stir-fry, heat the oil in a skillet over high heat. Add the chopped green onion and chili/jalapeño and stir quickly for a few times. Add the fried shrimp into the skillet and then add the salt and white pepper. Stir to combine all the ingredients well, dish out and serve immediately.

Course: Chinese Recipes

Cuisine: Shrimp

Keywords: Salt and Pepper Shrimp

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Salt and Pepper Shrimp

Amount Per Serving (4 people)

Calories 210Calories from Fat 54

% Daily Value*

Fat 6g9%

Saturated Fat 1g6%

Cholesterol 178mg59%

Sodium 1012mg44%

Carbohydrates 19g6%

Protein 16g32%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Notice: Nutrition is auto-calculated, using Spoonacular, for your convenience. Where relevant, we recommend using your own nutrition calculations.

Salt and Pepper Shrimp (Easy Chinese Recipe) - Rasa Malaysia (2024)

FAQs

Do you eat the skin on salt and pepper shrimp? ›

The rice flour creates a really light and crunchy coating. Cornstarch is also a great alternative too. Once the shrimp take a quick dip in hot oil, you toss the warm shrimp with s+p, and then top with sliced jalapeños and fried garlic. If the shells are thin enough I typically eat the shrimp shells on.

How many carbs are in Chinese salt and pepper shrimp? ›

Peking Chinese Restaurant Salt & Pepper Shrimp (1 serving) contains 11g total carbs, 9g net carbs, 3.5g fat, 20g protein, and 160 calories.

How do you eat salt and pepper prawns? ›

If the shrimp are cooked right, you can eat almost the entire thing: pull off the head, suck out the juices and nibble away the crispest bits (sometimes the whole head is edible), then eat the body, shells and all.

Where did salt and pepper prawns come from? ›

For your information, fresh shrimp cooked with salt and pepper is a longtime dish celebrated throughout Southeast Asia, and its origin is said to come from Guangzhou, China. It's said that the dish uses Sichuan peppercorns, and the Cantonese style uses white pepper powder.

Are you supposed to eat the shells on salt and pepper shrimp? ›

Yes, you can eat the shrimp shells! The shrimp shells are flash fried and covered in garlic, fresh peppers, and spicy salt that make them SO delicious. However, if you prefer to remove the shells, that is OK – just do so before cooking them!

Do you eat the head of salt and pepper shrimp? ›

Yes, you can eat the shell of the shrimp! Since they're coated in cornstarch and then deep-fried and coated in cornstarch, they'll be light and crispy enough to consume. But if you prefer not to eat the head or tail, you can easily pull them off before eating.

Is Chinese shrimp and broccoli high in sodium? ›

However, depending on the recipe, some versions of Chinese shrimp and broccoli can be high in sodium. Heavy sauces and accompaniments can mask the flavors and add fat and calories.

Is shrimp lo mein high in carbs? ›

Shrimp lo mein (1 cup) contains 38.7g total carbs, 36.5g net carbs, 7g fat, 7.2g protein, and 249 calories.

What is salt and pepper style Chinese food? ›

"Chinese salt and pepper" typically refers to a popular seasoning mixture used in Chinese cuisine to add flavor and a bit of heat to various dishes. The term is often associated with a style of preparing and seasoning fried foods, such as salt and pepper shrimp or salt and pepper chicken.

How long to salt shrimp before cooking? ›

Mix ¼ cup kosher salt with ¼ cup granulated sugar, 1 cup boiling water and 2 cups of ice. Add shrimp into a bowl of brine and let sit for 20-30 minutes for peeled shrimp and 40-60 minutes for your unpeeled shrimp. Rinse well with cold water and pat dry afterward. That's all there is to it!

Why do you put baking soda in prawns? ›

Alkaline baking soda slightly alters the pH of the shrimp, making them as plump and succulent as lobster and resistant to overcooking. The brine also causes the meat to pull away from the shells while cooking, so you get all the great flavor of shell-on shrimp without the hassle.

Is salt and pepper authentic Chinese? ›

Although most people know of salt & pepper seasoning from Chinese takeaways, it is in no way an authentic Chinese recipe. Fish and chip shops in Liverpool owned by Chinese immigrants invented the seasoning to be sprinkled over chips in the 1960s.

Which country invented salt and pepper? ›

It's Louis XIV of France who was said to have brought the two together (only the rich could afford pepper), preferring as he did his food to be lightly seasoned with just salt and pepper, forming the basis for modern cooking. But wait, there's a twist.

How do you mix salt and pepper? ›

Mix 1 part pepper with 12 parts kosher salt or 8 parts fine or flake sea salt.

Are you supposed to eat the skin on shrimp? ›

Shrimp shells are surprisingly nutrient-dense. They're a great source of calcium, which is essential for strong bones and teeth. They also contain other essential minerals like magnesium, potassium and phosphorus. Additionally, they're a good source of protein, with approximately 10-15% of their weight being meat.

Can you eat shrimp with the peel on? ›

Can You Eat Shrimp Shells? Many methods for cooking shell-on shrimp leave the shells tough and chewy (think shrimp boil). But some recipes feature a fried shell that's entirely edible and as crispy and appealing to eat as the skin on fried chicken.

Do you take the skin off shrimp? ›

It's true that shrimp cooked in their shells have more flavor than peeled shrimp, but unless you're having a casual get-together and are prepared for your guests to peel their own, you'll probably have to peel and devein the shrimp yourself.

Do you cook shrimp with the skin on or off? ›

5. What to Do With Shrimp Shells. Cook in the shell whenever possible, especially when you grill. The shells add a lot of flavor to the meat, and they protect it from quickly overcooking.

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