Salt and Pepper Shrimp Recipe

Salt and Pepper Shrimp is a popular Chinese dish that features deep-fried shrimp fried to golden perfection and seasoned with salt, black pepper, and tossed in a ginger garlic mixture. The dish is known for its crispy texture and savory taste, leaning more to the spicy side. This Pepper shrimp recipe is a great dish to serve as an appetizer or as a main course with white rice and stir-fried vegetables.

For more Chinese inspired recipes, try my Bang Bang Shrimp, Easy Pepper Steak Recipe and Crispy Chili Beef Recipe.

There's nothing like juicy shrimp deep fried and coated in a delicious seasoning blend! This salt and pepper shrimp recipe is just that - juicy shrimp with a crispy crust, seasoned with a toasted black pepper and salt and then tossed in a sauteed ginger and garlic mixture that is just SO good. The cooking process is quite simple, this is a pretty easy recipe, but the end result is a dish that you'll have on repeat! 

Why You'll Love this Recipe

• Quick and easy! It comes together in just 30 minutes! 
• Versatile! This crispy shrimp recipe works great as a main dish but can also be served as an appetizer or a side dish, too! 
• Tons of flavor! It's such a delicious recipe, it'll make home cooks look like michelin star chefs!

What is salt and pepper shrimp?

Salt and pepper shrimp is a popular Chinese dish that consists of breaded in a cornstarch mixture, deep-fried shrimp that's seasoned with a salt and pepper mixture mixture (some recipes include Chinese five-spice powder as well).

The shrimp is fried at a high temperature for a crispy outer shell and garnished with finely chopped green onions, cilantro, or chili peppers for added flavor and presentation.

Salt and pepper shrimp are usually served as an appetizer or main course in Chinese cuisine. They are often enjoyed with a side of steamed rice, stir-fried vegetables, or a dipping sauce like sweet chili sauce or soy sauce. The dish is appreciated for its simplicity and the balance of saltiness and spiciness in the seasoning.

Salt and Pepper Shrimp Ingredients

• Large or Jumbo Shrimp - deveined shrimp that have been peeling  and peeled (tail on)
• Black peppercorns - I've researched quite a bit on what type of pepper to use and it seems that most Chinese restaurants use white pepper. However, sichuan peppercorns and black peppercorns seem to also be used quite a bit - I used what I was able to find at my grocery store and it was still delicious! Feel free to experiment here and use what you have on hand/what you're able to find.
• Kosher Salt - I do not recommend using iodized salt for this recipe. It has a stronger salty, butter flavor. Kosher salt or sea salt will give you the best results.
• Shaoxing Wine - shaoxing wine has a sweet yet sharp flavor that adds a lot of character to this dish. if you're unable to find shaoxing wine, you can use dry sherry instead. 
• Soy sauce 
• Egg
• Cornstarch
• Serrano peppers - you can also use jalapeno peppers too. 
• Scallion whites - use the bottom of the stalks of a green onion. You can use the tops for garnish, however, the bottoms have a ton of flavor and add a lot of savory goodness to this dish. 
• Fresh Ginger
• Garlic Cloves
• Vegetable Oil - for the frying oil. You can use any neutral oil here - canola oil, grapeseed oil, etc. 
• Chili crisp - totally optional but I LOVE chili crisps so it's a must whenever I make this dish! 

Tips

• If using frozen shrimp, allow the shrimp to thaw completely cold water for about 30 minutes prior to getting started.
• Cook shrimp in small batches! Do not overcrowd your pan, the shrimp will take longer to cook and won't be as crispy.
• Pat the shrimp dry prior to adding the breading to get a nice crispy crust!  

How to make Salt and Pepper Shrimp

Make the Salt and Pepper Seasoning 

• First step, toast peppercorns in a dry skillet over low heat for 10 minutes. Move the peppercorns around every 2-3 minutes so that they don't burn. 
• Place in a mortar and pestle or food processor or spice grinder and blend until smooth. Add to a small bowl and and mix in kosher salt. Set the spice blend aside.

Make the Shrimp

• Prepare the shrimp. Remove any shells and pat shrimp dry with a paper towel.
• Add 2 cups of oil to a deep skillet. Warm over medium heat to 360 degrees F. 
• In a small mixing bowl, whisk together shaoxing wine, egg, and soy sauce. 
• Place cornstarch in another bowl. Dip shrimp in the shaoxing wine mixture, then dredge in the cornstarch, tapping off any excess. 
• Place into oil and fry for 2-4 minutes, flip over and cook for another minutes and remove. Place onto paper towels or wire rack to drain excess oil.