How to Make a Stir-Fry with Shrimp

Making Awesome Shrimp Stir-Fry: It's Easier Than You Think!

Shrimp stir-fry is fast, healthy, and tastes amazing! Perfect for a weeknight dinner or impressing guests. This guide will show you how to make restaurant-quality stir-fry at home. We'll cover everything from choosing the shrimp to creating delicious sauces. Even if you're a kitchen newbie, you can totally nail this.

Picking the Perfect Shrimp

The secret to great stir-fry? Amazing shrimp! Look for firm, shiny shrimp that smell fresh. Avoid anything discolored or slimy. You can use peeled and deveined shrimp (easy!) or shrimp with shells on (adds more flavor). Just make sure to clean them well if you use the ones with shells.

Tip: Use shrimp that are about the same size. This ensures they cook evenly.

Getting Your Ingredients Ready

Prep is key for a killer stir-fry. Here's what to do:

• Shrimp: Completely thaw frozen shrimp. Pat them dry with paper towels. This helps them sear better and prevents a watery stir-fry.
• Veggies: Use your favorites! Broccoli, peppers, carrots, snap peas, mushrooms, onions, and water chestnuts are all great choices. Cut them into similar sizes so they cook evenly. Think bite-sized pieces.
• Sauce: The sauce makes the dish! We'll share some awesome recipes later, but you'll generally need soy sauce, maybe oyster sauce (for extra yummy flavor), cornstarch (to thicken it), and possibly sugar, rice vinegar, and sesame oil.

Stir-Frying: A Step-by-Step Recipe

1. Get organized: Have everything measured and ready to go. It makes cooking so much smoother.
2. Heat that wok (or skillet): Use a wok if you have one – they're perfect for stir-fries! Otherwise, a large skillet works great. Heat it over high heat. Add a tablespoon or two of oil (vegetable, canola, or peanut oil are all good). You'll know it's hot enough when the oil shimmers.
3. Stir-fry the shrimp: Add the shrimp and stir-fry for 2-3 minutes per side, until pink and cooked through. Remove them and set aside.
4. Stir-fry the veggies: Add your veggies and stir-fry for 3-5 minutes, until they're tender-crisp. Don't crowd the pan; do it in batches if needed.
5. Sauce time!: Whisk together your sauce ingredients (see recipes below). Pour it into the wok and stir it all together. The sauce will thicken as it cooks.
6. Combine & finish: Add the shrimp back to the wok. Stir everything to coat it in the delicious sauce. Cook for another minute or two to heat everything through. Garnish with sesame seeds or green onions if you like!
7. Serve it up!: Enjoy your amazing shrimp stir-fry! Serve it over rice or noodles.

Three Awesome Sauce Recipes

Here are a few sauce ideas to get you started. Feel free to experiment!

Classic Soy Sauce Sauce

• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons oyster sauce
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil

Sweet & Spicy Sauce

• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons honey or brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 1 tablespoon sriracha or chili garlic sauce
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil

Garlic Ginger Sauce

• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 inch ginger, minced
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil

Tips for Stir-Fry Success

• Don't crowd the pan: This lowers the temperature and makes it steam instead of stir-fry. Work in batches if needed.
• High heat is your friend: It sears the shrimp and makes the veggies perfectly crisp.
• Season to taste: Taste the sauce and adjust the salt and sugar as you go.
• Get creative with veggies: Experiment! Try different combinations.
• Add some protein: Chicken or tofu would be great additions.

Serving Suggestions

Serve your stir-fry over rice, noodles, or even quinoa. Garnish with green onions, sesame seeds, or red pepper flakes. A side of steamed broccoli or a simple salad would also be great.

The Bottom Line

Making delicious shrimp stir-fry is super easy! Follow these steps, experiment with the sauces, and get ready to enjoy a fantastic meal. You got this!