Shrimp Stir Fry is a popular Asian seafood dish that is bursting with bold flavor and taste. While it is often associated with Chinese cuisine, it is also popular in other Asian countries. This dish typically consists of shrimp, vegetables, basic seasonings, aromatics, and a flavorful stir-fry sauce. This homemade shrimp stir fry recipe is easy to make in under 30 minutes and pairs well with rice, noodles, roasted or baked vegetables, and other Asian dishes.
The recipe I have shared here includes step-by-step instructions to make Shrimp Stir Fry at home. I have also included a detailed video to make the cooking process simple and clear.
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What is Shrimp Stir Fry?
Shrimp Stir Fry is a bold and moderately spicy Asian seafood dish that is bursting with flavor. It is typically made with shrimp, veggies, aromatics, and basic spices, all stir-fried in a homemade stir-fry sauce. This Shrimp Stir Fry is one of the quickest and easiest stir-fry dishes to make in under 30 minutes and pairs perfectly with different rice dishes, fried rice dishes, or any other Asian dish.
Whether you're looking for a delicious seafood dinner or a quick and easy meal to add variety to your regular dinner rotation, Shrimp Stir Fry is an excellent option. Not only is it simple to make, but it is also loaded with healthy proteins and veggies that are essential for a wholesome meal.
Overall, Shrimp Stir Fry is a versatile and flavorful dish that can be enjoyed in many different ways. It can be served as a main course with rice or noodles, or as a side dish to complement other Chinese-inspired meals. With its bold flavor and easy preparation, Shrimp Stir Fry is a must-try dish for shrimp lovers and anyone looking to spice up their meals.
Ingredients and Substitutions
The ingredients required to make this Shrimp Stir Fry are commonly found in Asian grocery stores. Let's take a look at what you will need.
To make the Sauce
Below are the ingredients you will need to make Stir Fry Sauce:
- Soy Sauce - Both regular all-purpose and dark soy sauce are used in this recipe. Dark soy sauce adds color, while regular soy sauce enhances the flavor
- Chili Sauce - While this recipe calls for chili sauce, you may substitute it with sriracha or any other hot sauce of your choice
- Chicken Stock/Broth - Either stock or broth may be used, but it is recommended to use low-sodium options
- Vinegar - Rice vinegar is preferred, but regular vinegar can be used as a substitute
- Brown Sugar and Honey - These sweet ingredients help to balance the overall flavor of the dish.
- Cornstarch - Acts as a thickening agent
To make Shrimp Stir Fry
Following are the ingredients required to make shrimp stir-fry.
- Shrimp - Fresh or frozen shrimp/prawns may be used. If using frozen, ensure they are thawed to room temperature before using
- Veggies - Broccoli, bell pepper, and spring onions are used to create a vibrant and flavorful medley. Feel free to use your favorite veggies for a more satisfying dish
- Aromatics - Ginger and garlic add a fresh aroma and taste, enhancing the dish's flavor
- Oil - While traditional Chinese recipes call for sesame or soybean oil, you may use your preferred cooking oil
- Chili Flakes and Black Pepper - Add the heat required for your dish
For a detailed ingredients list, please check out the recipe card below.
How to Make Shrimp Stir Fry at Home?
The recipe I have shared here is a Shrimp Stir Fry, a flavorful and easy-to-make dish that features shrimp, veggies, and a homemade stir-fry sauce. It's a versatile dish that can be enjoyed as a main course or side dish and can be customized to your liking by adding your favorite veggies or adjusting the spice level. With its bold flavors and healthy ingredients, Shrimp Stir Fry is a great option for seafood lovers and anyone looking to add more veggies to their diet.
Below are the high-level instructions for this recipe, but for detailed step-by-step instructions with photos and a video, please see the recipe card below.
