Here are seven delicious Asian-inspired shrimp recipes that you can easily make at home. These recipes offer a variety of flavors and cooking styles, from the delicate art of sushi to the bold spices of Sichuan cuisine.
1. Shrimp Sushi Rolls
Making sushi at home might seem intimidating, but this recipe demonstrates that it is easier than one might think. The key to successful sushi lies in the preparation of the sushi rice, which must be a short-grain variety to achieve the necessary stickiness. The rice is rinsed, cooked, and then seasoned with a mixture of rice vinegar, sugar, and salt. It is crucial to allow the seasoned rice to cool to room temperature before using it to prevent the nori (seaweed) from becoming soggy. When working with the rice, you should wet your hands with water to prevent the rice from sticking to your fingers. For this recipe, you’ll use cooked shrimp. You can select from a variety of shrimp, like Pacific White Shrimp or West-Coast White Shrimp, and should opt for sustainably sourced shrimp.
Key Ingredients: Sushi rice, nori (seaweed sheets), cooked shrimp, avocado, and cucumber.
Recipe: Making Shrimp Sushi at Home
2. Mango Shrimp Salsa
This mango shrimp salsa recipe provides a refreshing and flavorful twist on traditional salsa. The combination of sweet mango, succulent shrimp, zesty lime, and fresh cilantro makes it a versatile dish that can be served as a snack or a meal accompaniment. When choosing ingredients, make sure to select ripe but not overly soft mangoes that smell sweet, and limes that are heavy for their size with smooth skin for maximum juice. You can use frozen mango if fresh mangoes are unavailable, but make sure to thaw it completely before use. Smaller cooked shrimp are best, and you can use pre-cooked or frozen shrimp, remembering to thaw frozen shrimp completely and rinse them before using. The recipe allows for adjustments to the spice level, giving a guide for mild, medium, and hot variations using jalapeños.
Key Ingredients: Cooked shrimp, fresh mangoes, grape or cherry tomatoes, avocados, jalapeños, red onion, cilantro, garlic, and lime juice. Optional additions include black beans, cucumber, and bell pepper.
Recipe: Mango Shrimp Salsa: A Flavorful Fiesta in Every Bite!
3. Thai Coconut Shrimp Soup
This Thai Coconut Shrimp Soup, or Tom Kha Gai, brings the exotic flavors of Thailand into your kitchen. It balances sweet, sour, salty, and spicy elements. The recipe incorporates a combination of ingredients to create a rich, flavorful, and balanced soup. The use of coconut oil provides a subtle coconut flavor and aids in sautéing the aromatics. Fresh ginger is preferred for the most intense flavor and aroma. The red curry paste is a crucial component and can be adjusted to your preferred spice level. It’s important to simmer the soup to allow the flavors to meld. Finally, lime juice is added to brighten all of the flavors. For the shrimp, it is best to use fresh, raw shrimp, and if using frozen shrimp, make sure to thaw it completely before using.
Key Ingredients: Coconut oil, shallot or onion, garlic, ginger, red curry paste, chicken broth, full-fat coconut milk, tamari or soy sauce, fish sauce, coconut sugar, dried basil, shrimp, mushrooms, spinach, and lime.
Recipe: Restaurant-Quality Thai Coconut Shrimp Soup at Home
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4. Sesame Shrimp Stir-Fry
This sesame shrimp stir-fry recipe is a fast and flavorful option for a weeknight dinner. It incorporates a mix of sweet and savory flavors with a focus on healthy shrimp. The sauce’s components include soy sauce for saltiness and umami, sesame oil for a nutty aroma, ginger for spiciness, garlic for enhancing the savory elements, honey for sweetness, and rice vinegar for acidity. When preparing the shrimp, it should be thawed and deveined before marinating it in the sauce. The shrimp should be stir-fried quickly to avoid a rubbery texture.
Key Ingredients: Medium shrimp, soy sauce, seasoned rice vinegar, brown sugar, olive oil, sesame oil, garlic, ginger, peanut or canola oil, and green onions.
Recipe: Sesame Shrimp Stir-Fry: A Fast and Flavorful Dinner
5. Shrimp Pad Thai
This shrimp pad thai recipe allows you to experience the taste of Thailand in your own home. The dish requires a balance of sweet, sour, salty, and spicy tastes. This recipe uses vermicelli or angel hair rice noodles, which are delicate and pair well with the shrimp. However, you can also use a linguine-style noodle. The sauce is crucial for the dish’s unique flavor, which is made by mixing fish sauce for umami, soy sauce, brown sugar for sweetness, lime juice for a tangy kick, rice vinegar, and chili sauce for heat. It’s important to avoid overcooking the shrimp to maintain its tender texture. You can choose between using pre-cooked or raw shrimp.
Key Ingredients: Rice noodles, shrimp, fish sauce, soy sauce, brown sugar, lime juice, rice vinegar, chili sauce, red bell pepper, carrots, snow peas, bean sprouts, green onions, and peanuts.
Recipe: Shrimp Pad Thai: A Culinary Journey to Thailand in Your Kitchen
6. Shrimp Pho
This shrimp pho recipe offers a flavorful and comforting Vietnamese soup experience. It features a fragrant broth, tender shrimp, and fresh herbs and vegetables. The key to a good pho is the broth, which traditionally simmers for hours, but this recipe offers a simplified method. The spices, especially star anise and cinnamon stick, are toasted in oil to intensify their flavor. When cooking the rice noodles, make sure not to overcook them. Fresh, high-quality shrimp will enhance the overall taste. You can add the shrimp shells to the broth for a richer flavor. The soup is garnished with a variety of fresh herbs and lime to balance its richness.
Key Ingredients: Chicken stock, vegetable broth, star anise, cinnamon stick, ginger, garlic, shallots, fish sauce, soy sauce, lemongrass, jalapeño, rice noodles, raw shrimp, bok choy, bean sprouts, green onions, basil, cilantro, mint, and limes.
Recipe: Shrimp Pho: A Flavorful Vietnamese Soup You Can Make at Home
7. Szechuan Shrimp Stir-Fry
This Szechuan shrimp stir-fry recipe brings the bold and spicy flavors of Sichuan cuisine to your home. A few key ingredients make Szechuan food special, including Sichuan peppercorns, which create a numbing sensation, and doubanjiang, a fermented bean paste that adds a salty, spicy taste. The recipe includes dried chili peppers, which can be adjusted based on your preferred spice level. To prepare the shrimp, they are marinated in a mixture of light soy sauce, Shaoxing wine or dry sherry, and cornstarch. It’s crucial to use high heat when cooking the shrimp to ensure they stay tender and avoid overcooking them.
Key Ingredients: Large shrimp, light soy sauce, Shaoxing wine or dry sherry, cornstarch, dried Chinese chili peppers, vegetable oil, garlic, ginger, green onion, doubanjiang, Sichuan peppercorns, and roasted peanuts. Optional sauce ingredients include reduced sodium soy sauce, maple syrup, rice vinegar, garlic, Sriracha sauce, chili flakes, Chinese five spice powder, ground ginger powder, and cornstarch.
Recipe: Szechuan Shrimp Stir-Fry: A Taste of Sichuan at Home
These recipes offer a diverse range of Asian-inspired flavors, allowing you to explore different cuisines and cooking techniques. Whether you prefer the delicate flavors of sushi or the bold spices of Sichuan, these recipes are a great way to expand your culinary horizons.