Kung Pao Shrimp (Sweet & Spicy!)

Kung pao shrimp is made with a candy and spicy sauce, juicy shrimp, and bell peppers for a colourful, high-protein meal prepared in half-hour.

Simple Selfmade Kung Pao Shrimp

Kung Pao Shrimp is a favourite stir fry amongst Group Match Foodie. It’s spicy and candy all on the identical time and filled with protein and veggies.

I like this recipe as a result of you’ll be able to swap up the veggies and/or protein and have a distinct kung pao meal each time!

What’s Kung Pao Shrimp made from?

Kung Pao Shrimp is a spicy Chinese language dish that’s historically made with scorching chili peppers, soy sauce, different spices, and shrimp.

Our kung pao shrimp recipe is non-traditional within the sense that we swapped sriracha and crimson chili paste for precise scorching chili peppers. The flavors are there, however we made this recipe our personal through the use of components simply present in American grocery shops.

What sort of shrimp is finest for kung pao shrimp?

You possibly can actually use any form of uncooked shrimp for kung pao shrimp. We favor a bigger shrimp resembling giant, XL, or jumbo, however any sort works.

We suggest shopping for uncooked shrimp over-cooked so that you simply don’t overcook your shrimp. For the best preparation, discover a uncooked shrimp product that’s peeled and deveined.

What’s in Kung Pao Sauce?

As we talked about above, conventional Chinese language kung pao sauce is made from precise crimson chili peppers, however we made just a few modifications. Try an genuine kung pao sauce recipe HERE.

• Soy sauce
• Sriracha
• Chili paste
• Honey
• Ginger
• Cornstarch

How do you make kung pao shrimp much less spicy?

Since kung pao sauce is historically very spicy, you’ll be able to both use much less chili pepper merchandise or add extra sweetness. In our case, we’re utilizing honey, so you could possibly add extra of that or use an extra sugar product resembling desk sugar.

Thicken Kung Pao Sauce

The best strategy to thicken kung pao sauce (or any form of stir fry sauce) is with cornstarch.

2 Methods to do it

1. Whisk the cornstarch with the sauce earlier than it’s been added to the warmth. Simply be certain it absolutely dissolves within the sauce. It ought to thicken proper up as soon as it’s been heated on the stovetop for a couple of minutes.
2. If you happen to’ve already added the sauce to the frying pan, whisk the cornstarch with 1-2 tablespoons of water to create a slurry. Then, add that to the recent frying pan and warmth till thickened.

Serving Strategies/Swaps

The beauty of this dish is you could actually make it your individual! Change up the protein, use a distinct veggie, and choose your grain!

Swap the protein

• Rooster breast
• Flank steak
• Garbanzo beans

Use totally different veggies

• Broccoli
• Water chestnuts
• Mushrooms
• Onion

Serve along with your favourite grain

Storage

Retailer leftover kung pao shrimp stir fry in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 3 days.

Kung Pao Shrimp

Kung Pao Shrimp is a candy and spicy stir fry dish that is able to go in underneath half-hour!

Prep:5 minutes

Cook dinner:15 minutes

Complete:20 minutes

Fats 12

Carbs 33

Protein 28

Substances

For the Sauce

• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 1/4 cup sriracha
• 2 tablespoons chili paste
• 1/3 cup honey
• 1.5 tablespoons contemporary ginger grated (separated)
• 2 teaspoons cornstarch

For the Kung Pao Shrimp

• 1 lb. giant/XL uncooked shrimp tail off and peeled (we used the Good and Gather brand)
• 3 inexperienced onions
• 2 tablespoons avocado oil
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3 cloves garlic minced
• 1 giant crimson bell pepper thinly sliced
• 1/4 cup roasted and salted peanuts roughly chopped
• 1 tablespoon contemporary lime juce

Directions 

• Add the soy sauce, sriracha, chili paste, honey, and 1 tablespoon of grated ginger to a bowl and whisk the components collectively till mixed.

• Subsequent, add the peeled shrimp to a gallon measurement bag or a big bowl and pour half of the kung pao sauce over the shrimp. Toss the shrimp within the sauce and place the shrimp within the fridge to marinate for at the very least half-hour to 1 hour.

• Subsequent, add the cornstarch to the remaining kung pao sauce and whisk the components collectively till the cornstarch dissolves. Put aside.

• Put together the inexperienced onions by discarding the basis after which reducing the white a part of the inexperienced onion into about 3-inch lengthy items after which thinly slice them scorching canine type. Set them apart. Then, mince the inexperienced a part of the inexperienced onion for later. Put aside.

• Warmth a big skillet over medium/excessive warmth and add 1 tablespoon of avocado oil. When the avocado oil is scorching, add the white a part of the inexperienced onion to the skillet. Season the onions with a little bit of salt over the onions and sauté for 1 minute.

• Flip the warmth to medium and add the garlic, sliced crimson pepper, and remaining half tablespoon of grated ginger to the skillet and sauté for 3-4 minutes or till the pepper begins to melt (however doesn’t flip soggy). Take away the onions and peppers from the skillet.

• Subsequent, take away the shrimp from fridge and pour the shrimp right into a colander to separate them from the marinade. Discard the marinade.

• Warmth a big skillet over medium warmth and add the final tablespoon of avocado oil to the skillet. When the skillet is scorching, add all the shrimp to the skillet. Let the shrimp cook dinner for one minute earlier than flipping the shrimp over. Pour the kung pao sauce with the cornstarch over the shrimp and permit the shrimp to cook dinner for two minutes within the sauce.

• Take away the skillet from the warmth and add the cooked peppers and onions to the shrimp. Toss all the components collectively after which pour the every thing onto a serving platter.

• Sprinkle the peanuts and inexperienced onions over the kung pao shrimp and revel in.

Ideas & Notes

• This recipe was up to date April, 2022. Check out the old recipe here.
• We used giant uncooked shrimp, however be happy to make use of jumbo. The cook dinner time could change a bit. 
• The longer you marinate the shrimp, the extra flavorful they are going to be. 
• This can be a spicy dish, when you would like a much less spicy dish, add much less sriracha and extra honey.
• Vitamin info doesn’t embrace rice.

Vitamin info

Energy: 336kcal Carbohydrates: 33g Protein: 28g Fats: 12g Fiber: 2g Sugar: 26g