Jumbo Fried Shrimp
Ingredients
▢3 pounds raw jumbo shrimp (16/20 count per pound)
▢3 jumbo eggs
▢salt (3 shakes)
▢black pepper (3 shakes)
▢2 cups plain dry bread crumbs
▢canola oil (or corn oil, enough to cover the bottom of your frying pan; you will need this up to three times)
▢1 lemon for serving
▢cocktail sauce for serving
US Customary – Metric
Instructions
Peel shrimp but leave the tails on. (Use a small paring knife to make a tiny cut just above the tail to make it easier to start peeling.) Remove the inner and outer black veins (really the digestive tract — gross) by loosening them with the knife or the pointy tip of a metal skewer, then pulling them out in one piece with your fingers. Discard the veins. Rinse the shrimp in cold water and pat dry with paper towels.
Wash your hands well and beat the eggs in a small bowl. Add salt and pepper. Place the bread crumbs in a dinner plate. Set up an assembly line from left to right with the shrimp, the eggs, the bread crumbs, and a sheet pan with sides.
Grasping the tail of the shrimp, dip each one in the eggs, then dredge in the bread crumbs, patting the crumbs onto the shrimp. Line up the shrimp on the sheet pan, using wax paper to separate the layers of shrimp if you need to stack them.
Wash your hands again and set a clean sheet pan or platter lined with paper towels near the stove, along with tongs (or a fork) and a slotted spoon. Pour enough oil in your frying pan to cover the bottom. Heat the oil on medium high. When the oil is hot enough to sizzle, add a layer of shrimp at a time, without letting them touch. Fry on the first side until the bottom is browned, then carefully flip over the shrimp, using tongs or a fork. When the shrimp is browned on the second side (it should take up to 5 minutes total for the shrimp to cook) remove the shrimp with a slotted spoon and place it on the paper towel-lined pan to drain.
Continue frying all of the shrimp in batches. After your second batch, discard the oil in the pan (place it in a disposable container rather than dumping it down your drain to prevent problems) and replenish the pan with fresh oil, enough to cover the bottom of the pan. (It’s necessary to change the oil after every couple of batches, because once it gets dark, it will burn the shrimp on the outside without cooking it all the way.)
Blot the cooked shrimp and serve with the lemon cut in half or wedges so it can be squeezed on top, and cocktail sauce on the side. Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to three days.
Notes
This recipe is for a large batch (3 pounds), so the preparation time will be much less if making a smaller batch. If you are making a different amount, use one jumbo egg per pound of shrimp.
Southern Pan Fried Fish
Classic delicious southern fried fish is lightly seasoned and fried in a pan until golden and crisp. Crispy whiting fish is the best!
INGREDIENTS
2 lb Fish Fillet whiting, cod, catfish
salt and pepper for taste
vegetable oil for frying
Flour Mixture
¾ cup cornmeal
1 tbsp all purpose flour
½ tsp garlic powder
¼ tsp cayenne pepper
salt and pepper for taste
INSTRUCTIONS
Lightly season the fish with salt and pepper. Set aside. In a large bowl, combine the flours and all of the seasonings.
Dredge the fillets in the breading mixture one at a time. Place the coated fillets on a parchment lined baking sheet. Let them sit for 10-15 minutes.
Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Fill the pan with the vegetable oil halfway.*See notes. Fry the fillets in batches but do not crowd the pan. Cook for 3-4 minutes on each side. Drain on a paper towel. Serve immediately since the crispiness won’t last very long!
NOTES
COOK TIPS:
Use your choice of fish, whiting, cod, catfish.
Make sure all the bones are removed from the fish.
To make this gluten free, eliminate the flour.
Pat the fish dry.
Season the fish lightly with salt and pepper.
Gently press the breading into the fish and shake off excess flour before you add it to the oil.
Coat the fish then leave it alone for 10 minutes. This will help keep the coating from falling off.
Use a good quality non-stick pan or cast iron skillet to fry your fish.
Do not fill the skillet more than halfway with oil.
Make sure the hot oil is @ the correct temperature (350 degrees F) before the fish is added to the skillet.
