Salt and pepper prawns are a popular Chinese takeaway dish that fizzes with the flavour of Szechuan peppercorns, black peppercorns & chilli.
My fakeaway version of this recipe comes with a chilli dipping sauce and is super quick to cook, making it faster and cheaper than a takeaway!
Chinese Takeaway Style Salt and Pepper Shrimp
Chinese salt and pepper dishes date back well over a thousand years; however, the Anglo-Chinese version has its "home" in 1960s Liverpool.
Growing up in 1970s & 80s Birmingham, the simple yet delicious pairing had yet to make a dent. In fact, it was still relatively rare as late as the early 2000s.
Now it is everywhere, and it has become a firm favourite on our table, and salt and pepper prawns (or shrimp) are my latest offering.
They join salt and pepper chips, salt and pepper squid, salt and pepper chicken and even salt and pepper tofu!
It's a super simple recipe, the shrimp are dredged in cornflour that is flavoured with Szechuan pepper, black pepper and Chinese five spice before being quickly fried.
Then they are tossed through a little spring onion, fresh chilli and of course plenty of coarse sea salt.
It's quick too, this will go from your freezer to your table in well under 30 minutes!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use frozen prawns or shrimp?
Yes, I always do!
What's the best way to defrost prawns?
I usually place them in a sieve or colander and run them under cold water for 5 minutes.
What size prawns should I use?
I use size 20-25 head-off shell-off prawns, which is a measure of how many you get per pound.
What is "crispy chilli in oil"?
It is a Chinese condiment that I use in everything from my crispy chilli beef to my tofu noodle stir fry. I use the Lao Gan Ma brand.
Is there a substitute for Szechuan pepper?
No, it is a really unique ingredient without any satisfactory substitutions.
How important is the oil temperature?
Oil temperature is critical when "deep" frying; if the oil is not hot enough, the thing you are frying will begin soaking up oil, making it soggy, fatty and very calorific.
Frying at the right temperature is quick and yields wonderfully crisp food.
Can I make this in advance?
No, this recipe is not suitable for cooking and reheating.
Serving Suggestions
These salt and pepper prawns are pictured here with my chilli dipping sauce and glorious cold soba noodle and cucumber salad.
But these little shrimp bites work equally well with warm noodle dishes too. They would be just as good with my sweet chilli noodles as they would with these simple soy sauce noodles.
Pickles are another wonderful option to serve with "salt and pepper" anything as far as I am concerned. The acidity is perfect with Chinese five spice, the zing of Szechuan pepper and the heat of the chilli.
They needn't take forever to make either; both my pickled cucumber and pickled daikon are done and dusted in around 30 minutes.
If you want some greens, then how about adding a side of my stir-fried asparagus or even broccoli stir-fry, both would be awesome dipped in that smoky spicy sauce!
You could even serve these with egg-fried rice and pour over the dipping sauce if you wish!
Equipment Used
I only name-check brands of equipment if I think that they make a material difference to a recipe. But if you have any questions, feel free to ask them in the comments section below the recipe.
- Hob/Stovetop.
- Wok.
- An optional nonstick frying pan.
- Slotted spoon.
- A thermometer for checking oil temperature. I use a sugar thermometer.
- Chopping board.
- Kitchen knife.
- A combination of weighing scales, measuring cups and spoons.
- Mixing bowl and stirring spoons.
Quick Salt and Pepper Prawns Recipe
Ingredients
- 450 g Prawns 1 lb
- 50 g Cornflour ⅓ Cup
- 2 tablespoon Fresh Ground Black Pepper
- 1 teaspoon Coarse Sea Salt plus extra for serving
- 1 teaspoon Chinese Five Spice
- 1 tablespoon Szechuan Peppercorns
- 1 Red Chilli Pepper Go as hot or mild as you like
- 3 Spring Onions
- Plus Oil for Frying
For the Dipping Sauce:
- 3 tablespoon Dark Soy Sauce
- ½ tablespoon Rice Vinegar
- 2 teaspoon Sugar
- 1 teaspoon Sesame Oil
- 1 tablespoon Crispy Chilli in Oil I use Lao Gan Ma
- 1 Garlic Clove
Instructions
- If your prawns are frozen, defrost them by running them under cold water
- Peel and mash the garlic clove for the dipping sauce and place it in a bowl. Add the remaining ingredients for the dipping sauce to a bowl, give it a whisk and set aside.
- Dry the prawns on kitchen paper.
- Heat a wok over a high heat and then toast the Szechuan peppercorns, then crush them in a spice grinder or pestle and mortar.
- Remove the seeds from the chillies and dice them as finely as you can.
- Slice the spring onions at a 45° angle as thinly as you can.
- Place the cornflour on a plate and add the ground Szechuan pepper, black pepper, five spice and coarse sea salt and give everything a mix.
- Heat 2-2½cm (1") of oil in a wok to 180°C or 350°F and then dip the prawns into the cornflour mix and fry for 1-2 minutes. Do this in 3 batches; you can keep the prawns warm in a low oven.
- When the prawns are cooked, you can either drain all but a scant coating of oil from the wok or heat 1 tablespoon of additional oil in a separate nonstick frying pan. Add the diced chilli and spring onions and fry over a very hot heat for 30-60 seconds.
- Throw in the fried prawns and toss to coat before serving, sprinkled with more coarse sea salt.