Beer Battered Shrimp
This Beer Battered Shrimp recipe was updated on January 26, 2021 to include video and new descriptions.
We missed our annual trip to North Carolina with Betsy’s family this year for obvious reasons and it has left me completely craving wonderful shrimp. We go every year and I always try to basically eat my weight in seafood since it’s so fresh and delicious. Normally, I keep the shrimp steamed, but this year I experimented with Beer Battered Shrimp and loved the results!
Sometimes when you get fried shrimp they are coated in a heavy breading and they end up being more breading than shrimp.
Using a beer batter kind of flips the ratio and you end up with this thin, crispy batter coating a tender juicy shrimp. A little Old Bay helps add some seasoning and while you could serve it with cocktail sauce, I like these beer battered shrimp with just a squirt of lemon!
Beer Battered Shrimp Video
How to Make Beer Batter
Any time I think about frying, I like to think about the texture I’m looking for in my finished fried food. Sometimes you want a thick breading, but for something like seafood I want something thin and crispy that doesn’t hide the food. If it’s done right, you should be able to see the shrimp through the fried batter!
To make my batter even crispier, I like to add a good amount of cornstarch to my batter, which his classic in Asian style tempura.
Add an egg and a beer, of course! Whisk this all together and you are in business.
The finished batter should be like a light pancake batter. Let’s move to the shrimp!
Beer Battered Shrimp
I like to use large or extra large shrimp for beer battered shrimp. Add the shrimp to the batter once they are peeled.
You know your batter is right if you can pick the shrimp out of the batter and most of the batter drips off the shrimp. This is perfect!
Fry the shrimp in oil at 350˚ F. They will fry quickly and be done and crispy in about four minutes. Try to fry them in batches though or else they will stick together!
When the shrimp come out, hit them with an extra pinch of Old Bay. I love how these turned out!
Here’s my test bite so you can see how thin the batter is on the beer battered shrimp!
Pile these fried beer battered shrimp high and eat them while they are hot! A wedge of lemon is all you need!
Beer Battered Shrimp
- Serves:
- Serves 4.
- Prep Time:
-
10 mins
- Cook Time:
-
10 mins
- Total Time:
- 20 mins
Helpful Equipment:
A light batter is the key to making perfect fried shrimp! Don’t hide the beautiful shrimp in a thick breading. This beer batter shrimp recipe is light, nicely seasoned, and perfect with a wedge of lemon!
Ingredients
Show Directions
- Peel your shrimp (or buy them pre-peeled) and dry the shrimp with a few paper towels.
- In a large bowl, whisk together flour, cornstarch, salt, and Old Bay. Then whisk in egg and beer until the batter is smooth. The batter consistency should be roughly that of pancake batter.
- Preheat your oil in a deep fryer or in a large pot to 350˚ F.
- Add shrimp to the batter and coat well.
- When oil is at temperature, use a fork to take out shrimp and let excess batter drain off. Gently place shrimp in hot oil.
- Fry the shrimp for about 4 minutes. Work in batches so the shrimp isn’t too crowded.
- When shrimp are done frying, remove them and let them drain on a few paper towels. Season with a sprinkle of extra Old Bay.
- Serve beer battered shrimp while warm with lemon wedges.