Kung Pao Shrimp
Kung pao shrimp is another delicious twist on the traditional kung pao chicken. You will love the contrasting textures of the tender shrimp and crunchy cashews. Of course, kung pao won't be complete without its classic savory, tangy, umami, and spicy sauce.
- Prep time
- 30 min
- Cook time
- 15 min
- Yield
- 2 servings
- Difficulty
- HARD
Ingredients
Quantities are shown as originally provided.
- 200 to 300 g fresh shrimp
- 1 tbsp cooking wine
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp white pepper powder
- 1 tbsp light soy sauce
- 1 tbsp Chinese black vinegar
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 1 tsp oyster sauce
- 1/2 tsp dark soy sauce
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- 100 ml water
- Cornstarch (for coating)
- 1 tsp oil (for coating)
- 5 tbsp Oil (for frying)
- 200 g cashews
- 1 tbsp chopped dried chili pepper
- 1 tbsp chopped green onions
- 1 tbsp diced ginger
Instructions
- 1
Clean the shrimp by removing the tail, head, skin, and vein. Cut along the line of the back of the shrimp. Do not cut all the way through.
- 2
Marinate the shrimp with cooking wine, salt, and white pepper. Let it marinate for 10 minutes or more.
- 3
Make the sauce with light soy sauce, Chinese black vinegar, sugar, oyster sauce, dark soy sauce, cornstarch, and water. Set aside.
- 4
Coat the marinated shrimp with cornstarch and add a spoonful of oil to prevent sticking and keep it moist.
- 5
Heat oil in the pan over medium-high heat and fry the cashews until they turn slightly darker in color. Stir continuously to prevent burning and overcooking the cashews. Remove and set aside.
- 6
In the same pan, fry the shrimp until it turns lightly golden and crispy.
- 7
Lessen the oil from the pan and add chopped dried chili peppers, chopped green onions, and diced ginger. Stir-fry until fragrant.
- 8
Mix the sauce once more and add it to the pan. Cook until the sauce thickens.
- 9
Mix in the fried shrimp and stir-fry until evenly coated with the sauce.
- 10
Finally, add cashew nuts and stir-fry until fully coated. Enjoy your delicious Kung Pao Shrimp! Serve it with rice or noodles and pair it with a delicious vegetable side dish.