Shrimp is a quick and easy seafood to prepare, especially in the frying pan. If you've bought frozen whole shrimp, take a few minutes to thaw and clean the meat. Then toss the shrimp (fresh or thawed) in a hot skillet. They will be ready in no more than five minutes. Fry shrimp in a simple butter sauce or cover with seasoned breadcrumbs. Serve them with your favorite vegetables, with a crunchy bread roll or simply with rice.
Ingredients
Fried shrimp with butter and garlic
- 450 g of clean large prawns.
- 1 to 4 tablespoons of butter.
- Salt and pepper to taste.
- 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning.
- 2 to 3 chopped garlic cloves.
- 2 tablespoons of lemon juice.
- 1 tablespoon chopped parsley.
Makes 4 servings.
Crispy fried shrimp
- 1/2 cup of all-purpose flour.
- 1 teaspoon of unsalted cajun seasoning.
- 1/8 teaspoon of salt.
- 1/4 cup of milk.
- 3/4 cup of breadcrumbs.
- 700 g of clean large shrimp.
- 3 tablespoons of olive oil, in parts.
Makes 4 servings.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Making Fried Shrimp with Garlic and Butter
Step 1. Melt between one and four tablespoons of butter in a skillet
For a milder flavor, use just one tablespoon. If you prefer a very rich, juicy and buttery shrimp, use four whole spoons. Put the heat on medium high and stir the butter occasionally until melted.
You can use either salted or unsalted butter: it will depend on your own taste
Step 2. Place the shrimp in the pan and season with salt, pepper and Italian seasoning
Put 450 g of clean large shrimp in the pan. Season them with a pinch of salt and pepper, as well as a teaspoon of Italian seasoning.
You can also substitute your favorite Italian seasoning. Try using cajun, barbecue, or chipotle seasoning
Variation:
Instead of buying ready-made seasoning, you can prepare your own spice seasoning with half a teaspoon ground cumin, half a teaspoon ground chili powder, ¼ teaspoon ground onion powder, and ¼ teaspoon powder of garlic powder.
Step 3. Fry shrimp for four minutes over medium high heat
Stir occasionally so that they cook evenly and are opaque. The shrimp will be ready when they have a pink body and a red tail.
If the prawns are piled up in the pan, divide them into two portions
Step 4. Add two or three chopped garlic cloves and fry for another minute
Mix garlic with shrimp and fry until smelling. Then turn off the heat so the garlic doesn't burn.
Skip this step if you don't like garlic shrimp
Step 5. Add lemon juice and parsley for a livelier flavor
Add two tablespoons of lemon juice to the mixture and mix well. Sprinkle a tablespoon of chopped parsley over the prawns before bringing to the table.
Store leftovers in the refrigerator, in an airtight container, for up to two days
Method 2 of 3: Making Crispy Fried Shrimp
Step 1. Mix the flour, cajun seasoning and salt in a shallow dish
Place a plate or shallow tray beside the stove with half a cup of all-purpose flour. Add a teaspoon of unsalted Cajun seasoning and 1/8 teaspoon of salt. Beat for 20 seconds to mix the seasonings well.
If you don't eat gluten, use gluten-free flours in the recipe
Step 2. Fill a separate plate with milk and another with breadcrumbs
Place two more flat plates next to the one with the flour, one with ¼ cup of milk and one with ¾ cup of breadcrumbs.
Milk can be whole, skimmed or even vegetable
Tip:
for extra crunchy shrimp, use panko-type flour, which is much thicker than traditional breadcrumbs.
Step 3. Heat one and a half teaspoons of olive oil over medium high heat
Place a large skillet on the stove and pour half the oil into it. Light the heat on medium high temperature and heat the oil until it starts to glow.
Save the rest of the oil for the next serving
Step 4. Dip shrimp in seasoned flour, milk and breadcrumbs
Place 700 g of clean large shrimp in the small dish with the seasoned flour. Turn the shrimp over to flour them well and put them in the milk. Then pass them to the breadcrumbs and turn them a little more to cover them well.
If the prawns don't all fit together on the plates, you may need to repeat this step a few times
Step 5. Fry the breaded shrimp for four minutes
Shake the prawns to remove excess breadcrumbs and place them slowly into the hot skillet. Turn them over with the help of a tongs halfway through and fry until golden brown.
Distribute shrimp in a single layer
Step 6. Take the prawns out of the pan and fry the next portion
With the tongs, transfer the fried shrimp to a tray lined with a paper towel. Set aside while frying remaining shrimp.
- Remember to add the rest of the oil to the skillet before adding the second portion.
- Although you can keep leftovers in the fridge, the shrimp will lose their crunchiness. Store them in an airtight container for up to four days.
Method 3 of 3: Thawing and Cleaning Shrimps
Step 1. Wash shrimp under cold running water to quickly thaw them
Place a strainer in the sink with the shrimp inside. Turn on the cold water tap and let it run for five minutes to thaw the seafood.
Break the prawns with your fingers halfway through thawing
Step 2. Refrigerate the prawns the day before for effortless defrosting
If you prefer to prepare shrimp in advance and defrost them in a less crude way, transfer them to the refrigerator 24 hours before frying them.
Tip:
once thawed, shrimp can be stored for up to two days.
Step 3. Peel the thawed shrimp if they still have the shells
Shrimps will fry faster if they are shelled. Cut off the shrimp heads and pluck them with your fingers. Then remove the legs and gently remove the shells.
Shrimps can be fried with or without the tail
Step 4. Remove the veins from the shrimp's back
With a small knife, make a vertical cut in the back of each shrimp. Release the black vein with your finger and pluck it out.
If you can't find the vein, put the shrimp aside and move on to the next one. Avoid chopping and digging up the shrimp too much
Step 5. Dry the prawns before placing them in the fire
After the shrimp are thawed and clean, squeeze them with a paper towel to remove moisture. Then turn them over and repeat on the other side.