Chinese style deep fried salt and pepper shrimp is a great appetizer or snack with excellent crispy shell and tender inside.

In Sichuan province, we are using the mixed salt and Szechuan peppercorn (花椒) as the main flavor of a series of dishes including salt and pepper small potato, salt and pepper mushroom, salt and pepper chicken and etc. Although shrimp is not an native ingredient in inland Sichuan province, but we have ways to make them outstanding.

I understand that cooking  unshelled shrimp might be a litter weird. However they are the perfect protection of the meat inside during the deep-frying or sautéing process. In addition, the shrimp shell is quite good after pan-frying. You can resort to this post to know the tips about how to devein the shrimp without removing shells.

Cook’s Note

1. You can use well salt or coarse salt for this recipe.
2. Sichuan peppercorn can be replaced by black pepper. But I highly recommend using Sichuan peppercorn for an authentic taste.

Ingredients

• 300g shrimp, deveined
• 1/2 tsp. salt (well salt)
• 1 thumb ginger, cut into smaller sizes
• 1/4 cup cornstarch
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 tbsp. whole Sichuan peppercorn
• oil for shallow frying
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 scallion white, minced
• 1/4 fresh green pepper, minced (optional)
• 1/4 fresh red pepper, minced (optional)

Steps

Devein the shrimp and marinate with salt and ginger. Set aside for 15 minutes.

During this process, let make the real deal “salt and pepper”. Toast Sichuan peppercorn with salt over slow fire until aromatic (takes around 1 minute). Transfer the mixture out and then ground into powder.

Coat with starch.

Heat up oil in wok until you can see waves on the surface. Fry the shrimp for  to 1 minute by two batches. Transfer shrimp out.  High oil temperature is the key factor to a great flavor.

Pour the extra oil out and leave only around 1/2 tablespoon.  Fry garlic, scallion and chopped fresh peppers until aromatic.

Return the shrimp and sprinkle 3/4 of the salt and pepper.

Transfer out and sprinkle the remaining on the surface or on small corner of the serving plate.

Other Chinese style shrimp recipe

• Ketchup shrimp, a slightly savory and sweet shrimp
• Soft fried shrimp, fried shrimp with  a lighter batter
• Shrimp with scrambled egg, extremely tender shrimp with scrambled egg
• Shrimp egg foo young, pan-fried egg cake with fresh shrimp

5 from 6 votes

Print

Chinese Salt and Pepper Shrimp

Prep Time

10 mins

Cook Time

15 mins

Total Time

25 mins

 

Chinese style crispy salt and pepper shrimp

Course: Main Course, Snack

Cuisine: Chinese

Keyword: pepper, shrimp

Servings: 2

Calories: 236 kcal

Author: Elaine

Ingredients

• 300 g shrimp ,deveined
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 thumb ginger ,cut into smaller sizes
• 1/4 cup cornstarch
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 tbsp. whole Sichuan peppercorn
• oil for shallow frying
• 2 garlic cloves ,minced
• 1 scallion white ,minced
• 1/4 fresh green pepper ,minced (optional)
• 1/4 fresh red pepper ,minced (optional)

Instructions

1. Devein the shrimp and marinate with salt and ginger. Set aside for 15 minutes.
2. During this process, let make the real deal "salt and pepper". Toast Sichuan peppercorn with salt over slow fire until aromatic (takes around 1 minute). Transfer the mixture out and then ground into powder.
3. Coat shrimp with starch. Shake off extra starch before frying.
4. Heat up oil in wok until you can see waves on the surface. Fry the shrimp for to 1 minute by two batches. Transfer shrimp out. High oil temperature is the key factor to a great flavor.
5. Pour the extra oil out and leave only around 1/2 tablespoon. Fry garlic, scallion and chopped fresh peppers until aromatic.
6. Return the shrimp and sprinkle 3/4 of the salt and pepper.
7. Transfer out and sprinkle the remaining on the surface or on small corner of the serving plate.

Recipe Notes

Recipe first published in 2014 and updated in 2018

Nutrition Facts

Chinese Salt and Pepper Shrimp

Amount Per Serving

Calories 236 Calories from Fat 18

% Daily Value*

Fat 2g3%

Cholesterol 378mg126%

Sodium 2620mg114%

Potassium 138mg4%

Carbohydrates 17g6%

Protein 31g62%

Vitamin A 115IU2%

Vitamin C 17mg21%

Calcium 223mg22%

Iron 3.2mg18%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.