Stir fried shrimp is one of my fav seafood appetizers! It’s super quick, very easy and you can change it up by adding different variety of spices every time. With zingy Lemon Aioli, this stir-fried shrimp turns into finger licking good.
You can serve this as an appetizer or toss some veggies, add some noodles or left-over rice, and turn into a meal.
All it takes it just 15 minutes!
I prepare stir fried shrimp quite frequently and the trick is to NOT OVERCOOK it. If you have a cast iron pan, definitely use that. It gives the best char and cooks evenly, keeping the shrimp tender and perfectly cooked.
Spices I used for this Stir-Fried Shrimp:
I used Spice Tribe MOMBACHO CAFÉ. A brilliantly flavored spice mix. It has roasted garlic, citrus zest with a hint of espresso.
As soon as you open the bottle, the aroma comes though right away, and you can’t help but dip your finger and taste the spice.
This spice mix worked perfectly with stir-fried shrimp.
The spice mix also works great on beans, pork chop or you could make flavored butter too for grilled meat.
How to prepare the Stir-Fried Shrimp
There are of course several different ways you can stir fry seafood.
This is how I do it:
Marinate the shrimp with the spice, little oil, salt and I added little paprika powder too. Leave it aside for 15 minutes.
Then heat a cast iron skillet at medium high heat and brush little oil.
Once the skillet it hot, layer the shrimp in one layer. Let it cook for about 3 minutes. I used medium size shrimp. It will take more time if you use large size shrimp.
Then flip and fry for few more minutes.
The shrimps will get cooked through and remain tender inside.
Drizzle some lemon juice and serve right away.
How to prepare Lemon Aioli
Aioli is very much like mayo which can be flavored up the way you like.
You could use store bought mayo and add lemon juice, zest, grate a garlic clove, little Dijon mustard if you have at home. Give a mix and it’s ready.
Different ways to serve
- My personal fav is as an appetizer.
- It goes great in Taco
- Inside Bao Buns with a sticky sauce.
- With rice or noodles.
I have also fried some red onion in the skillet to serve along with the stir-fried shrimp, but it is totally optional.
This is not a dish you want to reheat. You want to make it fresh and serve right away!
Stir Fry Shrimp with Lemon Aioli
Ingredients
- 1 lb medium size shrimp (shell removed, deveined and cleaned. Tail intact or removed.)
- ½ medium size red onion (thinly sliced)
- 2 tablespoons Spice Tribe MOMBACHO CAFÉ
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- 1 tablespoon oil plus little more to brush on the hot skillet
Instructions
For the lemon aioli
- Mix mayo with lemon zest, lemon juice, dijon mustard if you have at home and 1 garlic clove, grated.
- For the pan fried shrimp
- In a mixing bowl, marinate the shrimo with the spice mix, salt, paprika and oil. Leave it aside for 15 minutes.
- Heat a cast iron pan and brush little oil.
- Fry the slcied onion for few minutes. Then take it off to a serving plate.
- Brush little oil on the same skillet and layer the shrimps. Let it cook for about 3 minutes. Then flip and cook for 3 minutes. (Keep in mind if the shrimp are very large, you will need more time and if small then less time)
- Once done, take it off and layer on top of the fried onion.
- Serve right away with the lemon aioli.
Notes
Nutrition
Reema
Uhmmm cannot stop to try it!!!
Eha
Oh, Kankana, those prawns [remember I speak that 'other' English!] and aioli look so moreish and so very easy to make, have just pushed my planned menus around a bit 🙂 !
lisa
how do you make the mustard sauce? or is it something you can buy at the market?
Kankana Saxena
Hi, thanks for dropping by. I used a store bought mustard sauce. Forgot to add that in the note. It's updated now 🙂
lisa
thank you!! one last question, where do you get curry leaves? i googled it and looks like indian markets carry it? can't wait to try this.
Kankana Saxena
Yes, you should easily find it in Indian stores. You can however use any other herbs you like or have easy access to 🙂
kale
These shrimp look so delicious. I was thinking they looked grilled! But it must be the cast iron pan you used. There's nothing like cast iron!
Priscilla M
Absolutely stunning!
Namitha
Lovely ! Love your version with a lemony tangy twist ! Great combination 🙂
My lil girl is just like Arvind,though she loves shrimp she hates the fishy smell 🙂
Joyti
I don't eat shrimp, but this looks like a delicious and easy dish. I do love aioli, and always have some pre-made in my fridge too.
Rosa
Those look amazing! The kind of food I could eat every weekend. A great flavor combination.
Cheers,
Rosa
Poornima
That looks awesome!! Love the simple preparation! I remember such friday nights from a couple of years back, a simple dinner and a fun movie!
Debjani
You have a way of torturing your kind blog patrons with pictures that jump out of the screen saying, "come get me". I know I'm hallucinating at 10 am.
Thanks for the very easy recipe for indulgence. 🙂
Arch
Beautiful clicks and those shrimps look so good !! Would love to make this...Your friday evening sounds so perfect 🙂
Nancy/SpicieFoodie
Your Fridays sound like ours. My husband is a shrimp fanatic. He would love this! I'm glad to hear that your husband loves these, they look too good to pass. Beautiful shots.
Krithi
This looks super inviting Kankana... With a dish made this attractive, I wouldnt have the patience for the clicks 😉
Deeps @ Naughty Curry
the aiolo looks awesome, cant wait to try it! lovely pics
nisha
i can so empathise with arvind, because i totally cannot stand anything fishy and its recently that shrimp became an ok thing to eat, that too if i masala-fy it and make sure it doesnt taste fishy at all 🙂
I rembr eating aioli in a restaurant and gosh the garlic taste was sooo overpowering and pungent, it kinda burnt my mouth. I would like to blame the restaurant for this and not the dish in itself.
This is a perfect appetizer idea..shrimp and mayo is a perfect combo i feel, so aioli would just take it a notch higher.
Nami | JOC
You two are so cute. I can imagine you are enjoying these delicious shrimps in your PJ! =D I wish my Fridays are like yours - fan, relaxing & delicious! He's really sweet that he tried eating shrimp. I will not eat oyster even my husband asked me to have it with him. Heehee. Your photos especially styling is beautiful. I always struggle with cloths/fabric and I love how you used it in dynamic way!
Kankana Saxena
Thanks Nami 🙂 Yeah .. I struggle too while working with fabrics but these days I am loving it!
Nandita
Just loved the presentation and the props. That serving bowl looks so very rustic. Great job Kankana 🙂
Spandana
Yumm.. love shrimps.. and this looks absolutely delicious!!!! So simple yet so very yummy!!
Notyet100
Umm I don't have mustard sauce any substitute for that ,platter looks yum..
Kankana Saxena
I wish, I could provide you with a substitute! It's optional for me as at times, I may not wish to use it. It adds little heat to the sauce. I guess some spicy sauce can work too! I just used the store bought mustard sauce.
Sublime Palate
That looks YUM! I am picky about my prawns and I think the spices need to be just right. Simplicity is key. You just nailed it in this recipe! The combo: beer + these prawns! Sounds just my kinda thing!:)