Kung Pao Shrimp is a Chinese food restaurant classic spicy garlic stir fry that’s healthy, easy and ready in less than 15 minutes!
Just like myPanda Express Kung Pao ChickenandKung Pao Chicken Spaghetti you’ll love this classic Chinese food favorite.
Kung Pao Shrimp
Kung Pao recipes have always been a go to for me when picking out entrees. You start withOrange ChickenandMongolian Beefbecause they’re fan favorites, add inLo Mein and you’re left looking for a shrimp dish. One of my favorites as a kid was the super vague “Spicy Garlic Shrimp” from Panda Inn. Yes, Panda Inn as in the original restaurant before the whole Panda Express empire even existed.
This Kung Pao Shrimp is my nod to that favorite dish I used to enjoy as a kid.
Why use whole chili peppers in a stir fry:
The use of the entire chili pepper is meant to add heat to the dish without overpowering it. As the dish cooks it gets a small punch of heat from the exterior of the pepper cooking in the sauce but it doesn’t overwhelm the dish.
Please don’t eat these peppers.
Is Kung Pao Shrimp Healthy? YES, the only things to rein in is how much oil you’re using in the wok. Keeping the oil to a minimum you can enjoy this dish as much as you’d like. There isn’t too much sugar or carbs in the dish.
How do you make Kung Pao Shrimp:
Have all your ingredients prepared before heating up the wok. As the oil heats up in the pan you’re going to be adding in the garlic and ginger along with the soy sauce and other ingredients in rapid succession. Because shrimp cooks very quickly do not do any prep work while cooking. The entire dish is done cooking in less than 5 minutes.
How to peel and devein shrimp:
- To peel raw shrimp, tear away at the shell above the first segment of the shell (the tail segment).
- Take a paring knife and make a shallow cut along the spine of the shrimp (the back of it).
- Using the paring knife or a fork, gently remove the black strip of intestines.
- To remove tails just squeeze the shrimp out from the bottom of the tail segment.
What to serve with Kung Pao Shrimp:
Yield: 4 servings
Kung Pao Shrimp
Prep:10 minutes
Cook:5 minutes
Total Time:15 minutes
Kung Pao Shrimp is a Chinese food restaurant classic spicy garlic stir fry that’s healthy, easy and ready in less than 15 minutes!
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons canola oil
- 1 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined(13-15 count)
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 10 Chinese szechuan chilis
- 1/2 green bell pepper, thinly sliced
- 1 teaspoon cooking wine (I used white wine)
- 2 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 4 tablespoons water
- 4 stalks green onions, cut into 1″ segments
- 1/4 cup dry roasted peanuts
Directions:
- Add the canola oil to a heavy skillet on medium-high heat.
- Add the shrimp and cook 1-2 minutes on each side, or until cooked through.
- Remove the shrimp from the pan.
- Remove from the pan and add in the sesame oil, garlic, red chili peppers and green bell peppers and cook for 30 seconds, stirring frequently.
- Add in the c
ooking wine, soy sauce and cornstarch slurry. - Cook for 1 minute, stirring frequently until slightly thickened.
- Add in the peanuts and green onions and stir.
- Add in the shrimp and stir together before serving.