Butterfly Fried Shrimp
Butterfly Fried Shrimp is a crispy Southern fried shrimp recipe perfect for seafood dinners, delivering golden crunchy coating, tender shrimp, and 20-minute cooking. Jumbo shrimp are butterflied, coated in seasoned breading, and fried until crisp and golden brown.
Servings: 4
Calories: 370kcal
Equipment
- Deep Skillet or Deep Fryer
- Wire rack
- Shallow Dishes for Breading
- Slotted spoon
Ingredients
- 1 pound jumbo shrimp peeled and deveined
- 1 cup Louisiana-style fish fry or your preferred seafood breading mix
- 1 cup Maseca corn masa flour
- 2 large eggs whisked
- peanut oil for frying
- salt and pepper to taste
Dipping Sauce Options
- cajun sauce (remoulade)
- cocktail sauce
Instructions
- Rinse and pat dry the jumbo shrimp. *Butterfly them by slicing along the back and flattening slightly.
- Set up a breading station with two shallow dishes: one with Louisiana-style fish fry combined with masa flour, salt, and pepper, and one with beaten eggs.
- Coat each butterflied shrimp by first dipping it in the egg mixture, then into the combined fish fry and masa flour, pressing gently to ensure an even coating.
- Shallow Frying Method: Heat peanut oil in a deep skillet to 360°F (182°C). Fry the shrimp in batches for 2-3 minutes per side until golden brown.
- Deep Frying Method: Fill a deep fryer or heavy-bottomed pot with peanut oil, leaving enough space to prevent overflow when adding shrimp. Heat the oil to 360°F (182°C). Carefully add the breaded shrimp to the hot oil in batches to avoid overcrowding. Fry for 2-3 minutes until golden brown and crispy.
- Remove the fried shrimp with a slotted spoon, and drain on a wire rack. Season with a touch of salt while they are hot.
- Serve with cajun sauce (remoulade) or cocktail sauce.
Notes
Cooking Notes
Patting the shrimp dry before breading helps the coating stick more evenly. Avoid overcrowding the oil so the shrimp stay crisp instead of steaming.
Tips for Best Results:
- Butterfly the shrimp evenly for consistent cooking.
- Press the breading gently onto the shrimp.
- Fry in batches to maintain oil temperature.
- Season lightly with salt immediately after frying.
Nutrition
Calories: 370kcal | Carbohydrates: 52g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.02g | Cholesterol: 225mg | Sodium: 676mg | Potassium: 363mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 324IU | Calcium: 115mg | Iron: 2mg
