Here's a yummy recipe for the best butterfly shrimp with Gogi tempura inspired by Thai flavors. Tiger shrimp are used and marinated in tasty Thai sauces and spices. The result is a dish full of addictive flavors that everyone will enjoy. It's great as an appetizer for special occasions or whenever you feel like treating yourself!
For more delicious Thai appetizers, give these recipes a try. Shrimp in a blanket, Thai eggrolls, Thai fish cakes, Thai shrimp cakes, Gai Tod-Thai fried chicken wings, and Thai beef jerky.
Jump to:
- Why You'll Love This Butterfly Shrimp Recipe
- What is Thai Gogi Tempura?
- Ingredients for Butterfly Shrimp with Thai Gogi Tempura
- How to Make Butterfly Shrimp
- Garnishing Options
- Helpful Kitchen Notes and Tips
- Helpful Kitchen Tools for This Recipe
- What to Serve with Butterfly Shrimp
- Variations and Substitutes
- Storing Leftovers
- Frequently Asked Questions
- The Best Butterfly Shrimp Recipe
- More Thai Appetizers You'll Love
Why You'll Love This Butterfly Shrimp Recipe
- This dish features succulent shrimp with a nice crunchy texture, making it a family favorite.
- The Thai Gogi tempura adds a unique and savory twist to traditional butterfly shrimp.
- This butterfly shrimp is a perfect party appetizer or hors d’oeuvres.
- The meaty shrimp is filling and can be used in a salad for a tasty light meal.
What is Thai Gogi Tempura?
Thai Gogi tempura is a tasty tempura powder made from wheat flour, tapioca starch, baking powder (sodium bicarbonate), and Thai seasoning. When mixed with water, it forms a batter that transforms food into a delightful, crispy treat. Whether it's fish, meat, or vegetables, this addictive coating adds flavor to any dish.
Instead of mixing Gogi flour with water for My butterfly shrimp recipe, I'm using it as a flour mixture mixed with beaten eggs and the dip in the use of the crunchy panko breadcrumbs to create an even more crispy coating with a flavorful texture that elevates the butterflied shrimp to a new level of delicious.
Ingredients for Butterfly Shrimp with Thai Gogi Tempura
These are the staple ingredients for this recipe. You can modify the salt, white pepper, and chicken powder with other seasonings like garlic or onion.
- Large tiger prawns or jumbo shrimp (shells and tails on). Best to use fresh shrimp if possible. Check the seafood counter at your local grocery store.
- Oyster sauce. Adds a rich umami flavor to the shrimp. Learn more about the essential Thai sauces here.
- Soy sauce. I used Thai light soy sauce, but any soy sauce is fine.
- Fish sauce. It adds a salty umami flavor that gives this recipe a Thai taste.
- Gogi tempura flour. Find this tempura flour at your local Asian grocery store.
- Panko bread crumbs (add more as needed for your batter). Plain bread crumbs don't give the extra crunch for this recipe. https://amzn.to/3QabCj4
- Salt. Just a little to seal in the salty flavor in the flour mixture.
- Chicken powder. (Not shown in picture above) This is where a lot of the Asian flavors come from. It's highly recommended, but in a pinch, you can substitute onion or garlic powder.
- Ground white pepper. White pepper gives a unique Thai flavor with a little kick of heat. You can adjust the pepper to your preferred level of spiciness. Learn more about the different Thai spices here.
- Eggs. As needed for dipping shrimp in flour and tempura. I used about 3 small eggs for this recipe.
- Oil for deep frying. Use neutral oils like plain vegetable oil, canola oil, sunflower oil, or avocado oil. Olive oil, soybean oil, peanut oil, and sesame oil are not recommended.
How to Make Butterfly Shrimp
1. Prepare the shrimp. On a cutting board, remove the shells and heads of the shrimp and leave the last tails on for easy handling and easy eating. Then, make a lengthwise incision along the back of the shrimp with the tip of your knife. Slice through the center of the shrimp without cutting all the way through. Use a small paring knife to remove the veins. You'll need a lot of paper towels to wipe your fingers through this step.
Ice the shrimp. This step is optional but highly recommended. In a large glass bowl or platter, place a handful of ice under the deveined shrimp to keep it cool while prepping the other ingredients. It will also help make it more crispy once deep-fried in the hot oil.
