Cajun Fried Shrimp Recipe

The joyous echo of laughter, engaging in lively discussions with loved ones over a delectable, soul-nourishing meal at the family’s preferred restaurant is truly an unforgettable experience to treasure.

We love hosting our friends and family for lunches, dinner parties as there is nothing better than seeing the happiness in the room, all enjoying tasty cooking and sharing memories while creating new ones.

So what better way than to enjoy the next gathering over the mouth-watering Cajun Fried Shrimp recipe, that will leave your guests asking for more.

The Cajun Fried Shrimp is a healthy, appetizing and easy-to-make meal that can be enjoyed over a beer or chilled white wine.

Well, the planning and preparation towards setting up the get-togethers may not be easy, with the menu planning, shopping for the ingredients and cooking but the result is worth it.

However, this recipe will cut your preparation time by more than half, as it is a relatively quick meal to prepare.

Cajun is a spice seasoning; a combination of different spices and herbs, mixed to create a spicy distinct taste.

Cajun flavors are inspired by French, West African and Spanish spices and herbs.

You can buy Cajun spices seasoning from convenience stores and grocery shops.

You can also opt to make your own Cajun spice mix at home using the following spices: garlic powder, paprika, salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper, dried thyme, dried oregano, onion powder.

Health benefits

The Cajun Fried Shrimp is guaranteed to be a regular in your kitchen.

Not only for the taste but also for the health benefits.

Averagely, every 100 grams of shrimp contains;

●24g protein

●0.3g fats

●0.2g carbohydrates

●189mg cholesterol

●111mg sodium.

Shrimp which is mainly made up of water and protein also contains calcium, potassium, iron, zinc and is also an excellent source of Vitamin D and B12.

This shellfish is also rich in the antioxidant astaxanthin and omega-3 fatty acids.

All these properties boost weight loss, bone strength and protect against heart diseases.

The antioxidant astaxanthin helps in reducing wrinkling and when proper skin protection measures are taken, aids in reducing skin damage.

The nutrients and minerals are also thought to be a great mood booster and promote brain health.

With these extensive health benefits and being full of flavor, the Cajun Fried Shrimp is guaranteed to be a regular on our tables.

What to look out for

Nevertheless, it is quite important to be keen when shopping for shrimp as mock meats that resemble shellfish are sometimes passed off as shrimp.

Feel free to ask your seller about how the shrimp is farmed and where it was caught from.

This information will protect you from buying mock or contaminated seafood.

If and when hosting, it is crucial to find out if any of your guests have shrimp allergies.

Always go for shrimp that confirms its source of origin.

Once this is clear, you can now prepare and enjoy your Cajun Fried Shrimp without any concern.

Interesting facts

●Shrimp is the most popular seafood in the United States.

Over the years, shrimp has dominated American seafood preference according to the National Fisheries Institute (NFI).

This is not surprising because, on top of the vast health benefits, shrimp has among the best mouthwatering recipes that will have your guests asking for more.

●Being a white meat, shrimp pairs best with white wine.

So, as you entertain your guests over the Cajun fried Shrimp, consider a Sauvignon Blanc which will also complement the Cajun flavor quite well.

●If they love their red wine, gin, vodka or beer, or soft drinks, your guests will also enjoy the marrying of flavors in the Cajun Fried Shrimp.

●Leftover shrimp can be stored for up to 4 days in a fridge.

To store for longer, keep it in an airtight container or freezer bag.

●An important part of preparing the shrimp is de-veining.

Basically, de-veining is not removing a vein in this case, but rather removing the shrimp’s digestive tract.

De-veining a shrimp is a matter of personal preference as some people may not like the idea of eating the shrimp including its digestive tract.

It does not cause any harm when ingested.

●To avoid the de-veining process, you can opt to buy frozen deveined shrimp.

Recipe

Preparation time: 10 mins – 20 mins

Cook time: 20 mins – 30 mins

Serves: 8

Ingredients:

●1 kg shrimp

●2 cups of oil

● Cajun spice/ seasoning

● I cup Buttermilk

● 2 large eggs

● 1 ½ cups cornflour

● 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour

Instructions

1.Peel the shrimp leaving the tail.

De-vein the shrimp by slicing halfway at the back and removing the vein.

Alternatively, you can buy already de-veined shrimp.

2.Rinse the shrimp and pat dry.

3. Mix the all-purpose flour, cornflour and the Cajun seasoning.

4.Lightly beat the eggs and mix with the buttermilk.

5. Heat the oil in a skillet to 350F or 180C.

6.Dip the shrimp in the egg mixture, let the excess drip away then coat in the flour and Cajun seasoning mixture.

7.Shake off the excess mixture and deep fry on each side for two minutes or until golden brown.

8.Ensure the skillet is not crowded.

9. Repeat for all the shrimp.

10. Drain excess oil on paper towels.

11. Serve with the preferred sauce or dip.

The dips and Sauces

To cater to the different palates, we will serve our Cajun fried shrimp with Parmesan sauce and spicy Cajun dipping sauce.

Both sauces acquire a better flavor when made a few hours ahead of the Cajun fried shrimp or better yet, a day before.

Parmesan Sauce

This sauce is very delicious and versatile as it can be used as a dip not only for shrimp but also for fries and raw vegetables.

Preparation time: 15 mins

Ingredients:

● ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese

● 1 cup sour cream

● 1/3 cup mayonnaise

● 2 cloves garlic crushed/ minced

● 2 tbsp green/ spring onion chopped

● 2 tbsp paprika

● ¼ tsp pepper

Instructions:

In a bowl, mix all the ingredients until well combined.

Cover and store in the fridge.

Serve alongside the Cajun fried shrimp.

Spicy Cajun Dipping Sauce

Ingredients:

● 2 tsp ketchup

● 2 tbsp creamy horseradish sauce

● 1 tsp dill pickle juice

● ¾ cup mayonnaise

● ½ tsp paprika

● ¼ tsp salt

● ¼ tsp pepper

● ¼ tsp cayenne pepper

Instructions:

Mix all the ingredients in a bowl and cover and refrigerate.

Serve alongside the Cajun fried shrimp.

This meal goes well with:

● Rice

● Fries

● Roast Potatoes

● Salads

● Coleslaw

● Pasta

Conclusion

With this Cajun Fried Shrimp recipe, you will likely end up hosting most of your weekends with your guests always demanding for this delicious seafood.

Look on the bright side, you do not have to order takeout or dine at a restaurant, therefore, cutting costs.

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