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What is Bang Bang Shrimp?
Bang Bang Shrimp is a popular dish made of succulent shrimp tenderized in buttermilk, fried and tossed Japanese mayo, sweet chili sauce and spicy sriracha.
The creamy spicy sauce is heavenly with that fried shrimp, making it a seafood favorite in this household. I could not stop at one as it was just so good! If you're not a fan of shrimp, check out my Bang Bang Chicken!
I love enjoying this shrimp dish with white rice and veggies for a complete meal or sometimes I like having it as a starter!
Ingredients & Substitutes
Please scroll down to the below recipe card for exact measurements.
- Jumbo Shrimp: get the easy peel deveined kind to make life easier!
- Buttermilk: or substitute with 1 cup dairy whole milk with 1 tablespoon lemon juice letting it sit for 5 minutes before adding the shrimp to it. Or substitute with Greek yogurt or sour cream.
- Cornstarch, or potato starch or tapioca starch. Rice flour could work too.
- Neutral oil: like avocado oil, sunflower oil, grapeseed oil, peanut oil, vegetable oil or canola oil. Avoid olive oil or any heavy scented oils.
- Salt & Black Pepper
- Garlic powder: or substitute with onion powder
- Green onions: optional garnish
Bang Bang Sauce
- Japanese Mayo aka Kewpie Mayo: or substitute with normal mayonnaise. This ingredient can be found at most Asian grocery stores. Look for the clear plastic bottle with a red cap.
- Sweet Thai Chili Sauce: This ingredient can be found at Asian grocers or in Western grocers.It's a sweet reddish translucent sauce with finely diced chili.
- Sriracha sauce: or substitute with any hot sauce of your choice if you can't find sriracha.
Expert Tips
- Tenderize the shrimp with buttermilk. Buttermilk does a wonderful job at tenderizing shrimp because it has lactic acid which breaks down the protein.
- Evenly coat the shrimp in starch mixture. Make sure you evenly coat the shrimp in the starch mixture ensuring no bald spots for a crispy coating!
- Fry shrimp in small batches. To ensure crispy shrimp, fry your shrimp in small batches. If you overcrowd the pan, this will lead to soggy shrimp, undercooked shrimp because the overcrowding lowers the oil temperature.
- Don't overcook the shrimp! Shrimp cooks very quickly in hot oil so it's important not to overcook it or it'll taste too rubbery. Fry until each side is golden brown or about 1.5 minutes per side.
- Allow excess oil to drip off fried shrimp. Transfer the fried shrimp to a wire rack or a paper towel lined plate to absorb excess oil oil, which makes the shrimp less crispy and soggier.
Instructions
Below are step-by-step instructions on how to make bang bang shrimp:
Tenderize Shrimp & Create Sauce
First in a medium bowl with peeled and deveined shrimp, add buttermilk. Let this sit for 10 minutes for shrimp to tenderize.
Next in a small bowl, combine Bang Bang Sauce ingredients as listed. Set aside.
Dredge Shrimp
Then in a shallow bowl or baking sheet, whisk together cornstarch, salt, garlic powder and black pepper. Coat shrimp in cornstarch mixture by dredging it on both sides. Ensuring no bald spots.
Fry Shrimp & Mix with Sauce
In a large skillet (10-inch) or heavy bottom pan, add oil. Heat oil on medium heat or at 350 degrees F on a digital instant read thermometer. Once oil is hot enough, fry shrimp in batches. Fry until you have golden brown shrimp, about 1.5 minutes per side. Do not overcrowd the hot oil or the shrimp won't be crispy. Also do not overcook the shrimp.
Remove and set aside the cooked shrimp on a wire rack or paper towel lined plate to remove excess oil. Excess oil makes crispy shrimp soggy.
Finally, transfer the shrimp to a large bowl. Pour sauce over top. Gently toss to mix. Enjoy hot while the shrimp is still crispy!
Storage
- This dish is best consumed immediately but store leftovers it in an airtight container in the fridge. It will last up to 3 days however, the coating will become soggy overtime. To reheat, you can microwave for 2-3 minutes or reheat over the stovetop in a non-stick pan on medium heat. You could also air fry it for 4-6 minutes at 350 degrees F.
- Freezer friendly? This can be stored in a freezer friendly bag and frozen. To reheat, defrost it and reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop in a pan.
Pairing Ideas
This dish serves well with egg drop soup, hot and sour soup, white or brown rice, cauliflower rice, fried rice, chow mein, lo mein, or cooked vegetables like spicy garlic bok choy, or choy sum. You can also serve this over salad, in a sandwich, in tacos, or with pasta.
FAQ
I wouldn't recommend it as the crispy shrimp will become soggy over time. This is best enjoyed fresh.
Yes, feel free to substitute with diced chicken thighs, pork loin, sturdy white fish, or extra-firm tofu.
Yes, follow these instructions to air fry the shrimp:
Lightly spray the air fryer basket with neutral oil.
After dredging the shrimp in cornstarch, place coated shrimp in a single layer giving each piece enough space. Do not overlap. You may need to air fry in batches, depending on the size of your air fryer.
Lightly spray each piece neutral oil.
Air fry at 400 F for 7-8 minutes, flipping the shrimp over halfway.
The buttermilk acts as a tenderizing agent for the shrimp making the meat more tender.
Other Recipes You May Like
📖 Recipe
Quick & Easy Bang Bang Shrimp
Ingredients
- 1 lb Jumbo Shrimp peeled and deveined
- 1 cup buttermilk or sub with 1 cup whole milk and 1 tablespoon lemon juice and let it sit for 5 minutes first
- ¾ cup cornstarch or substitute with potato starch/tapioca starch
- 1 cup vegetable oil or any neutral oil
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ¾ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 green onion finely chopped for garnish
Bang Bang Sauce:
- ½ cup Japanese mayonnaise or substitute with normal mayo
- ¼ cup Thai Sweet Chili sauce
- 2 tablespoon sriracha sauce add more if you like it spicier
Instructions
- In a medium bowl with peeled and deveined shrimp, add buttermilk. Let this sit for 10 minutes for shrimp to tenderize.
