The Philippines is a nation surrounded by serene and beautiful bodies of water. These waters are naturally abundant with marine life, which is the source of food and livelihood for many of our countrymen. The majority of the Filipino cuisines center on seafood simply because our waters are abundant with different aquatic life kinds.
One of the most favorite choices when it comes to seafood is this succulent and naturally sweet-tasting crustacean. This one does not need any fancy cooking technique to make it flavorful: you can just simply boil it and add salt, then you’re good to go. To make it more special, we will be sharing a recipe that may sound complicated: but this is sure to win your palate at first bite.
So enough with the chit-chat, and allow us to share with you the tips, tricks, and techniques that you need to know in cooking the best Breaded Shrimp with Sweet and Sour Sauce. A recipe that is sure to win your heart and your palate.
What is Breaded Shrimp with Sweet and Sour Sauce Recipes
Out of all the seafood, crustacean, in particular, shrimp is probably one of the most consumed varieties. Shrimp is naturally sweet and has a succulent texture when cooked. Others even eat them raw; they just mix them with some acid and aromatics. Because of these characteristics, shrimps are a very versatile ingredient.
For this particular article, we’ll be teaching you how to prepare a unique recipe for shrimp. This may look complicated at first, but it’s relatively simple and easy to make. Breaded shrimp can be considered comfort food simply because chowing down on them gives you that sense of relief, especially when you’re a bit worn out from working all day.
The familiar taste reminds you of simpler days. The outer layer provides that tempting and irresistible crunch, while the tender and succulent shrimp inside makes you crave for more. The sweet and sour sauce is to die for, especially when you pair it with a warm bowl of rice: nothing spells delight than this combination.
The breading, which gives this recipe that needed crunch, adds that sweetness layer to the dish. This goes in contrast with the sauce, which highlights each other’s sweetness. The choice for the sweet and sour sauce is entirely up to you. You can make the sauce from scratch, or you can simply purchase a ready-made sauce in bottles.
One can compare this recipe with the famous Japanese dish, Tempura, a deep-fried delicacy made from shrimps. What makes them different from each other is that Tempura uses a bigger variety of shrimps and is not mixed with a sauce. And in most countries in Southeast Asia, fried shrimp is a standard offering for seafood.
Another name for our Breaded Shrimp is Camaron Rebosado, which means fried shrimp in Spanish. Camaron came from the Spanish term camarones, which means shrimp, while rebosar means battered in Filipino. Though it may sound Spanish, this method of cooking shrimp is Chinese in origin.
Ways to Cook Breaded Shrimp (crispy prawns recipes)
There are few ways that you can replicate this dish, depending on the availability of kitchen equipment that you may have at home. But the preferred method is deep-frying to ensure that you’ll be able to submerge the shrimps and its batter in oil fully. This is because you want them to be crispy and cooked through.
But since there are advances in technology, cooking has never been easier, thanks to this modern kitchen equipment. So if you happen to have this equipment, then you’re in luck. You will find in the list that we have a few other methods that you can use to cook Breaded Shrimp.
Stovetop
One of the most reliable and easy-to-use methods on the list is the stovetop cooker. The majority of Filipino households use them for most of their cooking needs. From the simple rice up to the most complicated dish, the stovetop cooker plays a significant part in the cooking process.
Your kitchen may have either of these two types of stovetop cooker: the gas-powered which uses LPG, and the electric-type one who relies on electricity. Both use the same principle in cooking food. They use direct heat, which comes from the heating element situated at the bottom of the cooker.
For this cooking method, we recommend using a pot or pan that can hold a generous amount of cooking oil since we want to deep-fry the battered shrimp. Another factor to consider is ensuring that the pot you’ll be using can hold a high temperature and keep that temperature constant.
Once all of these factors are taken into consideration, then that’s the time to start cooking. Simply follow the steps as the recipe dictates, making sure to follow them religiously to prevent mistakes. Also, keep the temperature of the oil constant to ensure that each piece of shrimp is cooked evenly.
Oven-baked
Another choice method when cooking battered dishes is by baking them in the oven. This cooking method has been trusted since time immemorial: even history proves that our ancestors are already baking foods using makeshift ovens.
To date, few types of ovens can be purchased in the market. Other types of oven rely on electricity for power, while some use gas for cooking food. But they follow the same principle: they trap the heat inside the oven, which circulates to cook the dishes evenly. It also locks in the moisture inside the food.
So whatever type of oven you’re using, the process for cooking Breaded Shrimp is the same. Make sure to follow the steps in seasoning up to the breading mixture to ensure that the shrimps are well-seasoned and coated beautifully before putting them into the oven. Also, see to it that you’ll be preheating the oven before using it: this ensures that the oven is hot enough for the food to be cooked fully and on time.
Airfryer
An air fryer is one of the newer cooking appliances that are out on the market. This cooking appliance is currently making a name for itself as it appeals to people seeking fryer’s principle and healthier cooking options. In this day and age of health consciousness, this piece of cooking equipment promises to deliver the same goodness but less of the guilt.
An air fryer’s principle is this: a heating element produces the needed heat, then a fan blows the heated air directly towards the food to cook them. This simulates the effect of cooking in oil to crisp up and cook food. And for battered recipes, this heated air and environment inside the air fryer create that sought-after crispy coating.
Make the necessary preparations for the shrimp: make sure that you season them well and the breading mixture. Then place the breaded shrimps onto the cooking tray that comes with the air fryer, and lightly coat the pieces in oil to introduce moisture and prevent them from drying out.
Then select the setting recommended for frying seafood. Prepare the sauce on a separate pan while waiting for the fryer to cook the shrimps.
