Description
Southern kitchens come alive with crispy, golden shrimp that crunch delightfully with each bite. Juicy Gulf Coast seafood meets perfectly seasoned cornmeal coating, creating a classic Southern comfort dish that draws hungry diners from miles around.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 1 lb (454 g) large uncooked shrimp, deveined and tails optional
Breading Ingredients:
- 1 cup (120 g) all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup (60 g) panko breadcrumbs
- 1.5 teaspoons (7.5 ml) seasoned salt
- 1 teaspoon (5 ml) black pepper
- ½ teaspoon (2.5 ml) paprika
- ½ teaspoon (2.5 ml) garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon (2.5 ml) onion powder
- 1 pinch cayenne pepper
Liquid Ingredients:
- ¾ cup (180 ml) sour cream
- ¼ cup (60 ml) milk
- 1.5 quarts (1.4 liters) vegetable oil, or 6 cups (1.4 liters)
Instructions
- Prepare a baking sheet lined with cooling racks to ensure crisp, non-soggy shrimp after frying.
- Thoroughly defrost large shrimp and meticulously blot excess moisture using paper towels.
- Create a tangy marinade by whisking sour cream and whole milk until it reaches a buttermilk-like texture.
- Submerge the shrimp completely in the creamy marinade, gently turning to ensure even coating, and let rest at ambient temperature for 10 minutes.
- In a separate wide, shallow dish, combine flour, salt, black pepper, paprika, and garlic powder to create a flavorful breading mixture.
- Heat vegetable oil in a deep fryer or heavy-bottomed pot to precisely 375°F (190°C), using a digital thermometer for accuracy.
- Remove shrimp from marinade, allowing excess liquid to drip off, then thoroughly dredge each piece in the seasoned breading mixture, pressing gently to help coating adhere.
- Carefully lower breaded shrimp into hot oil, cooking in small batches to maintain oil temperature, and fry for 3-4 minutes until golden brown and crispy.
- Transfer fried shrimp to prepared cooling racks, allowing excess oil to drain and maintaining their delightful crunch.
- Serve immediately alongside zesty remoulade or classic cocktail sauce for a delectable Southern-style seafood experience.
Notes
- Prepping shrimp properly ensures maximum crispiness by removing excess moisture before breading.
- Marinating in a buttermilk-like mixture helps tenderize the shrimp and creates a flavorful base for the coating.
- Use a deep-fry thermometer to maintain precise oil temperature for perfectly golden and crispy exterior.
- Allow shrimp to drain on cooling racks after frying to prevent soggy bottoms and preserve their crunch.
- Experiment with different dipping sauces like remoulade, cocktail, or spicy aioli to complement the fried shrimp.
- Serve immediately for the best texture and flavor, as fried seafood tends to lose its crispiness quickly.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Southern American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 520 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 480 mg
- Fat: 35 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 24 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 25 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 220 mg