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
Laurie
I love this recipe.. It sounds and LOOKS amazing!! The lemon aioli is an amazing touch with the shrimp.
sally
What a great looking dish! The lemon aioli sounds fantastic.
Magic of Spice
Delightful balance of flavors...perfect for a lazy evening for sure!
the good soup
Hi dear Kankana, it's been awhile since I've wondered round to my favourite blogs, as life outside of computer land is taking over! (in a nice way). I just wanted to say, your blog looks DIVINE. I love the work Arvind's done. and your photos just keep getting better. you're an inspiration. xx angela
nipponnin
I love love shrimp! Aioli sauce is new to me but I'm going to try it. Nice story, good food, great photos!
Alya
Oh goodness! The shrimp look sooo enticing, but what I'm really digging is the lemon aioli. I love all things lemon. Will definitely try this out soon. Thanks for sharing!
DB-Foodie Stuntman
I will have to try the aioli. Looks good all around.
mjskit
Your Friday nights sound exactly like ours! We call them date nights, but we stay at home and have dinner and a movie. This does look like the perfect meal for date night! Tasty without all the fuss and cleanup! Totally agree about using castiron for something like this!
Sandra's Easy Cookin
Great photos, Kankana! Making me dig in through the screen! We are shrimp crazy, my whole family is, and we love spending time like your two as well! just good food, pj's and some great movie! Thanks for sharing, can't wait to try this recipe! Have a lovely weekend!
Roxana GreenGirl { A little bit of everything}
Friday night out are overrated 🙂 It's usually a pizza night in our house and we get as comfy as possible waiting for the timer to beep so we can have dinner and watch a movie.
Alisa
That lemon aioli looks perfect with the shrimps and some crabs perhaps? I'll save this recipe for the weekend.
myfudo
My husband is out of the country every few months or so. During the times that he is away from us, we still make it a point to Skype and enjoy a dinner or a lunch date even just in front of our respective laptops. Now that I cannot cook for him, what I do is to send him recipes, (sometimes I simplify them for him 😉
so he can still enjoy good food even without me doing the cooking for him. He loves shrimps and adores seafood dishes. I am sure he will be trying this recipe real soon...Sending this recipe to him now =)
Kankana Saxena
CUTE 🙂 We used to do the same before our marriage, when I was in India and he was here in US 🙂
Reeni
What a nice little treat for movie night! I am drooling over them! I love the brightness of the aioli with the spicy shrimp. Perfection. And you are so right about the cast iron pan! I use mine almost everyday - it adds such great flavor.
Reem | Simply Reem
Fabulous!!!
You know I can eat shrimp day n nite... My kids too. But when it comes to my hubby is only eats shrimps cooked in particular recipes...
I have to try this one...
B/W I"ll email you the links tonite,SURE. From past 2 days I have been not much on system. I will do it to nite...
Rose ( Magpie's Recipes)
So pretty as usual Kankana! Thanks for all the tips on the wood. Must try making my own board sometime too 🙂
torviewtoronto and createwithmom
looks fabulous delicious pictures
Jill~a SaucyCook
YUM!! I just adore the sound of the spices you used with the shrimp and it just so happens I have a big 'ol cast iron skillet! Sadly, my hubby, is also shrimp adverse and has not been converted as easily as yours! That said, he is also willing to try things and perhaps if I offer this up with a couple of other finger foods to his liking....hmmm, worth a shot! We also stay home most Friday nights, but our voyeurism entices us to watch those murder mysteries! We love the music on them...dadadata.....!!!! P.S. Your photography is wonderful.
Sylvie @ Gourmande in the Kitchen
Sounds like my kind of evening! I like to get comfy in my pjs and just chill at home too.
Baker Street
The lemon aioli sounds fantabulous and so perfectly paired with the shrimp. Love it. 🙂
Tina
Lovely clicks and shrimp..