Popcorn shrimp is a popular deep-fried breaded snack or side dish made with small shrimp. It can be found in many restaurants, fast food chains, and grocery stores, and can also be made at home. The breading is made with breadcrumbs and can be seasoned with Creole, chili powder, or Cajun seasoning. The shrimp is dredged in flour, dipped in an egg mixture, and covered with the bread mixture before being fried in hot oil. The finished shrimp is served alone or with a dipping sauce.
A type of deep-fried breaded shrimp, popcorn shrimp are normally made with just the smallest shrimp, so they’re cut into bite-sized pieces. Often thought to have originated in the Cajun South of the United States, the Red Lobster seafood restaurant chain also claims its invention. Whatever its origin, popcorn shrimp is a popular snack or side dish for much of the United States. It can be found not only in many restaurants, fast food chains, and grocery stores, but can also be made at home.
Popcorn shrimp contains two main components: shrimp and breading. While commercial popcorn shrimp may or may not be spicy, most recipes are homemade. Creole seasoning, chili powder, or Cajun seasoning is a popular addition to the breading.
As the name suggests, the breading is mostly made with breadcrumbs. Panko, a type of Japanese bread crumb, is popular in homemade versions. However, any type of breadcrumbs can be used and they can be made with fresh bread. The crumbs are usually mixed with the topping to create the full breading.
For breading, the shrimp are usually dredged in flour first, although some recipes omit this step. Then, they are dipped in an egg mixture, which may contain beaten egg only or may include some spices or cream. Finally, they are covered with the bread mixture. Shrimp are usually breaded in batches, often about a third or a quarter of the shrimp at a time.
After the shrimp has been breaded, it is carefully dropped into a pan of hot oil. The oil, a simple cooking oil, usually fills at least half the pot and needs to be extremely hot before the shrimp is placed in it. Once the prawn is in the oil, it is fried for a few minutes until golden brown. Cooks should always be careful about spitting oil when frying as this can not only be painful but can be dangerous.
The biggest difficulty that inexperienced cooks have with frying is insufficiently heated oil. To test if the oil is hot enough, it should be enough to sprinkle a few unused bread crumbs on top. If the breadcrumbs sizzle, the oil is ready for the prawns.
When the prawns are complete, they are removed from the oil and allowed to drain on a paper towel. Popcorn shrimp can be eaten alone or with a dipping sauce, such as cocktail sauce. Many popcorn shrimp recipes can be adapted for large shrimp.
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