Sweet and sour shrimp is a flavorful dish with the tender, juicy shrimp, and a rich combination of flavors from pineapple, bell peppers, and a homemade sweet and sour sauce, it’s a dish that will quickly become a family favorite.
Why You Will Love This Recipe
This sweet and sour shrimp recipe is a fantastic choice for anyone who loves vibrant, bold flavors in their meals. Not only does it deliver on taste, but it’s also incredibly easy to make. The shrimp cook quickly, ensuring a meal that doesn’t take much time to prepare but still tastes like it’s been slow-cooked to perfection. The homemade sweet and sour sauce adds a perfect tang, and the dish is a great way to incorporate vegetables into your meal with the bell peppers and pineapple. Additionally, this recipe is versatile – you can make it as spicy or as mild as you like, catering to every palate in your household.
Tips and Tricks for Making Sweet and Sour Shrimp
Choosing the Right Shrimp: When selecting shrimp for this dish, opt for large, fresh shrimp that are easy to peel and devein. If using frozen shrimp, ensure they are properly thawed before cooking.
Perfectly Cooked Shrimp: Shrimp cooks very quickly, so avoid overcooking them. They should be pink and opaque when done. Overcooked shrimp can become tough and rubbery, so keep an eye on them while sautéing.
Balance the Sauce: The sweet and sour sauce is the heart of this dish. Taste the sauce before adding it to the shrimp and adjust the sweetness and tang to your preference by adding a little more sugar for sweetness or vinegar for a tangier kick.
Add Texture with Vegetables: Bell peppers and onions provide both flavor and texture, but feel free to include other vegetables like carrots or snap peas to add more variety to the dish.
Serve Immediately: For the best taste and texture, serve the sweet and sour shrimp immediately after cooking. The longer it sits, the more the sauce will thicken and change its consistency.
Variations of Sweet and Sour Shrimp
- Spicy Sweet and Sour Shrimp: If you prefer a little heat in your dish, add red pepper flakes or chili paste to the sauce. A dash of sriracha can also work wonders to add a spicy twist.
- Grilled Sweet and Sour Shrimp: For a smoky twist, you can grill the shrimp instead of sautéing them. The sweetness of the sauce pairs beautifully with the charred flavors from the grill.
- Pineapple-Free Version: If you’re not a fan of pineapple, you can omit it or substitute with mango or even papaya for a different kind of sweetness that complements the sour sauce.
- Sweet and Sour Shrimp with Vegetables: Add more vegetables like zucchini, baby corn, or peas to give your dish an extra punch of nutrition and texture.
How to Serve Sweet and Sour Shrimp
Sweet and sour shrimp is best served with a side of steamed white rice or brown rice to absorb the sauce. You can also serve it with noodles for a more hearty meal. The dish is a great addition to any Asian-themed dinner or as a standalone entree. Pairing it with a refreshing cucumber salad or some stir-fried vegetables makes for a balanced and flavorful meal. For a more festive occasion, serve it with spring rolls or dumplings on the side.
How to Store Sweet and Sour Shrimp
Sweet and sour shrimp can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. However, the shrimp will lose some of their original texture after being refrigerated. When reheating, try to do so gently on the stovetop to avoid overcooking the shrimp. The sweet and sour sauce may thicken upon storage, so you may want to add a little water or broth to thin it out before reheating. It’s not recommended to freeze sweet and sour shrimp, as the shrimp will become mushy upon thawing.
Recipe FAQs
- Can I use frozen shrimp for this recipe? Yes, frozen shrimp work well for this recipe. Just make sure to thaw them completely and drain any excess water before cooking to ensure the sauce sticks to the shrimp.
- Can I make the sweet and sour sauce in advance? Absolutely! You can prepare the sweet and sour sauce ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator for up to a week. When ready to use, just heat it in a saucepan before combining it with the shrimp.
- What if I don’t have rice vinegar? If you don’t have rice vinegar, you can substitute it with apple cider vinegar or white vinegar. The flavor may vary slightly, but it will still bring the needed tang to the sauce.
- Can I make this dish gluten-free? Yes, to make the dish gluten-free, ensure that the soy sauce you use is labeled gluten-free. There are several gluten-free soy sauce alternatives available in the market.
- Can I make this dish ahead of time? Sweet and sour shrimp is best served fresh. However, if you need to prepare it ahead of time, you can make the shrimp and sauce separately, then combine and heat them just before serving.
Sweet and Sour Shrimp
Sweet and sour shrimp is a flavorful dish with the tender, juicy shrimp, and a rich combination of flavors from pineapple, bell peppers, and a homemade sweet and sour sauce, it’s a dish that will quickly become a family favorite.
Ingredients
- 2 9-ounce boxes frozen jumbo butterfly shrimp
- 2 teaspoons vegetable oil
- 1 red bell pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 green bell pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 cup pineapple chunks
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Cooking spray
For the Sauce:
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/3 cup ketchup
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425°F. Line a sheet pan with foil and coat with cooking spray.
- Arrange the shrimp on one side of the pan and the bell peppers on the other. Toss the peppers in oil, seasoning with salt and pepper.
- Bake for 14 minutes until the shrimp are crispy and browned, and the peppers are softened.
- While baking, make the sauce: In a small pan, bring sugar, apple cider vinegar, soy sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, and ketchup to a boil.
- Mix the cornstarch with 1 tablespoon of cold water, then stir into the sauce. Cook for 1 minute until the sauce thickens.
- Once the shrimp and peppers are done, add pineapple to the pan. Pour the sauce over and toss to coat.
- Serve immediately, over rice if desired, and enjoy this tangy, sweet dish!
Nutrition Information
Yield
6Serving Size
1Amount Per Serving Calories 241Total Fat 3gSaturated Fat 1gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 2gCholesterol 179mgSodium 1268mgCarbohydrates 33gFiber 1gSugar 27gProtein 21g
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
Sweet and sour shrimp is a delightful dish that combines the best of both sweet and savory flavors, with tender shrimp and a tangy sauce that elevates the dish. Whether you’re cooking for a family dinner or preparing a special meal for guests, this recipe is sure to impress. With simple ingredients and easy-to-follow steps, you’ll have a meal that’s bursting with flavor in no time. So, next time you’re craving a dish with a sweet and tangy kick, this sweet and sour shrimp recipe will be the perfect choice.
