Description
Crispy, salty, spicy, and irresistibly addictive—this Salt and Pepper Crispy Shrimp recipe is the kind of dish that turns a casual dinner into a restaurant-worthy experience. Golden-brown shrimp are flash-fried to crunchy perfection and tossed in a sizzling stir-fry of garlic, jalapeños, scallions, and cracked black pepper. Whether you’re craving a quick dinner idea, a light appetizer, or an easy recipe to serve with rice, this dish checks all the boxes for flavor-packed food ideas.
Ingredients
1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined
3 tablespoons cornstarch
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
5 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
1 jalapeño, thinly sliced
2 scallions, sliced
3 tablespoons vegetable oil (or avocado oil)
Instructions
1. Pat the shrimp dry with paper towels. This helps them crisp up during cooking.
2. Toss the shrimp in a bowl with cornstarch until fully coated.
3. Heat 3 tablespoons of oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat.
4. Add the garlic and jalapeño slices to the hot oil. Fry for 1–2 minutes until golden and fragrant. Remove and set aside.
5. In the same skillet, cook shrimp in a single layer for 2–3 minutes per side, working in batches if necessary. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate.
6. Discard excess oil, leaving about 1 tablespoon in the pan.
7. Return shrimp, garlic, jalapeño, and scallions to the skillet. Add salt and pepper.
8. Toss everything together for 1 minute until evenly coated and sizzling.
9. Serve hot with rice or noodles.
Notes
Pat the shrimp extra dry for maximum crispiness.
Use a neutral high-heat oil to avoid burning the garlic.
Adjust the spice level by removing jalapeño seeds or using milder peppers.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Dinner
- Method: Pan-fry
- Cuisine: Asian-inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/2 of main dish
- Calories: 310
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 730mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 2.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 10g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 29g
- Cholesterol: 185mg
Keywords: crispy shrimp, salt and pepper shrimp, easy shrimp recipe, quick dinner, seafood snack