- In a small bowl, combine Bang Bang Sauce ingredients as listed. Set aside.
- In a shallow bowl or baking sheet, whisk together cornstarch, salt, garlic powder and black pepper.
- Coat shrimp in cornstarch mixture by dredging it on both sides.
- In a large skillet (10-inch) or heavy bottom pan, add oil. Heat oil on medium heat or at 350 degrees F on a digital instant read thermometer. Once oil is hot enough, fry shrimp in batches. Fry until you have golden brown shrimp, about 1.5 minutes per side. Do not overcrowd the hot oil or the shrimp won't be crispy. Also do not overcook the shrimp.
- Remove and set aside the cooked shrimp on a wire rack or paper towel lined plate to remove excess oil.
- Transfer crispy shrimp to a large bowl. Pour sauce over top. Gently toss to mix.
- Garnish with green onions. Enjoy!
Notes
Can I air fry the shrimp?
Yes, follow these instructions to air fry the shrimp:- Lightly spray the air fryer basket with neutral oil.
- After dredging the shrimp in cornstarch, place coated shrimp in a single layer giving each piece enough space. Do not overlap. You may need to air fry in batches, depending on the size of your air fryer.
- Lightly spray each piece neutral oil.
- Air fry at 400 F for 7-8 minutes, flipping the shrimp over halfway.
Rosanna
This was out of this world !
You laid it out so clear and gave great subs and I did it!!
Thanks for posting it!
Christie Lai
Aww thank YOU so much for the kind words! So happy to read this and glad you enjoyed it Rosanna!
Patience Maples
Wonderful meal!!!
Christie Lai
Thank you so much for making my recipe and for sharing your positive experience with us! So glad you enjoyed it!
Michigan home chef Jay
I've ordered these in a few restaurants.
I thought I had ruined the shrimp since I only had frozen Key West shrimp which are huge. After thawing and butterflying to clean, I followed your recipe and BAM!
You know it's good when I ate the leftovers that night cold right out of the refrigerator!
Can't wait to try your other dishes.
Christie Lai
Thank you so much for making my recipe and so glad you liked my dish! Happy you were able to use your key west shrimp!
Maisy
So yummy, great recipe!! Also mixed some bang bang seasoning into the corn starch and added a little honey and lemon juice to the sauce, turned out good!
Christie Lai
Thank you so much for making my recipe! So glad you enjoyed it!
Leon Lopes
This recipe is great! It was delicious and tasted just like the one that inspired me to make this dish! Will make again!
Christie Lai
Thank you so much for making my recipe and so glad you liked it! I hope you continue to enjoy it!
Beth Ingram
So Yummy. The entire family enjoyed it. We were going to order Chinese but then all helped out in the kitchen and made this delicious meal.
Christie Lai
Thank you so much for making my recipe and for the positive review! Glad you and your whole family enjoyed it. Happy you were able to save some money from takeout 🙂
Chrissy Fitzgerald
Very good, and really easy!
Christie Lai
Thank you so much for making my recipe and for the positive review! Glad you enjoyed it!
Lynne White
Asking this for the second time. It was a big hit with my husband and I. Question, is there any steps to make part of this ahead? Can I soak the shrimp, then coat with cornstarch beforehand ( just let it sit in fridge for a couple hours)?
Christie Lai
Thank you so much for making my recipe and for the positive review! Glad your husband enjoyed it. Yes, feel free to pre-soak the shrimp in the buttermilk but I don't recommend coating it in the starch prior too because the buttermilk will seep into it and make it less crispy when you deep fry it. Hope this helps!
Ann Cooper
Excellent.
Christie Lai
Thank you so much for the positive review and for making my recipe! Glad you liked it.
Maria
This was incredibly delicious! Need to make it again.
Cindy
Made these for lunch for visiting family the other day and they were a big hit with everyone! 🎉 Will definitely make these again.
Christie Lai
I am so pleased to read this! Thank you so much for making my recipe, Cindy!
Rocco Cassarino
Made this the other day , this recipe is excellent. Thank you for sharing!😉😉😉
Christie Lai
Thank you so much for making my recipe, Rocco! So glad you found it excellent!
JOSE G DUMLAO JR
Yes I do enjoy your recipe so much
Marian
The bang bang shrimp were so so so so great! Crispy, tender inside. And the sauce was perfect!
Christie Lai
This is music to my ears! I am so thankful for your kind review and for making my recipe. Have a lovely day, Marian 🙂
Samantha
The recipe was delicious but I do feel like tossing the shirmp in the end just eliminated the crispyness. Next time I will probably just put a little on top or on the side for dipping. But overall loved it and keeping it for future use!
christieathome
Thanks for making my recipe, Samantha! That's a great tip to keep the shrimp crispy.
Beth
This recipe was quite easy and the shrimp were amazing!
christieathome
Thanks so much for making my recipe and for sharing your review, Beth! Happy you enjoyed it!
Sandy Stiner
Oh my gosh could this have been any easier? It tasted amazing! I’ll make this one again! I’d never had thought I could make this amazing dish at home on my own!
christieathome
Thanks so much for making it, Sandy! Happy you enjoyed it so much!
Kim
Delish and so very easy! Added that extra sriracha you recommended, and it was perfect. Thanks so much!
christieathome
Thanks so much for making my recipe Kim! Glad you enjoyed my dish and I appreciate your kind review 🙂