Salt and pepper seasoning is a traditional Chinese spice blend used in many different ways – one of them is salt and pepper shrimp.
This dish gives you that crunch with its crispy exterior while having that mouthwatering juicy center. It’s salty, spicy, umami, and an explosion of flavors with the Salt And Pepper Seasoning.
What Is Salt And Pepper Shrimp?
Salt and pepper shrimp is just like your classic fried shrimp but has a more flavorful touch with added salt and pepper seasoning.
You might wonder – what makes it so special when it’s just your ordinary salt and pepper? No, it’s not simply a mix of salt and pepper but a total of six or more spices!
If you don’t know yet, salt and pepper seasoning is a blend of Sichuan peppercorn, fennel seed, dried mini shrimps, white sesame, salt, Chinese Five Spice Powder, and paprika if you want it slightly spicy.
So, when you go to the store to buy this powder mix, check the ingredients list to make sure it is not the regular salt and pepper mix. Some salt and pepper seasoning may have a different mix and can have caster sugar, garlic powder, ground white pepper, and ground ginger.
You can also make this at home with my easy recipe here. Once you have the salt and pepper seasoning, you can start making this quick and delicious salt and pepper shrimp.
This recipe calls for coating the shrimp with cornstarch for a crunchy bite and frying it with garlic, green and red chili peppers, onions, and salt and pepper seasoning.
How To Store And Reheat Salt And Pepper Shrimp
Generally, raw or fresh shrimp can be stored in the fridge for one to two days and in the freezer for up to six months. However, I don’t really recommend freezing and thawing fresh shrimp since it will lose its chewy texture. On the other hand, cooked salt and pepper shrimp lasts in the fridge for up to three days.
It should be kept in an airtight container to prolong its shelf life and preserve its flavor. To reheat stored salt and pepper shrimp, you can use an oven, air fryer, or skillet. Reheat in the oven or air fryer for 5 to 10 minutes at 350°F, depending on the amount of shrimp.
Alternatively, you can reheat it on a skillet with or without oil on medium heat. A microwave can reheat it as well, but it won’t give you the crispy texture anymore.
Ingredient Suggestions For Salt And Pepper Shrimp
In my recipe, we’ll be using shrimp, cornstarch, minced garlic, green and red chili pepper, diced onions, and salt and pepper seasoning.
These are the basic ingredients for this recipe but can be substituted with other alternatives you prefer. Here are some ingredient suggestions and serving tips worth noting.
- Shrimp: Although you can use any size of shrimp, the ideal size is medium to large. Working on small shrimp can take more time. You can use fresh shrimp with or without the shell, just make sure to pick out the freshest ones. Alternatively, a pack of frozen shrimp is also suitable. Alternatively, prawns also work well with the recipe and are great substitutes.
- Cornstarch: Cornstarch is essential in this recipe to have a crispy texture and golden exterior. If you don’t have cornstarch, use tapioca flour or potato starch. For 1 tbsp of cornstarch, substitute it with 2 tbsp of tapioca flour or 1 tbsp of potato starch. Aside from starch, you can substitute cornstarch with all-purpose flour or rice flour.
- Garlic: Garlic adds depth to the overall dish and a distinctive taste. Its small garlic bits have a strong, wonderful flavor in every bite of shrimp. If you don’t have fresh garlic cloves and still want the garlic goodness, you can substitute 1 garlic clove with 1/8 tsp of garlic powder or 1/4 tsp of granulated garlic.
- Onion: Generally, any type of onion works equally well in the recipe with a minimal difference in taste. You can use red onions for a subtle sweetness and mildest flavor. Yellow onions have the deepest and strongest flavor, while white onions give a sweeter and pleasantly savory taste.
- Chili pepper: Chili pepper adds a smoky and sweet note to the recipe. I use both green and red chili pepper, but you can use either green or red if you prefer one type of chili. If you don’t have whole chili pepper, use 1/4 tsp of chili flakes for one chili pepper. The chili peppers are optional if you like the dish hot and spicy. You can omit this from the recipe if you can’t tolerate spicy foods.
- Oil: Use enough oil to fry the shrimp and seasonings. I prefer using avocado or olive oil for a healthier option. But if you prefer oil with higher smoke points, use avocado, sunflower, or canola oil.
- Serving suggestions: Add a touch of flair by garnishing the dish with cilantro leaves, lemon slices, or lime wedges. You can serve salt and pepper shrimp with lettuce or Caesar salad. This dish also pairs well with snow peas, broccoli, rice, and corn tortillas.
Kitchenware And Ingredients To Make Salt And Pepper Shrimp
The ingredients needed are common grocery items and pantry-friendly, making it easy to get started with the recipe. What may be tricky to find is the salt and pepper seasoning, so I suggest making a large batch at home which can be used for other salt and pepper dishes such as salt and pepper fish, salt and pepper chicken wings, and salt and pepper tofu and mushrooms. Prepare the ingredients and your basic kitchenware, including a pan, knife, and spatula.
Kitchenware
- Kitchen scissors or knife
- Pan
- Spatula
Ingredients
- Oil
- 500g shrimp
- Cornstarch (enough to coat all parts of the shrimp)
- 50g minced garlic
- 20g shredded green and red chili pepper
- 50g diced onion
- 10g salt and pepper seasoning
How To Make Salt And Pepper Shrimp
The steps are quite simple. It includes cleaning the shrimp and coating it with cornstarch. Then, fry the shrimp and the seasonings. As a finishing touch, sprinkle it with salt and pepper seasoning. Watch my quick tutorial on Instagram and Tiktok to learn how I did it.
Clean and wash the shrimp with cold water. Trim the head with scissors or a knife. You can also twist the head off to remove it.
Then, devein the shrimp by pressing the upper part of the body and pulling out the vein and internal flesh.
Next, cut the shrimp’s back lengthwise. Afterward, coat the shrimp with cornstarch.
Prepare the pan with enough oil to fry the shrimp. When the oil is hot, fry the shrimp until both sides are golden and crispy.
Set the shrimp aside and prepare a pan with oil to fry the seasonings. Fry 50g minced garlic, 20g shredded green and red chili pepper, and 50g diced onion.
Stir well and fry until aromatic. Then, add the fried shrimp and sprinkle 10g salt and pepper seasoning or more according to your liking.
Stir over high heat until the ingredients are evenly distributed into the shrimp. Serve it over hot rice, lettuce, or tortilla chips.
How To Make Salt And Pepper Shrimp
Equipment
- Kitchen scissors or knife
- Pan
- Spatula
Ingredients
- Oil
- 500 g shrimp
- Cornstarch enough to coat all parts of the shrimp
- 50 g minced garlic
- 20 g shredded green and red chili pepper
- 50 g diced onion
- 10 g salt and pepper seasoning
Instructions
- Clean and wash the shrimp with cold water.
- Trim the head with scissors or a knife. You can also twist the head off to remove it.
- Then, devein the shrimp by pressing the upper part of the body and pulling out the vein and internal flesh.
- Next, cut the shrimp's back lengthwise.
- Afterward, coat the shrimp with cornstarch.
- Prepare the pan with enough oil to fry the shrimp.
- When the oil is hot, fry the shrimp until both sides are golden and crispy.
- Set the shrimp aside and prepare a pan with oil to fry the seasonings.
- Fry 50g minced garlic, 20g shredded green and red chili pepper, and 50g diced onion.
- Stir well and fry until aromatic.
- Then, add the fried shrimp and sprinkle 10g salt and pepper seasoning or more according to your liking.
- Stir over high heat until the ingredients are evenly distributed into the shrimp.
- Serve it over hot rice, lettuce, or tortilla chips.
