Colossal-size shrimp seasoned and fried crispy with honey, orange, garlic, and red pepper. You can dress this up with either orange, lemon, or lime zest and fresh thinly-sliced basil.
Ingredients
24 jumbo shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 cup cornstarch
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1¼ teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
½ cup canola oil
1 cup tupelo honey
1 tablespoon grated orange zest
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper, or to taste
Directions
Step 1
Wash shrimp well and submerge in cold water in a bowl; set shrimp aside.
Step 2
Place cornstarch, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper in a large plastic bowl with a tight-fitting lid, close the lid, and shake several times to mix. Place half the wet shrimp into the container, cover, and shake to coat shrimp with cornstarch mixture. Remove shrimp to a platter and repeat with remaining shrimp.
Step 3
Heat canola oil in a large skillet over medium heat until the oil is hot and shimmering but not smoking. Tap excess cornstarch from the shrimp and pan-fry in batches until shrimp are opaque inside and brown and crisp outside, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Drain cooked shrimp on paper towels while you fry the remaining shrimp.
Step 4
Clean skillet and pour in honey; bring to a boil over medium heat and stir in orange zest, lemon juice, and cayenne pepper. Serve hot shrimp on a serving platter drizzled with honey sauce to taste.
Cook’s Note:
You want to make the cornstarch crispy and lightly brown without over cooking the shrimp. Shrimp should almost pop in your mouth when bitten into. You want the shrimp to be spicy but not overwhelming. Tasting the individual ingredients will make this appetizer very enjoyable!
Editor’s Note:
The nutrition data for this recipe includes the full amount of the breading ingredients and sauce. The actual amount of the ingredients consumed will vary.
