Description
Learn how to make delicious salt and pepper shrimp at home with this easy recipe. Crispy, flavorful, and perfect for any seafood lover!
Ingredients
- – 2 parts whole peppercorns (10g)
- – 1 part sea salt (5g)
- – 1 pound large shrimp (450g; shells on and deveined, with or without heads)
- – 3 tablespoons potato starch or cornstarch (24g)
- – 1/3 cup vegetable oil (for shallow frying) (80ml)
- – salt and pepper mixture (to taste)
- – 6 cloves garlic (finely chopped)
- – 1 long hot green or red pepper (thinly sliced)
Instructions
- In a small saucepan over low-medium heat, gently toast the whole peppercorns for a quarter of an hour until their aroma is strong. Be cautious to avoid burning, adjusting the heat if needed. Allow them to cool completely, then grind them into a fine powder using either a spice grinder or a mortar and pestle.
- In the same saucepan over medium heat, lightly toast the salt until it acquires a slight yellow hue. Let it cool down, then mix it with the powdered pepper. You’ve now created your own traditional salt and pepper seasoning, ready for any dish you choose. The rest of the preparation is straightforward.
- Rinse the shrimp thoroughly and pat them dry using a paper towel. Coat them evenly in potato starch or cornstarch, depending on your preference.
- In a small cast iron pan, heat the oil to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Carefully place the shrimp in the oil, ensuring approximately an inch of space between each, and fry them in batches, cooking each side for half a minute. Transfer them to a plate lined with paper towels, and season with your salt and pepper blend to taste.
- In a wok, warm two tablespoons of oil over medium heat. Cook the garlic until it becomes golden brown, being careful not to burn it, then set it aside on a paper towel-lined plate to drain.
- Remove any excess oil from the wok, leaving just about a tablespoon behind (since this is a “dry” dish, avoid using too much oil at this stage). Add the sliced peppers to the wok. Switch off the heat, return the garlic to the wok, and stir everything together for a minute. Add the shrimp, gently tossing everything for 10 seconds while sprinkling a bit more of your salt and pepper seasoning. Serve immediately!
Notes
- Devein the shrimp before coating in starch for a cleaner eating experience.
- Adjust salt and pepper seasoning to taste.
- Fry shrimp in batches to ensure even cooking; customize with extra veggies or spices for added flavor.
