Sweet and spicy shrimp(prawns)

Sweet and spicy shrimp is a delectable shrimp stir-fry that can be served in less than 20 minutes.

The fresh shrimp is seasoned with salt and then cooked in a quick sweet and spicy sauce to give this shrimp dish its addictive flavors that even kids love.

This easy shrimp recipe is great to put together and serves as a side dish for any type of meal.

You can adjust the sweet and spicy sauce to your own needs and make this shrimp dish one of your favorite weeknight staple recipes.

Flavors of the sweet and spicy shrimp.

This sweet and spicy shrimp is made with easy ingredients you have in your pantry.

The main component to making the shrimp stir-fry special is the homemade sweet and spicy sauce you mix the shrimp with.
The sauce is made with simple ingredients like ketchup, sugar, some chilli flakes, and soy sauce and to thicken the sauce you will be using cornstarch.

The fresh shrimp are quickly cooked in garlic to give it extra flavor and then tossed in this delicious sauce.

The sweet and spicy tones of the sauce and the texture of the shrimp go so well that I can guarantee this quick shrimp dish is going to be one of your favorites.

Meal ideas with sweet and spicy shrimp.

• Serve over a bed of fried rice or pasta or an easy garlic noodle stir-fry.
• Serve with some grilled vegetables for a light meal.
• You can also serve it as an appetizer with a few pita chips.
• Load it onto tortillas, add elements for a crunch and make an easy taco Tuesday dinner.
• Serve with some potato chips and green salad for a healthier meal with some garlic toast.

Frequently asked questions about sweet and spicy shrimp.

Can I make the shrimp stir fry ahead of time?

Yes, you can make the sauce, marinate the shrimp and refrigerate to cook an hour before serving time.

Can I reduce the sweetness or the spiciness of the sweet chilli sauce?

Yes, you can adjust the flavors to suit your needs. Make sure to taste as you make adjustments to the sauce.

Can I freeze the shrimp dish?

No, this dish is not suitable for freezing as the texture of the sauce and the shrimp will change.

More easy shrimp stir-fry recipes.

Teriyaki shrimp stir-fry.

Spicy garlic shrimp.

Garlic butter shrimp

RECIPE AT A GLANCE

How to make sweet and spicy shrimp

500g of deveined and peeled shrimp
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons of oil
1 tablespoon of minced garlic(2-3 cloves)

To make the sweet and spicy sauce
1/4 cup tomato sauce(ketchup)
2 tablespoons of red chilli flakes(reduce or increase as per your need)
1 tablespoon of sugar(can be increased by another tablespoon if you need the sweet and spicy sauce to be sweeter)
2 tablespoons of soy sauce
1 teaspoon of cornstarch
1/2 a cup of water
1 tablespoon of sesame seeds

Method

If you are using fresh shrimp, clean, devein, and wash the shrimp.

Drain any excess water and pat dry with some paper towels.

Place the shrimp in a bowl, season with salt(1/4 tsp), and mix well. Set aside.

How to make the sweet and spicy sauce.

Into a small bowl combine the tomato sauce(1/4 cup), red chili flakes(2 tbsp), sugar(1 tbsp), soy sauce(2 tbsp). Mix until sugar is dissolved.

Mix cornstarch(1 tsp) in water and add to the sauce mixture. Set aside.

How to cook the sweet and spicy shrimp stir fry.

Place a medium-sized frying pan over a low-medium fire and pour in the oil(3 tbsp).

Add the minced garlic(2-3 cloves) and cook until just golden(2 minutes).

Once the garlic turns golden, add the fresh shrimp and cook over a low-medium fire just until they turn pink.

Pour in the sweet and spicy sauce, reduce heat to low and cook until the sauce thickens(not too thick but still has a flowing consistency).

Taste and season with salt if needed, if the sauce should thicken too much, add a few tablespoons of water.

Garnish with sesame seeds and serve while still warm.