Description
These Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos are a flavor explosion featuring crispy shrimp and a vibrant, crunchy slaw. Perfect for a fun weeknight dinner or impressing guests, this dish is sure to delight your taste buds.
Ingredients
- Medium to large shrimp, peeled and deveined, with tails off
- Buttermilk (or milk with a tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice)
- Cornstarch
- Flour (all-purpose or gluten-free blend)
- Neutral oil for frying (vegetable oil, canola oil, or peanut oil)
- Mayonnaise (full-fat or light)
- Sweet chili sauce
- Sriracha
- Rice vinegar
- Green cabbage
- Red cabbage
- Shredded carrots
- Fresh cilantro
- Fresh lime juice
- Honey or agave nectar
- Light mayonnaise or Greek yogurt (optional)
- Corn or flour tortillas
- Extra lime wedges, fresh cilantro, or thinly sliced red onion for garnishing
Instructions
- Prepare the Crunchy Slaw: In a large bowl, combine shredded green and red cabbage with shredded carrots and chopped fresh cilantro. Whisk together fresh lime juice, honey (or agave nectar), and a pinch of salt and pepper for the dressing. Pour the dressing over the veggies and toss until well coated. Set aside in the fridge.
- Make the Bang Bang Sauce: In a medium bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, sriracha, and rice vinegar until smooth and creamy. Adjust sriracha and sweet chili to taste. Cover and set aside.
- Prepare the Shrimp: Pat the peeled and deveined shrimp dry with paper towels. In one shallow bowl, pour buttermilk. In another shallow bowl, combine cornstarch, flour, salt, and black pepper. Dip each shrimp into the buttermilk, then dredge in the cornstarch-flour mixture, ensuring they are well coated.
- Cook the Crispy Bang Bang Shrimp: Heat 1-2 inches of neutral oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until it reaches 350-375°F (175-190°C). Fry the shrimp in batches for 2-3 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through. Transfer to a wire rack over paper towels and sprinkle with salt.
- Toss the Shrimp with Sauce: Transfer cooked shrimp to a large bowl and pour about two-thirds of the Bang Bang sauce over them. Gently toss until lightly coated, reserving some sauce for later.
- Assemble Your Tacos: Warm tortillas in a skillet or oven. On each tortilla, spoon a generous amount of crunchy slaw, top with saucy Bang Bang shrimp, drizzle with reserved sauce, and garnish with lime and cilantro. Serve immediately.
- Prep Time: 30 mins
- Cook Time: 15 mins
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 taco
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 15 g
- Cholesterol: 150 mg
Keywords: For extra crispy shrimp, consider double dredging. Don't overcook the shrimp to avoid rubberiness. The slaw can be made ahead, and adjust the heat in the sauce to your preference.