Description
These Hot Honey Lemon Pepper Crispy Shrimp are packed with flavor and sure to impress! The shrimp are coated in a light, crispy batter, then tossed in a sweet, spicy, and tangy sauce made with hot honey, fresh lemon, and a kick of black pepper. Perfect for an appetizer, snack, or main dish, these shrimp are quick to prepare and irresistibly delicious.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Shrimp:
- 1 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup cornstarch
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 egg
- ¼ cup buttermilk (or regular milk)
- Vegetable oil, for frying
For the Hot Honey Lemon Pepper Sauce:
- ¼ cup hot honey (or regular honey + a pinch of red pepper flakes)
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
- Zest of 1 lemon
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
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Prepare the Shrimp:
- Pat the shrimp dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture. This helps them get crispy when frying.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper.
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Coat the Shrimp:
- In a separate bowl, whisk the egg and buttermilk together until well combined.
- Dip each shrimp into the egg mixture, then coat it with the flour mixture, pressing gently to ensure the shrimp is well-coated.
-
Fry the Shrimp:
- Heat about 1 inch of vegetable oil in a large skillet or deep fryer over medium-high heat. To test if the oil is hot enough, drop a small piece of batter into the oil; it should sizzle immediately.
- Fry the shrimp in batches, without overcrowding the pan, for 2-3 minutes on each side, until golden brown and crispy. Remove them from the oil and drain on paper towels.
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Prepare the Sauce:
- In a small saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the hot honey, lemon juice, lemon zest, black pepper, and salt. Stir to combine and let the sauce simmer for 2-3 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld together. The sauce should thicken slightly.
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Toss the Shrimp in the Sauce:
- Once the shrimp are fried and crispy, transfer them to a large bowl. Pour the hot honey lemon pepper sauce over the shrimp and toss to coat them evenly.
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Serve:
- Serve the crispy shrimp immediately, garnished with additional lemon zest or parsley if desired. These shrimp are perfect on their own or served with a side of rice, salad, or as a topping for tacos.
Notes
- For extra crunch, double coat the shrimp by dipping them back into the egg mixture and flour mixture before frying.
- Be sure not to overcrowd the pan while frying; cook the shrimp in batches to ensure they stay crispy.
- Adjust the amount of hot honey or red pepper flakes to suit your spice tolerance.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Cuisine: American