Air-Fried Bang Bang Shrimp: A Quick, Crispy Treat

Bang Bang Shrimp is a popular appetizer at the American chain restaurant Bonefish Grill. It is a crispy fried shrimp dish that is coated in a creamy, spicy sauce made from Thai chilis, mayonnaise, and sriracha. The dish is usually deep-fried, but it can also be made in an air fryer for a lighter and healthier version.

What is Bang Bang Shrimp?

Bang Bang Shrimp is a popular dish that originated from Bonefish Grill restaurants. It is usually deep-fried but can also be made in an air fryer. The dish consists of succulent shrimp tenderized in buttermilk, fried, and tossed in a creamy, spicy sauce. The shrimp are coated in cornstarch and fried until lightly browned. They are then coated in a signature sauce made with mayonnaise, Thai sweet chili sauce, and Sriracha for heat.

The shrimp can be served as an appetizer, layered with lettuce and tomatoes in soft flour tortillas and served as tacos, or on a bed of white or brown rice. It is a simple and tasty dish that can be made at home and is perfect as a starter or main course.

To make Bang Bang Shrimp in an air fryer, you can follow these steps:

• Set the air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Prepare a cooking station with flour, egg whites, and panko breadcrumbs.
• Dip the shrimp first in flour, then in egg whites, and finally in the panko breadcrumbs.
• Place the shrimp in the air fryer basket without overcrowding and spray with cooking oil.
• Cook for 12 minutes, or until the shrimp are lightly browned and crispy.
• Repeat with the remaining shrimp, if necessary.
• Serve the shrimp with the signature sauce on the side for dipping.

How to make Bang Bang Shrimp in the Air Fryer?

How to Make Bang Bang Shrimp in an Air Fryer

Ingredients

To make Bang Bang Shrimp in an air fryer, you will need the following ingredients:

• Raw shrimp (peeled and deveined)
• All-purpose flour
• Egg whites
• Panko breadcrumbs
• Cornstarch (optional)
• Buttermilk (or milk and lemon juice)
• Light mayonnaise
• Sweet Thai chili sauce
• Sriracha sauce
• Salt and pepper
• Olive oil or cooking spray
• Green onions (optional)

Method

• Prepare the shrimp by removing the shell and deveining it.
• Combine the milk and lemon juice in a bowl or jar and let it sit for 5-10 minutes. If using buttermilk, you can skip this step.
• In a separate bowl, add the cornstarch and coat each shrimp with it. (If you don't have cornstarch, you can use flour instead.)
• Set up a dredging station with three separate bowls: one with flour (or cornstarch), one with egg whites, and one with panko breadcrumbs.
• Dip each shrimp first in the flour, then in the egg whites, and finally in the panko breadcrumbs. Ensure each shrimp is well coated.
• Preheat your air fryer to 400°F.
• Place the breaded shrimp in the air fryer basket in a single layer, making sure they don't touch each other. Spray or brush the shrimp with olive oil or cooking spray.
• Cook the shrimp for 5 minutes, then flip them over and cook for an additional 4-5 minutes, or until they are crispy and cooked through.
• While the shrimp are cooking, make the Bang Bang sauce by combining mayonnaise, sweet Thai chili sauce, and sriracha. Whisk until smooth and season to taste.
• Once the shrimp are done, toss them lightly in the Bang Bang sauce or drizzle the sauce on top.
• Serve immediately, garnished with green onions if desired.

Tips:

• You can adjust the amount of sriracha sauce to your preferred spice level.
• If you want to make the sauce lighter, you can substitute Greek yogurt for some or all of the mayonnaise.
• For extra crispy shrimp, spray each shrimp individually with olive oil or cooking spray before air frying.
• If you are making a large batch, keep the cooked shrimp warm in the oven at 200°F while you finish frying the rest.

How to make a lighter version of the sauce?

Making a lighter version of the Bang Bang sauce is easy. The base of the sauce is mayonnaise, which can be substituted with Greek yogurt for a lighter option. You can also use light mayonnaise as a base, which will keep the sauce rich and creamy but slightly lighter in calories.

The other ingredients in the sauce are Thai sweet chili sauce, Sriracha, and honey. You can adjust the amount of Sriracha to your taste preferences. The sweet chili sauce and honey both add sweetness and spice to the sauce, so you could reduce the amount of honey to make it lighter.

The sauce is simply a combination of these ingredients, whisked together until smooth. You can also reserve some of the sauce for dipping if desired.

What shrimp should I use?

When it comes to choosing shrimp for your air fryer bang bang shrimp, there are a few things to consider. Firstly, it is recommended to use raw shrimp as it only takes minutes to cook and this will ensure your shrimp is juicy and not overcooked. Pre-cooked shrimp is not ideal as it may lead to overcooking and a loss of quality.

Secondly, you should opt for deveined shrimp. The black vein on the back of the shrimp is its intestinal tract, so it's best to remove this. While you can buy shrimp with the vein intact and remove it yourself using a sharp knife, it is much easier and less time-consuming to buy shrimp that has already been deveined.

In terms of size, it is best to go for large or jumbo shrimp. These are easier to work with and will give you a better yield. Smaller shrimp are harder to fry and are less desirable for this dish.

Finally, if you are buying fresh shrimp, ensure it is shelled. This will save you preparation time. However, if you are buying frozen shrimp, you can opt for shelled or unshelled, depending on your preference. Frozen shrimp can be easily defrosted by placing it in a bowl of cold water for a few minutes.

How long does it take to cook?

The cooking time for bang bang shrimp in an air fryer depends on the size of the shrimp and the temperature of the air fryer. It is recommended to cook the shrimp at 400 degrees Fahrenheit. For jumbo shrimp, it takes around 10 minutes in total to cook. For large shrimp, it takes around 8-10 minutes. For medium shrimp, it takes around 5 minutes. For frozen shrimp, it is recommended to cook for 10 minutes at 360 degrees Fahrenheit and then for another 5 minutes at 400 degrees, or until crisp.

When making the bang bang sauce, it is important to combine the ingredients until they are smooth and fully combined. This can be done while the shrimp is cooking in the air fryer to save time.

When coating the shrimp, it is recommended to work in batches to ensure that each shrimp is evenly coated. The shrimp should be placed in a single layer in the air fryer basket to ensure even cooking.

Frequently asked questions