Southern Fried Shrimp Recipe
Crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, Southern Fried Shrimp is a classic comfort food that delivers bold Southern flavors. This quick and easy recipe involves marinating shrimp in a seasoned wet mixture, coating them with a flavorful dry flour mix, and deep-frying until golden brown. Perfect for family meals or entertaining guests, it comes served with lemon wedges and your choice of condiments like cocktail or tartar sauce.
- Author: liam
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 minutes
- Total Time: 14 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Southern American
Shrimp and Frying Oil
- 1 lb. raw shrimp, peeled and deveined
- Vegetable oil (for frying)
Wet Mixture
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup milk
Dry Mixture
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
For Serving
- Lemon wedges
- Cocktail sauce, tartar sauce, ranch dressing, honey mustard, or other condiments as desired
- Heat the oil: In a deep fryer or large skillet, heat vegetable oil to 375°F, ensuring it’s hot enough for frying the shrimp to a crisp and golden finish.
- Prepare the wet mixture: In a large bowl, combine dried oregano, paprika, garlic powder, salt, and milk. Add the peeled and deveined shrimp to this mixture and stir well. Let the shrimp soak for 10-15 minutes to absorb the flavors.
- Mix the dry coating: In a separate medium bowl, mix together all-purpose flour, dried oregano, paprika, garlic powder, salt, and ground black pepper to create the seasoned flour coating.
- Coat the shrimp: Working in batches if needed, remove shrimp from the milk mixture and dredge them thoroughly in the dry flour mixture, ensuring an even coating on each shrimp.
- Fry the shrimp: Carefully place the coated shrimp in the hot oil and fry for 3-5 minutes until they are cooked through and the batter turns a light golden brown color.
- Drain and repeat: Remove fried shrimp using a slotted spoon and place on a paper towel-lined tray to drain excess oil. Repeat the coating and frying process for remaining shrimp.
- Serve immediately: Plate the fried shrimp with lemon wedges and your preferred condiments such as cocktail or tartar sauce. Enjoy while hot and crispy.
Notes
- Add a pinch of ground cayenne pepper to the wet and dry mixtures to introduce a spicy kick.
- For flavor variation, try substituting the seasoning with Cajun seasoning, Old Bay, Greek seasoning, or other preferred spice blends.
- Work in batches when frying to avoid overcrowding, which ensures even cooking and crispiness.
- Store leftover fried shrimp in an airtight container and reheat in an oven or air fryer to maintain crispness.
Keywords: Southern Fried Shrimp, Fried Shrimp Recipe, Crispy Shrimp, Southern Cuisine, Deep Fried Shrimp, Shrimp Appetizer, Seafood Recipe