Prep Sauce
- Gather ingredients -To prepare the sauce for the shrimp stir fry, it is important to gather all the ingredients mentioned in the list and add them to a bowl
- Combine - The ingredients may include soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, chili sauce, chicken broth, and cornstarch, among others. Once all the ingredients are in the bowl, mix them well until they are thoroughly combined. This will create a flavorful sauce that will be used later to season the shrimp and vegetables in the stir fry
Season and Shallow Fry Shrimp
- Season the shrimp - To season and shallow fry the shrimp, begin by cleaning the shrimp and placing them in a bowl. Add black pepper, salt, and cornstarch to the bowl and mix well until the shrimp is coated with the mixture. This will help to give the shrimp a crispy outer layer when it is fried
- Add - Next, heat a frying pan over medium heat and add oil. Once the oil is hot, carefully add the shrimp to the pan one by one, making sure not to overcrowd the pan
- Fry - Fry the shrimp for about 2 to 3 minutes, or until it turns pink. Overcooking the shrimp can cause it to become tough and rubbery, so it is important to keep an eye on it while it cooks
- Remove - Once the shrimp is cooked, remove it from the pan and set it aside for later use
Prep Shrimp Stir Fry
- Saute the aromatics - To make the shrimp stir fry, begin by heating a wok over high heat and adding oil to the wok. Once the oil is hot, add ginger, garlic, and chili flakes to the wok and sauté the mixture until it becomes fragrant. This will create a flavorful base for the stir fry
- Stir fry the veggies - Next, add broccoli to the wok and stir fry it until it becomes crispy yet tender. Then, add bell peppers and stir fry for 40 to 50 seconds
- Add the sauce - Now, pour in the stir-fry sauce that was prepared earlier and mix well. Allow the sauce to thicken slightly as it cooks with the vegetables
- Combine shrimp - Add the shallow-fried shrimp to the wok and stir well to combine it with the vegetables and sauce.
- Garnish and remove - Finally, add spring onions and garnish with sesame seeds before removing the wok from the heat
Tips
- Shrimp or Prawns - Fresh or frozen shrimp or prawns work perfectly well for this recipe. However, ensure to thaw the frozen ones before using them in your stir-fry recipes
- Prep Ahead - Since stir-frying is a fast process, it is best to prep the ingredients ahead of time to make the cooking process faster
- Veggies - Although I have used only broccoli and bell peppers in this recipe, you can always add your favorite vegetables to make the dish more vibrant, healthy, and colorful.
- Heat Level - This recipe calls for chili sauce, chili flakes, and black pepper, resulting in a moderately spicy dish. However, feel free to adjust the heat level according to your preferences
- Oil - Classic Chinese stir-fry recipes typically call for sesame oil or soybean oil. However, you can use your regular cooking oil if that is more convenient for you
Storage Suggestions
Usually, stir-fried dishes taste great when served hot as soon as they are out of the wok. However, you can store the leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 2 days in an airtight container. Reheat them in the microwave or on the stovetop to enjoy them again.
Serving Suggestions
Shrimp stir fry is a versatile dish that can be served with various sides to make a complete meal. Here are some ideas:
- Rice: Shrimp stir fry is delicious when served over white rice, brown rice, jasmine rice, or basmati rice
- Noodles: You can also serve it with noodles, such as udon, soba, or rice noodles
- Vegetables: Serve the stir fry over a bed of steamed or sauteed vegetables like bok choy, brussels sprouts, mushroom, spinach, kale, roasted broccoli, cauliflower, or snap peas
- Salad: A light and refreshing salad such as cucumber salad or sesame ginger salad would make a great side dish
- Soup: Serve it with a warm bowl of soup, such as egg drop soup or hot and sour soup
- Fried rices: Shrimp stir fry can also be served with a side of fried rice, which is a perfect complement to the dish
Ultimately, the choice of side dish depends on your preference and the occasion.
Related Recipes
You could also find similar stir fry recipes below and more at Chinese and Asian recipes.
- Vegetable Stir Fry
- Chicken Stir Fry
- Chicken and Broccoli Stir Fry
- Szechuan Shrimp
- Kung Pao Shrimp
- Teriyaki Chicken
- Sweet and Sour Chicken
- Orange Chicken
More shrimp recipes:
- Honey Garlic Shrimp
- Fried Shrimp
- Garlic Butter Shrimp
- Shrimp Scampi
- Air Fryer Shrimp
- Shrimp Vindaloo
Shrimp Stir Fry Recipe Video
I have also shared a detailed video of this Shrimp Stir Fry Recipe below that I hope will help you to make Asian inspired meal at home. You can also find this recipe in story format.