Other Delicious Variants of Best Breaded Shrimp with Sweet and Sour Sauce
Our featured recipe is already delightful though simple as it may seem. That’s the charm of this dish: simple but flavorful. But there are a few equally satisfying variations that you can try for this dish. So if you have the ingredients or if you’re curious, then you can try them at home.
You can check these recipes out and see which one will fit your taste.
Best Breaded Shrimp With Cream Cheese recipe
Cheese is always an excellent addition to any kind of dish. The creaminess and saltiness add a layer of interesting flavor to a recipe. And we can never deny the fact that cheese makes any dish taste even more flavorful and irresistible.
Of all the cheese varieties in the world, what we will be using in this recipe is one of the most well-known. This light and delicious cheese is called cream cheese and is commonly used for pastries and bread and as an addition to sauces. This is because cream cheese is very distinct and light in taste, so it blends well with most ingredients.
This might be a little complicated but believe us when we say that this variant is worth all the effort. The contrasting flavors will be like a feast on your palate, making the dining experience all the more exciting and enjoyable.
Before you season the shrimps, cut the back part of it, so it resembles a fillet. Then mix cream cheese and some finely chopped aromatics like garlic and parsley. Using a spoon, fill the filleted part of the shrimp, but make sure that you can still fold it over. Then dip them in batter and deep-fry until the shrimps change color.
You can also try to mix in the cream cheese with the dry ingredients for breading. This will create a paste-like mixture: you can now wrap the shrimps in the mix. You can chill them for about fifteen minutes in the fridge to make sure that the batter will hold its shape before frying them.
Best Breaded Shrimp in Coconut
If you’re looking for a truly unique way to serve this recipe, then look no further. This one-of-a-kind Breaded Shrimp variant is sure to make you a star in the kitchen. Though this may sound complicated, this recipe is relatively simple to cook.
You need to mix in equal parts of flour and coconut flour for the breading. In the absence of coconut flour, then you can use desiccated coconut instead of the former ingredient. This unique ingredient provides body and a unique texture to the mixture and will add a layer of sweetness to the flavor. This mixture will highlight the natural taste of the shrimp without overpowering it.
If you can’t find coconut flour in the market, you can make it at home. If you have a blender, then making this is instant: just put some desiccated coconut in it and blend it until finely ground. It should resemble powdered sugar or at least as close to that texture.
Trivia
There are a lot of reasons why you should eat shrimps, not just because they taste fantastic. Shrimp contains a fair amount of protein and sodium. And these sea creatures are a curious bunch as well. There are about 128 species of shrimp all around the world: how cool is that, right?
Tips
We desire to help you become an able and reliable cook, so we would love to share time-tested tips in the kitchen, which is beneficial. So check out this list and try them out on your next cooking session.
- Check out the color when cooking shrimps. The pink color gives you the signal that they are now ready to be taken out of the cooking pan.
- Add a generous amount of seasoning when cooking shrimps. This will highlight the natural sweetness of the seafood: just be mindful of the salt.
- Make sure to remove the gut or digestive tract of the shrimp to avoid unnecessary flavors.
Troubleshooting
If you happen to experience an unfortunate kitchen mishap while cooking our Breaded Shrimp, do not fret and whine. Check out this list of time-tested kitchen remedies for your kitchen dilemma.
- Rubbery shrimps are the result of overcooking them. If this is the case, what you can do is place them under running water. Then season them once more before frying them.
- Use an aromatic oil if the shrimp is dry and lackluster in flavor. This will add that needed boost of flavor.
Best Serve With
Breaded shrimp is usually served as an appetizer simply because it's light and truly excites your appetite. But this dish is best enjoyed with other dishes, making the dining experience even better. So check out this list of other dishes that you can enjoy Breaded Shrimp with.
This slightly bitter yet very nutritious dish is a perfect pair for our recipe. This is because the contrasting flavors highlight each other's taste. Not to mention that both are equally packed with essential nutrients.
Vegetables and seafood go with each other well; we’re not sure why, but they do. So with that said, why not pair our recipe with this nutrient-laden vegetable stew for a guilt-free dining experience.
Filipinos love to eat dishes with rice, and most of us cannot deny that fact. So to pair our lovely dish with this meaty rice recipe is only natural. There’s not much of a need to explain why right?
Conclusion
Delicious dishes need not be complicated; they can be as simple as frying for the ingredients’ natural flavors to come out. And this is our goal for this recipe, and with all the information that we have in this recipe, we know that you’ll be able to replicate this hassle-free.
Follow the steps, and you can never go wrong. And who knows, you might even be able to come up with your take of this recipe. So keep learning and exploring. Until next time, happy cooking!
For more delicious recipe, please visit Eat Like Pinoy!
Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 lb Large shrimps peeled
- 1 pc Egg beaten
- ½ cup Breadcrumbs
- ¼ cup Flour
- ¼ teaspoon Salt
- ¼ teaspoon Ground black pepper
- 1 ½ cup Cooking oil
- ¾ cup Sweet and Sour sauce
Instructions
- Put shrimps in a bowl.
- Sprinkle salt and pepper on the shrimp and mix well. Let it stand for 15 minutes.
- Heat the oil in a deep pan.
- Dredge the shrimp in flour and then dip in the beaten egg. Quickly roll the shrimp over the breadcrumbs. Make sure that the shrimp are well coated.
- Deep fry for 3-5 minutes or until the color turns golden brown.
- Arrange in a plate lined with paper towels. This will absorb the oil.
- Transfer to a serving plate. Serve with Sweet and Sour Sauce.
- Share and enjoy!