Description
This Bang Bang Shrimp Taco recipe features crispy, lightly battered shrimp tossed in a creamy, spicy Bang Bang sauce, layered with fresh shredded cabbage and optional avocado on warm tortillas. Combining sweet chili, sriracha, and mayo-based sauce with crunchy shrimp creates a perfect balance of flavors and textures that’s quick and easy to prepare, ideal for a satisfying main course with an Asian-American flair.
Ingredients
Scale
Shrimp and Coating
- 1 lb medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
- ½ cup buttermilk
- ½ cup cornstarch
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Vegetable oil for frying
Assembly
- 8 small flour or corn tortillas
- 1 cup shredded cabbage or slaw mix
- ½ avocado, sliced (optional)
- Chopped cilantro for garnish
- Lime wedges for garnish
Bang Bang Sauce
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup sweet chili sauce
- 1 tablespoon sriracha (adjust to taste)
- 1 tablespoon honey (optional for extra sweetness)
- 1 teaspoon rice vinegar
Instructions
- Prepare Bang Bang Sauce: In a bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, sriracha, honey, and rice vinegar until smooth. Set aside to let flavors meld.
- Marinate Shrimp: In a separate bowl, toss the peeled and deveined shrimp with buttermilk. Let it marinate for 10 minutes to tenderize and add moisture.
- Mix Coating: In another bowl, combine cornstarch, all-purpose flour, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. This dry mixture will create the crispy coating for the shrimp.
- Heat Oil: Pour about 1 inch of vegetable oil into a skillet and heat over medium-high heat until shimmering and hot enough to fry (around 350°F or 175°C).
- Fry Shrimp: Dredge each shrimp in the dry coating mixture, shaking off excess. Fry shrimp in batches for 2–3 minutes per side, or until golden brown and crispy. Remove shrimp and drain on paper towels to remove excess oil.
- Warm Tortillas: Heat the tortillas in a dry skillet for a few seconds on each side or microwave them wrapped in a damp cloth until warm and pliable.
- Assemble Tacos: On each warm tortilla, spread a layer of shredded cabbage or slaw mix, add a few pieces of crispy shrimp, and drizzle generously with Bang Bang sauce. Add sliced avocado if using.
- Garnish and Serve: Top tacos with chopped cilantro and a squeeze of fresh lime juice. Serve immediately for the best taste and texture.
Notes
- For a lighter, healthier alternative, bake or air fry the shrimp instead of deep frying.
- You can substitute Greek yogurt for some or all of the mayonnaise in the Bang Bang sauce to reduce fat.
- Adjust the amount of sriracha in the sauce to control the heat level.
- Use corn tortillas for a gluten-free option if desired.
- Ensure oil temperature is consistent to avoid greasy or undercooked shrimp.
