Shrimp in Garlic Sauce

This is, by far and bar none, the most popular Chinese seafood dish I know. In fact, it is better than its restaurant counterpart because it uses real garlic, not dried garlic reconstituted in water.

Recipe courtesy Stuart Chang Berman, Potsticker Chronicles, John Wiley & Sons, 2004
Show: Sara's Secrets Episode: Everyday Chinese
TOTAL TIME: 35 min
Prep: 15 min
Inactive Prep: --
Cook: 20 min
YIELD: 4 servings
LEVEL: Easy

ingredients

  • 1 pound large shrimp (21 to 25 shrimp per pound), peeled
  • 1 egg white
  • 1/4 cup cornstarch
  • 1 to 2 tablespoons water
  • 2 cups plus 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
      • SAUCE:
      • 1/4 cup chicken broth
      • 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
      • 1/4 cup ketchup
      • 3 tablespoons black soy sauce
      • 2 tablespoons dry sherry
      • 8 garlic cloves, crushed and finely minced
      • 2 tablespoons finely minced fresh ginger
      • 5 tablespoons sugar
      • 1 teaspoon chili paste, or to taste and tolerance
      • 1/2 cup sliced fresh water chestnuts, optional
      • 1 tablespoons cornstarch mixed with 3 tablespoons cold water
      • 1/2 cup sliced scallions, on the diagonal in 1/2-inch pieces
      recipe tools

        • COMMENT ON THIS PROJECT

            

        Sign in

        All fields are required.

        E-mail Address:

        Password:

        Remember me on this computer

        Signing in

        Please enter your email address and we will send your password

        E-mail Address

        Your password has been sent and should arrive in your mailbox very soon.

        Not a member?

        Sign up for My Cooking Channel to share photos, show off your style, and connect to an enthusiastic and helpful community.

        It's free and easy.

      • Print Recipe

      Directions

      Using a cleaver or knife, slice the shrimp from the back, leaving a small donut-like hole in the center, essentially butterflying the shrimp. Be careful not to cut all the way through the shrimp. Rinse away any veins under cold water. Drain well.

      Put the shrimp in a bowl and add the egg white, cornstarch and 1 to 2 tablespoons of water. Mix well. The consistency should be silky and the color milky.

      In a large wok, heat 2 cups of the oil to 280 degrees F, or place 1 shrimp in the oil and when bubbles rise from it like Champagne bubbles in a glass, add the rest of the shrimp. Turn the shrimp gently in the poaching oil. When they are white and fluffy, remove them with a stainless steel strainer or brass metal strainer. Put the cooked shrimp in a colander to drain.

      For the sauce. In a small saucepan, mix the chicken broth, vinegar, ketchup, soy sauce, sherry, garlic, ginger, sugar, and chili paste. Stir well. Bring the garlic sauce to a boil, lower the heat to a simmer.

      In a clean wok, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil to smoking. Add the sliced water chestnuts and stir-fry for 30 seconds. Add the garlic sauce, stir, and bring to a boil. Stir in the cornstarch mixture and bring to a boil, stirring until thickened. Add the shrimp. Toss and stir 3 times until well coated. Stir in the sliced scallions and serve.

      COMMENT ON THIS PROJECT

          

      Sign in

      All fields are required.

      E-mail Address:

      Password:

      Remember me on this computer

      Signing in

      Please enter your email address and we will send your password

      E-mail Address

      Your password has been sent and should arrive in your mailbox very soon.

      Not a member?

      Sign up for My Cooking Channel to share photos, show off your style, and connect to an enthusiastic and helpful community.

      It's free and easy.

      Review This Recipe

      You must be logged in to review this recipe.

      or Sign Up to Review

      5

      Newest Ratings and Reviews

      Read all 4 reviews

      • on March 28, 2012

        Flag

        While this looks so delicious I would like to see the sodium content especially with the ketchup and the soy sauce and chili paste and chicken broth. A breakdown of the recipe would be much appreciated.

        people found this review Helpful.
        Was this review helpful to you? Yes | No

      • on February 27, 2012

        Flag

        I have been making this recipe for several years at holidays, parties and family dinners and it is always a smash hit. I tend to use more chili paste and less vinegar but otherwise, the recipe "as is" is fantastic.

        people found this review Helpful.
        Was this review helpful to you? Yes | No

      • on February 09, 2012

        Flag

        The flavor of this dish is out of this world! Fast and furious, fun to make, and flavorful!

        people found this review Helpful.
        Was this review helpful to you? Yes | No
      Advertisement

      On TV

      *ALL TIMES EASTERN
      ON AIR
      NOW
      TONIGHT
      10:00
      PM

      what's hot

      Road Trip with G. Garvin
      Road Trip with G. Garvin Host: G. Garvin

      Get Cooking Channel on your TV.

      Learn How