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freshly made szechuan chili shrimp in a skillet.
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4.84 from 37 votes

Szechuan Chili Shrimp

Crispy, spicy, Szechuan Chili Shrimp! This easy dish is loaded with flavor. Made with a simple but delicious sauce that is out of this world, you can't go wrong with this one pan, less than 30 minute recipe!
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time12 minutes
Total Time27 minutes
Course: Dinner, Lunch
Cuisine: Asian
Keyword: szechuan chili shrimp
Servings: 4
Calories: 402kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 pound large shrimp peeled and deveined
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon Szechuan peppercorns
  • ¼ cup vegetable oil plus 2 tbsp
  • 2 inch ginger piece peeled and sliced into thin strips
  • 8 dried red chillies cut into small ½ inch pieces
  • 5 green onions white parts chopped, green parts cut into 2 inch pieces

Sauce

Instructions

  • Prepare Shrimp: Dredge the shrimp thoroughly through the flour and shake off any excess flour.
  • Toast Peppercorns: Toast the Szechuan peppercorns in a skillet or frying pan over medium heat, until fragrant, for 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer the peppercorns to a mortar and pestle and grind to a fine powder. Set aside.
  • Make Sauce: In a small bowl combine the sauce ingredients together.
  • Cook Shrimp: In a large skillet heat the ¼ cup of vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Add the shrimp and cook on both sides for about 2 to 3 minutes per side or until golden. Transfer to a paper towel lined plate to drain.
  • Finish: Discard the oil from the skillet and clean it. Add remaining 2 tbsp of vegetable oil to the skillet and heat over medium-high heat. Add the ginger, chillies and the white part of the green onion. Cook for about 1 minute. Add the shrimp to the skillet, sprinkle with ground peppercorns and toss well. Drizzle the stir-fry sauce over the shrimp and toss well until combined.
  • Serve: Garnish with the green part of the green onions and serve with rice.

Video

Notes

  1. If you can't find Szechuan peppercorns, a combination of black pepper and coriander seeds can be used. However, if you do have Szechuan peppercorns, make sure to toast them first and then grind them up real fine.
  2. Any type of light/vegetable oil is best to use for frying. Vegetable or canola oil are both optimal choices.
  3. Cast iron skillets are the best tool for frying because they distribute heat more evenly; and even better, they retain heat! Non-stick skillets work as well.
  4. You can bake these as well, just follow all steps listed until frying. Preheat oven to 400°F and place shrimp on a parchment/silpat lined baking sheet. Bake 10 to 12 min on the first side, flip and bake for another 10 to 12 minutes or until golden brown. Finish as instructed.
  5. Store leftover Szechuan chili shrimp in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
  6. Reheating in Microwave: Microwave at 10-20 second intervals until heated through, or your can reheat them in the oven to retain crispiness.
  7. Reheating in Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F. Place the shrimp on a sheet pan and bake them for 10-15 minutes, or until completely heated through.
  8. If you want to keep your Szechuan chili shrimp for longer to use for future meals, make sure they have cooled down, then place the cooked shrimp on a parchment paper lined baking sheet, cover with plastic wrap, and freeze for 1-2 hours or until solid (this will prevent them from sticking together when stored). Transfer them to an airtight container or freezer bag and store them in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw completely and reheat in the oven to retain crispiness.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 402kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Cholesterol: 286mg | Sodium: 1597mg | Potassium: 257mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 223IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 196mg | Iron: 5mg