Description
Spicy bang bang shrimp tacos blend zesty flavors with crispy seafood and creamy sauce. Cool slaw and warm tortillas complete this crowd-pleasing meal people love sharing together.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (454 g) shrimp, large, peeled, deveined, tails removed
- ½ cup (120 ml) buttermilk
- ¾ cup (94 g) corn starch
- 3 cups cabbage, purple or green, thinly sliced
- 8 to 12 white corn tortillas, small, or hard taco shells
- ½ cup (120 ml) mayonnaise
- 3 tbsps (45 ml) thai sweet chili sauce
- 1 medium tomato, diced
- ¼ cup (8 g) cilantro, coarsely chopped
- 3 tsp (15 ml) sriracha hot sauce, or to taste
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- ¼ tsp onion powder
- ¼ tsp garlic powder
- peanut oil or canola oil for frying shrimp
Instructions
- Sauce Preparation: Blend mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, sriracha, and honey into a harmonious, smooth Bang Bang sauce, whisking until completely integrated and vibrant.
- Shrimp Marination: Immerse shrimp in buttermilk, seasoning with kosher salt, black pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder. Let marinate for 10-15 minutes to infuse deep, rich flavors throughout the seafood.
- Coating Process: Drain buttermilk and thoroughly dredge shrimp in cornstarch, ensuring each piece is completely enveloped for an ultra-crispy exterior that will provide delightful textural contrast.
- Frying Technique: Heat vegetable oil to 375°F in a heavy skillet, carefully introducing shrimp in strategic batches to maintain optimal oil temperature and achieve uniform golden-brown perfection within 2-3 minutes.
- Flavor Enhancement: Drain fried shrimp on paper towels, then gently toss in half the prepared Bang Bang sauce, allowing each morsel to be delicately coated with the zesty mixture.
- Tortilla Transformation: Quickly warm corn or flour tortillas on a griddle, creating subtle char marks and rendering them wonderfully pliable and inviting.
- Final Assembly: Construct tacos by layering shredded cabbage as a crisp foundation, topping with sauced shrimp, sprinkling diced red onions and chopped cilantro, then finishing with a dramatic drizzle of remaining Bang Bang sauce for maximum flavor complexity.
Notes
- Marinate for Maximum Flavor: Soak shrimp in buttermilk for 10-15 minutes to tenderize and infuse deeper taste profiles, ensuring juicier and more flavorful results.
- Maintain Precise Oil Temperature: Keep oil consistently at 375°F to achieve perfectly crispy, golden-brown shrimp without absorbing excess grease or becoming soggy.
- Control Batch Frying: Avoid overcrowding the skillet by frying shrimp in small batches, which prevents temperature drop and ensures even, crisp coating on each piece.
- Sauce Technique Matters: Reserve half the Bang Bang sauce for drizzling to provide layered flavor complexity and prevent overwhelming the delicate shrimp texture.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American-Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 15 g
- Cholesterol: 150 mg