Simple and healthy Chinese boiled shrimp or Chinese poached shrimp.  Fresh shrimp has a lovely light and sweet taste. When dipping with a lovely ginger and scallion soy sauce dressing, it tastes even better. 

Poaching is a very popular cooking method in Guangdong cuisine, usually used for fresh and nautically sweet  ingredients like chicken, shrimp, broccoli and other vegetables.  This is my daughter’s favorite side dish. 

Chinese boiled shrimp|chinasichuanfood.com

Shrimps are cooked slightly different in Chinese cuisine. One of the most outstanding feature is that we love to cook shrimp with the shells and heads.  I understand that shells may bring trouble when eating, but we do this with reason. 

  1. if the shrimp is cooked with lots of aromatic and seasoning, like salt and pepper shrimp, the shell presents the best flavors. We usually taste, only taste not eat the shell before peeling. The aroma of the shell and head can improve the flavor of the dish.
  2. Additionally, shell can prevent the meat from over cooking and more friendly to beginners. 

For this recipe, we have to keep the shell, otherwise the meat can be overcooked very easily.

How to devein shrimp with shells and heads

Firstly use a kitchen shear to trim off the legs and the sharp part at the top of the head to avoid hurt. 

Chinese stir-fried shrimp with ketchup

Use a toothpick to pick the devein part out. Then remove the dark part in the heads by opening the carapace of the head. Then wash carefully under running water. Washing is extremely important for Chinese poached shrimp, as the head parts spoil the flavor.

Chinese stir-fried shrimp with ketchup
Chinese stir-fried shrimp with ketchup

Instructions for boiling 

In a large pot of water, add scallion, ginger, salt and Sichuan peppercorn (my personal favorite but optional). Bring the water to a boiling.

Chinese boiled shrimp|chinasichuanfood.com

Keep high fire and place the shrimp in. After adding the shrimp, the temperature drops immediately to the poaching range.  Wait for around 1 minute or until the water begins to boil again. 

Chinese boiled shrimp|chinasichuanfood.com

Transfer out as soon as possible.

Chinese boiled srhimp|chinasichuanfood.com

Serve directly with dipping sauce.

Chinese boiled shrimp|chinasichuanfood.com

Cook’s Note

  1. fresh is the No.1 rule. 
  2. choose smaller and younger shrimps. Avoid to choose shrimp with heave shells. 
  3. follow to words and avoid overcooking.  
Chinese boiled shrimp|chinasichuanfood.com

Chinese blanched shrimp

Chinese blanched shrimp. Get tender shrimp meat.
5 from 4 votes
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 2
Calories: 165kcal
Author: Elaine

Ingredients

  • 300 g fresh shrimp

Dipping Sauce

  • 1.5 tbsp. light soy sauce
  • 10 thin ginger shreds
  • 10 thin scallion shreds
  • 1/2 tsp. sesame oil , optional
  • 1 tsp. sugar
  • 1.5 tbsp. clean water

Boiling water

  • 2 scallions
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 1 tsp. Sichuan peppercorn
  • water
  • 2 chunks of ginger , smashed

Instructions

  • How to devein shrimp with shells and heads. Firstly use a kitchen shear to trim off the legs and the sharp part at the top of the head to avoid hurt.opening the carapace of the head. Then wash carefully under running water. Washing is extremely important for Chinese poached shrimp, as the head parts spoil the flavor.
  • In a large pot of water, add scallion, ginger, salt and Sichuan peppercorn (my personal favorite but optional). Bring the water to a boiling.
  • Keep high fire and place the shrimp in. After adding the shrimp, the temperature drops immediately to the poaching range.  Wait for around 1 minute or until the water begins to boil again.  Transfer out as soon as possible.
  • Mix all the ingredients for dipping sauce together and make sure the sugar is well dissolved. Serve with dipping sauce.

Nutrition

Calories: 165kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 32g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 242mg | Sodium: 1756mg | Potassium: 490mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 133IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 119mg | Iron: 1mg
Chinese boiled shrimp|chinasichuanfood.com

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10 Comments

  1. Pre-boiled shrimp is pretty common for sale here in Australia, but I often find them lacking in flavour. Next time I can get my hands in green prawns, I’ll definitely try this recipe and see if boiling them in the flavoured salted water helps retain the prawns’ natural sweetness. Thanks for sharing the recipe!

    1. Hi Melissa,

      In fact, I found the same problem. So I soaked the shrimp in salted water with seasonings rather than common cold water.

      Hope it works good for you.

  2. Why do you need to soak the shrimp in cold salted water with seasoning? Why can’s you eat right after boiling / cooking?