Description
Bang bang shrimp pasta combines crispy, spicy shrimp with creamy sauce over tender noodles. Succulent seafood and zesty flavors create a restaurant-quality meal you can easily prepare at home.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (454 g) shrimp, peeled & deveined
- 8 oz (226 g) linguine or spaghetti
- 2 tbsps (30 ml) butter
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsps (30 ml) vegetable oil (for frying)
- ¼ cup (30 g) cornstarch (for crispiness)
- ½ cup (120 ml) mayonnaise
- ¼ cup (60 ml) sweet chili sauce
- 1 tbsp Sriracha (adjust to taste)
- ½ cup (120 ml) heavy cream (optional, for extra creaminess)
- 1 tbsp honey (optional, for balance)
- 1 tsp lime juice
- ¼ cup (60 ml) reserved pasta water (if needed to thin sauce)
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp paprika
- ¼ cup (15 g) green onions, chopped (for garnish)
- Red pepper flakes (optional, for extra heat)
Instructions
- Pasta Preparation: Bring a generously salted pot of water to a vigorous boil. Cook linguine or spaghetti until al dente, then drain while reserving a small amount of starchy liquid.
- Sauce Creation: Whisk together mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, Sriracha, honey, lime juice, and garlic powder to craft the signature Bang Bang sauce. Let the mixture meld for a few moments.
- Shrimp Seasoning: Thoroughly dry shrimp using paper towels. Season with salt, pepper, and paprika, then delicately dust with a light cornstarch coating.
- Shrimp Searing: Heat vegetable oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Sear seasoned shrimp until achieving a golden, crispy exterior on both sides. Remove and set aside on a separate plate.
- Sauce Development: In the same skillet, melt butter and sauté minced garlic until aromatic. Pour in heavy cream and half the prepared Bang Bang sauce, allowing the mixture to simmer and thicken.
- Pasta Integration: Combine cooked pasta with the creamy sauce, adjusting consistency with reserved pasta water if needed. Reintroduce the crispy shrimp to the skillet.
- Final Touches: Drizzle remaining Bang Bang sauce over the dish. Garnish with chopped green onions and a sprinkle of red pepper flakes. Serve immediately to showcase the vibrant flavors and textures.
Notes
- Prevent Rubbery Shrimp: Pat shrimp completely dry before cooking to ensure crispy golden exterior and avoid steaming, which makes them tough and chewy.
- Balance Sauce Consistency: Add reserved pasta water gradually to control sauce thickness, creating smooth, clingy coating that perfectly adheres to pasta.
- Cornstarch Coating Technique: Dust shrimp lightly with cornstarch for maximum crispiness, ensuring even thin layer without clumping for perfect golden crust.
- Flavor Layering Trick: Reserve half the Bang Bang sauce for final drizzling to maintain bright, fresh taste and provide extra zesty punch when serving.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 720
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 900 mg
- Fat: 36 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 75 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 220 mg