Firecracker Shrimp w/ Cilantro Lime Rice

This Firecracker Shrimp recipe is one of the best spicy shrimp recipes you can make. Firecracker shrimp is a must-order when we go to restaurants, and this make-it-yourself version beats most restaurant shrimp that we’ve had! Spicy, flavorful, and perfectly paired with Cilantro Lime Rice, this dish is great for dinner, weekly meal prep, or an appetizer for a party. It’s all up to you and how much you want to make!

What You Need

For the Shrimp

• 2 pound Shrimp (we used tail-on, cooked shrimp)

• 1 Egg

• 1/2 cup Corn Starch

• Salt & Pepper

• Oil for Frying (we recommend Avocado oil)

For the Firecracker Sauce

• 1/4 cup Sweet Chili Sauce

• 2 tbsp Soy Sauce

• 2 tbsp Hoisin Sauce

• 1 tbsp Sriracha Sauce

• 2 tbsp Lime Juice (fresh is best!)

• 1 clove Minced Garlic

• 1 tbsp Lemon Zest

• 1/2 tsp Red Pepper Flakes

• 1/4 tsp Cayenne Pepper

For Cilantro Lime Rice

• 2 Cups White Rice (we used simple white minute rice)

• Fresh Cilantro

• Juice from 1 Lime

How to Make It

1. Remove tails from shrimp, lay flat on a sheet or pan, and season with salt & pepper

2. Heat cooking oil in a large pan over high heat

3. Boil 2 cups of water in a pan for the rice

4. Toss shrimp in cornstarch until coated. Then dip the shrimp in egg before adding to the frying pan. Turn the heat in the pan down to medium before adding shrimp. Sear the shrimp for about 2 minutes on each side.

5. As the shrimp is searing, boil 2 cups of water for the rice. Add rice according to cooking instructions and cover while shrimp cooks.

6. When shrimp is cooked, set aside on a plate and cover to keep warm. We'll use the pan the shrimp was cooking in to make the sauce next.

7. Combine all ingredients for the sauce listed above and stir well. Once combined, add sauce to pan and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce heat and simmer for 3 minutes, stirring continuously. After three minutes, add shrimp back into the pan and combine with the sauce.

8. To finish rice, squeeze the juice of one lime and finely chop fresh cilantro to taste (we used about 1/4 cup). Stir to work into rice.

9. Serve shrimp over rice. Serve with a veggie of your choice. We chose green beans (see our awesome recipe here), and they were awesome when dipped in the firecracker sauce.

10. Enjoy!