You can never go wrong with Asian food recipes for dinner, whether it’s bang bang shrimp, chicken lettuce wraps, teriyaki meatballs or this simple yet satisfying sesame shrimp. I am always looking for new ways to incorporate seafood into my family’s diet. My kids love popcorn shrimp, so I took their favorite shrimp and tossed them in an Asian sauce to create sesame shrimp!
Sesame Shrimp Ingredients
To make this recipe, you will need frozen breaded shrimp, vegetable oil, garlic, honey, soy sauce, sesame oil, brown sugar, ketchup, rice vinegar, corn starch, sesame seeds and green onions.
How Do You Make Sesame Shrimp?
Start by preheating your oven and coating a baking sheet with cooking spray. Place your favorite breaded frozen shrimp on the sheet pan, and cook until the shrimp are crispy and golden brown. While the shrimp cook, prepare the sesame sauce. Place the honey, soy sauce, sesame oil, brown sugar, ketchup, vinegar and corn starch in a bowl and whisk to combine. Heat the oil in a small pan, then add the garlic. Pour the honey sauce mixture into the pan, then simmer until the sauce is thick. When the shrimp come out of the oven, toss them with the sauce, then add sesame seeds and green onions. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Tips For The Perfect Shrimp
I use frozen breaded shrimp to cut down on prep time. You can use popcorn shrimp or butterfly shrimp, whatever you prefer! It’s also fine to make your own popcorn shrimp or fried shrimp if you want everything to be homemade. It’s best to use low sodium soy sauce, as prepared fried shrimp tend to have salt added already. Serve your sesame shrimp immediately, as the crispy coating can get soft when it absorbs the sauce. I like to offer my shrimp with a side of sushi rice, along with Asian cucumber salad for a complete meal. The sauce can be prepared up to 2 days in advance. Store the sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator, and reheat it before use.
Flavor Variations
This recipe is great as written, but you can easily change some of the ingredients to customize the flavor to your tastes.
Protein: Feel free to use sauteed shrimp instead of breaded shrimp. This recipe also works well with cooked cubed chicken, or frozen popcorn chicken. Sauce: Stir in some extra flavor with minced fresh ginger or sriracha. Add-Ins: Feel free to add some cooked vegetables to your shrimp and sauce. Some great options include broccoli, carrots, snap peas, cabbage or mushrooms.
Sesame shrimp is a must-have for those busy nights when you’re craving take out flavor!
