If there’s one appetizer that completely dominates restaurant menus, it’s Bang Bang Shrimp. You know exactly what I’m talking about: those perfectly crispy, golden nuggets of shrimp tossed in a creamy, sweet, and aggressively savory sauce with just enough kick to keep you coming back for “one more bite.”
The good news? You don’t need a reservation or a pricey restaurant tab to get your fix. In fact, making it at home is incredibly easy, takes less than 20 minutes, and yields a satisfying crunch that often beats out the restaurant version.
The Secret to the Perfect Crunch
Getting that ultra-light, shattering texture requires two specific ingredients instead of a standard flour batter:
- Buttermilk Soak: Giving the shrimp a quick dip in buttermilk does two things—it tenderizes the seafood and gives the starch something to cling to.
- Cornstarch Coating: Skip the all-purpose flour. Dredging the soaked shrimp entirely in cornstarch creates a thin, incredibly crispy crust that stays crunchy even after it gets enrobed in a luscious sauce.
The Legendary Three-Ingredient Sauce
The magic of this dish lies entirely in the balance of the sauce. It relies on a perfect emulsified base combined with distinct sweet and spicy elements. You only need three pantry staples:
- Mayonnaise: The creamy, rich foundation that binds everything together.
- Thai Sweet Chili Sauce: Provides a mild, fruity sweetness and a gorgeous glossy sheen.
- Sriracha: Adds a sharp garlic-and-chili punch to slice through the richness of the mayo.
Whether you’re hosting a game day crowd, looking for a show-stopping dinner party starter, or just craving a restaurant favorite on a cozy weeknight, this Bang Bang Shrimp always delivers. It’s fast, fresh, and undeniably addictive—just make sure you make a double batch, because it vanishes from the plate in seconds!
For this recipe, you will need the Bang Bange sauce prepared in advance.