Popcorn Shrimp
You can buy prepared Popcorn Shrimp in the freezer isle but the flavor is bland and the texture is mushy. Most of what you taste is the bread coating. Making it at home takes a bit of time but the wonderful flavor from this recipe makes it worth it. Your guests will think you had a restaurant make these for you.
This recipe calls for using small shrimp ( 50 count per pound). However, you can use medium sized shrimp if you can't find the small ones. You can even cut them in half to make bite sized pieces.
In order for the shrimp flavor to come through, you should buy the freshest you can find. By fresh, we mean that it hasn't been cooked yet. In case you are not familiar with raw shrimp, they will be gray in color and will most likely be frozen. Most super markets have a seafood section where you can buy them.
Popcorn Shrimp Recipe
Ingredients:
- 2 large eggs
- 1 Tbls garlic powder
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp cayenne pepper
- 2 tsp chili powder
- 1 pound small or medium shrimp, defrosted and peeled
- Vegetable oil
- 3 cups plain dried bread crumbs
- Salt and Pepper
Preparation:
- Beat the Eggs in a shallow bowl.
- Adjust a rack to the middle position of your oven and heat to 200 degrees.
- Mix the Cumin, Breadcrumbs, Cayenne, Garlic Powder, Chili Powder, 1/2 teaspoon Salt, and 1 teaspoon Pepper in a separate shallow bowl.
- Dry the shrimp on some paper towels, (if the shrimp are wet, the egg won't stick to them)
- Season lightly with salt and pepper.
- Dip half of the shrimp into the beaten egg.
- Then add them to the bread crumb mixture a little at a time.
- Make sure the bread crumbs stick to the shrimp.
- Lay the breaded shrimp on a plate
- Pour oil into a large pot until it measures around 1 1/2 inches
- Heat the oil over medium-high heat until it reaches 375 degrees.
- Carefully add some of the breaded shrimp to the hot oil (375 degrees F) and cook until golden brown, stirring often to prevent them from sticking together, about 1 1/2 minutes.
- Once they are cooked, remove from the oil and place on some paper towels to drain.
- Transfer the drained shrimp to a wire rack set over a baking sheet and keep warm in the oven.
- Skim off any bits of bread crumbs from the oil and return the oil to 375 degrees and fry the remaining shrimp.
- Serve with your favorite dipping sauce
Return from Popcorn Shrimp to Shrimp Appetizers
