Hunan Shrimp is a bold and flavorful Chinese-inspired dish featuring tender shrimp stir-fried with vibrant vegetables in a spicy, savory sauce. Packed with garlic, ginger, and a touch of chili heat, this dish perfectly balances sweet, salty, and spicy flavors. Serve it over steamed rice for a quick and satisfying meal that’s perfect for weeknights or impressing dinner guests!
What is Hunan Shrimp?
Hunan Shrimp is a Chinese stir-fry dish that originates from the Hunan province, known for its use of chili peppers, garlic, and fermented ingredients. The dish typically features fresh shrimp stir-fried with a variety of vegetables, all coated in a fiery and tangy sauce.
Tips and Tricks for the Perfect Hunan Shrimp
- Control the Heat: If you’re sensitive to spice, reduce the amount of chili peppers or use milder varieties. You can also remove the seeds from the peppers to lower the heat.
- Shrimp Freshness: Use the freshest shrimp you can find, but frozen shrimp will work well too. Just make sure to thaw and pat them dry before cooking.
- Vegetable Crunch: Don’t overcook the vegetables. A little crunch adds texture and contrasts beautifully with the tender shrimp.
- Wok Technique: For an authentic stir-fry, cook everything on high heat. Make sure the wok or pan is hot before adding oil or ingredients to ensure a quick and even stir-fry.
Variations of Hunan Shrimp
Hunan Beef: Swap shrimp with tender strips of beef for a hearty variation. Stir-fry beef over high heat until slightly crispy on the outside but tender within.
Hunan Chicken: Simply swap out shrimp for thinly sliced chicken breast or thigh for a poultry version of this dish.
Vegetarian Hunan Stir-Fry: For a vegetarian option, substitute shrimp with firm tofu or a mix of mushrooms and stir-fry them with the same Hunan sauce and vegetables.
How to Serve Hunan Shrimp
- With Rice: Hunan Shrimp pairs beautifully with steamed jasmine rice or fried rice. The rice helps to soak up the spicy, flavorful sauce.
- Over Noodles: If you prefer noodles, serve Hunan Shrimp over lo mein or even rice noodles for a delicious and filling meal.
- As a Side: You can also serve Hunan Shrimp alongside other Chinese dishes like egg rolls, wonton soup, or stir-fried vegetables to create a full meal.
How to Store and Reheat Hunan Shrimp
Storing
- Store leftover Hunan Shrimp in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Reheating
- To reheat, simply warm the shrimp and vegetables in a hot skillet or microwave. If the sauce has thickened too much, add a splash of water or broth to loosen it up.
Can you freeze Hunan Shrimp?
It’s best to consume Hunan Shrimp fresh, as shrimp can become rubbery when frozen and reheated. However, if you must freeze it, store it in an airtight container for up to a month and thaw completely before reheating.
Recipe FAQs
Is Hunan Shrimp very spicy?
Yes, Hunan Shrimp can be quite spicy due to the use of both fresh and dried chili peppers. However, you can adjust the spice level by reducing the number of peppers or using less spicy varieties.
What’s the difference between Hunan Shrimp and Szechuan Shrimp?
Hunan cuisine is known for its straightforward heat from fresh chilies, while Szechuan dishes often use Sichuan peppercorns, which add a unique numbing sensation. Hunan Shrimp tends to be spicier and less oily compared to its Szechuan counterpart.
Can I use other proteins instead of shrimp?
Absolutely! You can substitute chicken, beef, or tofu for the shrimp. The cooking method remains the same, though you may need to adjust the cooking time depending on the protein.
Hunan Shrimp
Hunan Shrimp is a bold and flavorful Chinese-inspired dish featuring tender shrimp stir-fried with vibrant vegetables in a spicy, savory sauce.
Ingredients
For the Stir-Fry:
- 1 lb shrimp (tail on, if preferred)
- 1 Tbsp cornstarch
- 1 cup green beans, chopped
- ½ each of green, red, yellow, and orange bell peppers, chopped
- 5-6 green onions (scallions), chopped (keep green and white parts separate)
- 5 garlic cloves, finely chopped
- 1 Tbsp ginger, finely chopped
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 tsp pepper
- 3 Tbsp oil
For the Hunan Sauce:
- 5 tsp sambal oelek chili paste
- 2 Tbsp oyster sauce
- 1 Tbsp soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp rice vinegar or white vinegar
- 2 Tbsp rice wine
- 3 Tbsp tomato ketchup
- 1 tsp sugar
Instructions
- Start by cleaning the shrimp, keeping the tail on if you like. Marinate them with salt, pepper, and cornstarch while you prep the veggies and sauce.
- In a bowl, mix together sambal oelek, oyster sauce, soy sauce, vinegar, rice wine, ketchup, and sugar. Set aside.
- Dice the bell peppers and cut the green beans and scallions into inch-long pieces. Keep the white and green parts of the scallions separate.
- Heat 2 Tbsp of oil in a wok over medium-high heat. Sear the shrimp for a couple of minutes until they curl and turn pink. Remove and set aside—don’t overcook as they’ll finish cooking in the sauce later.
- Add the remaining oil to the wok, crank the heat to high, and stir-fry the green beans for a few minutes until they soften. Toss in the bell peppers, white parts of the scallions, garlic, and ginger. Stir-fry for another 4-5 minutes.
- Add the prepared Hunan sauce to the veggies, along with ¼ to ½ cup of water. Stir in the shrimp and let everything cook together for 3-4 more minutes until the sauce thickens slightly.
- Garnish with the green parts of the scallions and serve piping hot over steamed rice.
Nutrition Information
Yield
4Serving Size
1Amount Per Serving Calories 338Total Fat 13gSaturated Fat 1gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 11gCholesterol 239mgSodium 2303mgCarbohydrates 26gFiber 3gSugar 12gProtein 29g
Easy Shrimp Recipes.com, occasionally offers nutritional information for recipes contained on this site. This information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. This information comes from online calculators. Although allchickenrecipes.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures are only estimates.
Conclusion
Hunan Shrimp is an explosion of flavors—spicy, savory, and slightly tangy—all wrapped up in a delicious stir-fry that’s both easy to make and deeply satisfying. Whether you’re a fan of fiery dishes or just looking to explore authentic Chinese cuisine, this dish is a fantastic addition to your dinner repertoire.
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