📖 Recipe
Shrimp Stir Fry
Ingredients
For Sauce
- 2 tbsp Soy Sauce
- 1 tbsp Dark Soy Sauce
- 2 tbsp Chicken Broth
- 2 tbsp Chili Sauce, or adjust according to heat preference
- 1 tbsp Vinegar, rice or regular vinegar
- 1 tbsp Cornstarch
- 1 tbsp Brown Sugar
- 2 tbsp Honey
For Stir Frying
- 1½ lb Shrimp, cleaned, or prawns
- ½ tsp Black Pepper, ground
- Salt, as needed for marination and stir frying
- 2 tbsp Cornstarch, for coating shrimp
- 6 tbsp Oil, 3 tbsp for shallow frying + 2 tbsp for stir frying
- 1 tbsp Ginger, chopped
- 2 tbsp Garlic, chopped
- 1 tsp Chili Flakes
- 2 cups Broccoli, small florets
- ¼ cup Red Bell Pepper, sliced
- ¼ cup Yellow Bell Pepper, sliced
- ¼ cup Spring Onion, cut lengthwise
- Sesame Seeds, to garnish, white or black
Instructions
To Prepare the Sauce:
- Begin by gathering all the necessary ingredients mentioned in the list to make the sauce. Add them to a bowl and mix well. Once the ingredients are thoroughly combined, set the sauce aside for later use
To Season and Shallow Fry the Shrimp:
- Take a bowl and add cleaned shrimp along with black pepper, salt, and cornstarch. Mix well until the shrimp is well-coated with the mixture
- Next, heat a frying pan over medium heat and pour in the oil. Carefully add the shrimp to the pan one by one, making sure not to overcrowd the pan. Fry the shrimp for about 2 to 3 minutes, or until it turns pink. It is essential not to overcook the shrimp as it can become tough and rubbery
- Once cooked, remove the shrimp from the oil and keep it aside for later use. Note that although I have shallow-fried the shrimp in a pan, you can also use a wok to create a one-pan dish
To Make the Shrimp Stir Fry:
- In a wok over high heat, pour oil and add the ginger, garlic, and chili flakes. Saute the mixture until it becomes fragrant
- Next, add the broccoli and stir fry until it becomes crispy yet tender. Add the bell peppers and stir fry for 40 to 50 seconds. At this stage, you can season the veggies with salt
- Now, pour in the stir-fry sauce and mix well. Allow the sauce to thicken slightly
- Add the shallow-fried shrimp to the wok and stir well
- Finally, add spring onions and garnish with sesame seeds before removing the wok from the heat
To Serve:
- Serve the Shrimp Stir Fry as soon as it is done, over white rice, brown rice, jasmine rice, or basmati rice. You can also serve it with noodles or other Chinese dishes for a satisfying Asian-inspired meal
Video
Notes
- Shrimp or Prawns - Fresh or frozen shrimp or prawns work perfectly well for this recipe. However, ensure to thaw the frozen ones before using them in your stir-fry recipes
- Prep Ahead - Since stir-frying is a fast process, it is best to prep the ingredients ahead of time to make the cooking process faster
- Veggies - Although I have used only broccoli and bell peppers in this recipe, you can always add your favorite vegetables to make the dish more vibrant, healthy, and colorful.
- Heat Level - This recipe calls for chili sauce, chili flakes, and black pepper, resulting in a moderately spicy dish. However, feel free to adjust the heat level according to your preferences
- Oil - Classic Chinese stir-fry recipes typically call for sesame oil or soybean oil. However, you can use your regular cooking oil if that is more convenient for you
Nutrition
FAQ
Shrimp Stir Fry is a popular Asian seafood dish that is bursting with flavor. It typically consists of shrimp, vegetables, aromatics, and basic spices, all stir-fried in a homemade stir-fry sauce. This dish is known for its bold and moderately spicy taste and can be prepared in under 30 minutes.
Yes, you can make this dish without veggies if you prefer.
Classic stir-fry recipes call for sesame oil or soybean oil, which have a high smoke point. However, you can also use other cooking oils of your choice.
Shrimp stir fry pairs perfectly with rice, fried rice, noodles, or any other Asian dish. It also goes well with soup, starters like egg rolls, and other Asian or Chinese comfort foods.
I hope you found the recipe enjoyable and I would appreciate hearing about your experience with it.
If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to comment, and I will do my best to respond promptly. Thank you for reading and happy cooking!
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