Description
Butterfly Shrimp brings crispy, golden seafood right to your dinner table with minimal effort. Seasoned perfectly and fried to crunchy perfection, these shrimp make weeknight meals feel like a special treat everyone will enjoy.
Ingredients
Scale
Primary Proteins:
- 1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined and butterflied
Dry Coating Ingredients:
- 1 ½ cups cornstarch
- 2 cups fresh bread crumbs
Wet Binding Ingredients:
- 2 eggs
- 1 quart water
- 5 cups oil for deep frying
Instructions
- Heat 5 cups of oil in a deep fryer or skillet to exactly 350°F, ensuring your cooking surface reaches the perfect golden-frying temperature.
- Create a smooth batter by whisking 1 quart water, 1 ½ cups cornstarch, and 2 eggs in a large mixing bowl until fully combined.
- Carefully slice each large shrimp lengthwise through the center, opening them up to create a beautiful butterfly shape.
- Submerge each butterflied shrimp completely in the prepared batter, allowing excess to drip off gently.
- Roll the batter-coated shrimp in 2 cups of fresh bread crumbs, pressing softly to ensure a thorough, even coating.
- For extra crispiness, dip the crumb-covered shrimp back into the batter, then roll again in bread crumbs.
- Using tongs, gently lower each breaded shrimp into the hot oil, maintaining a steady 350°F temperature.
- Fry the shrimp for 2-3 minutes, turning once, until they transform into a rich, golden-brown color with a crispy exterior.
Notes
- Butterfly the shrimp carefully by cutting almost through without separating the halves, creating a beautiful fan shape that helps the batter stick better.
- Use fresh breadcrumbs for maximum crunch, which will give your shrimp a superior crispy exterior that stays crunchy longer.
- Check oil temperature with a digital thermometer to ensure perfect golden browning without burning or undercooking the delicate shrimp.
- For gluten-free options, swap wheat breadcrumbs with almond meal or gluten-free panko to make this recipe accessible for everyone with dietary restrictions.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Shrimp
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4 to 6
- Calories: 400 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 350 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 150 mg