Description
A comforting and flavorful dish featuring tender shrimp coated in a savory garlic sauce, perfect for family dinners or special occasions.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 1/2 teaspoons oyster sauce
- 1 1/2 teaspoons fish sauce
- 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1 1/2 teaspoons shrimp paste in oil
- 8 cloves garlic, minced
- 3/4 teaspoon white peppercorns
- 8 cilantro stems, chopped
- 1 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 3 tablespoons neutral oil
- Chopped cilantro or green onions for garnish
- Fried garlic (optional)
- Jasmine rice for serving
Instructions
- Make the Sauce: In a small bowl, stir together the oyster sauce, fish sauce, sugar, water, and shrimp paste until the sugar completely dissolves. Set this aside for later.
- Prepare the Garlic Paste: In a mortar and pestle, pound your garlic until it’s chunky—don’t overdo it. Reserve about 1 clove’s worth for later use. Add the white peppercorns and chopped cilantro stems to the mortar, and pound until you achieve a paste-like consistency.
- Dry the Shrimp: Pat the shrimp dry with paper towels. This is key! A dry shrimp will sear better and achieve that beautiful caramelization.
- Sear the Shrimp: Heat a wok or deep skillet over high heat. Add enough oil to completely coat the bottom. When the oil is shimmering, arrange the shrimp in a single layer and sear until they turn pink and are halfway cooked (approximately 1-2 minutes per side). Remove the shrimp and repeat with the remaining batch.
- Sauté the Garlic: Once all the shrimp are cooked and set aside, allow the pan to cool slightly. In the same pan, add the reserved chunky garlic and sauté in the residual oil for about 2 minutes until softened and fragrant.
- Add the Herb Paste: Next, toss in the herb paste you prepared earlier, and sauté for an additional 15-20 seconds to release its flavors.
- Combine Everything: Raise the heat to medium, return the cooked shrimp to the pan, and pour in your previously mixed sauce. Toss everything together for about 30 seconds, allowing the sauce to coat the shrimp and reduce slightly.
- Serve: Plate your shrimp, sprinkling with chopped cilantro, green onions, and a generous pinch of fried garlic if desired. Serve alongside fluffy jasmine rice to soak up all the delectable sauce and enjoy!
Notes
Use high-quality shrimp and fresh garlic for the best flavor. You can also prepare the sauce ahead of time and store it in the fridge for up to a week.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Asian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 150mg