Season the shrimp. In a mixing bowl, combine oyster sauce, soy sauce, fish sauce, and white pepper, then marinate the shrimp. Allow it to marinade while you prep the flour and breadcrumb mixture.
The batter. Prepare the Gogi tempura coating by combining Goi flour, salt, and chicken powder. Then, Whisk the eggs until smooth. Place breadcrumbs in a separate bowl to coat the shrimp. You should have 3 bowls for this step: a Gogi flour bowl, a Panko bread crumb bowl, and a bowl of whisked eggs. Set them all near each other to coat the shrimp.
The coating. Dip each shrimp in the Gogi tempura coating, then in beaten eggs, and finally back into the coating mixture, ensuring all the sides of the shrimp are well-coated. Place the breaded shrimp on a single layer on a baking sheet.
Heat oil for deep frying over medium-high heat. Fry the coated shrimp until they turn golden brown. Fry 3-5 pieces at a time, depending on the size of your pan. This step happens quickly, so be ready with a wire mesh skimmer to remove the shrimp to a baking sheet or a paper towel-lined platter. Repeat the steps until the shrimp is all cooked.
Serve with your favorite sauce and garnish with lime or lemon wedges, or cilantro leaf.
Garnishing Options
Garnish your butterfly shrimp with lime wedges, cilantro leaves, or thinly chopped green onions.
Helpful Kitchen Notes and Tips
- If using frozen shrimp, allow them to thaw naturally from the frozen state. Then, make sure to pat it dry with paper towels as much as you can to remove access water.
- For food safety, ensure thorough cooking to avoid any health risks associated with seafood.
- Use a deep fryer for the best results.
- For a beautiful presentation, add thinly sliced purple and white cabbage on a serving platter and place the fried shrimp on top. The cabbage can be used as a small salad. Add a squeeze of lemon or lime as a tangy dressing.
- Removing the dark vein from the back of the shrimp ensures a cleaner and more appealing presentation.
Helpful Kitchen Tools for This Recipe
The listed items are affiliate links where I earn a small commission from your purchase.
- A deep fryer is recommended for easy and efficient frying.
- A shrimp deveiner helps remove the veins.
- A small sharp knife for slicing the top of the shrimp to make the butterfly shape.
What to Serve with Butterfly Shrimp
- This dish can be served as an appetizer or a main dish with homemade French fries.
- Use my green seafood sauce, tamarind dipping sauce, pad Thai sauce, or sweet chili sauce for the perfect dip.
Variations and Substitutes
- You can adjust the seasonings and spices to suit your taste preferences.
Storing Leftovers
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. The shrimp will get soggy a bit. If you have an air fryer, cook it for 2-3 minutes at 350 to help bring back the crispness. Don't overcook the shrimp, or it will get tough and chewy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can. Use jumbo or large shrimp for best results.
Yes. Rice flour or yellow corn flour works fine for this recipe. Make sure to season it well with salt and chicken powder.
Shrimp doesn't take long to cook. Once your tempura turns golden brown, remove it immediately from the hot oil.
There are many sauces you can use for dipping. Try Thai sweet chili sauce, green seafood sauce, tartar sauce, or any of your favorite cocktail sauces. Whatever you prefer is perfect.
Yes. You can add garlic or onion powder to add extra flavor.
Make sure to coat the shrimp in Gogi flour generously, then quickly dip the shrimp in the egg wash before coating it with Panko bread crumbs. Shake off the excess egg drip also helps to seal the shrimp in panko bread so the shrimp coating doesn't fall off.
Yes. Chicken tenders, thinly sliced chicken breast, or pork loin can be used for this recipe. They will take longer to cook, and make sure the internal temperature is at 165 degrees F to be sure it's thoroughly cooked.
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PrintThe Best Butterfly Shrimp Recipe
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 6-8 servings 1x
- Diet: Low Lactose
Description
Here's a yummy recipe for the best butterfly shrimp with Thai Gogi tempura inspired by Thai flavors. Tiger shrimp are used and marinated in tasty Thai sauces and spices. The result is a dish full of addictive flavors that everyone will enjoy.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons oyster sauce
- 2 tablespoons fish sauce
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 packet Gogi tempura flour
- 2 cups packet of Panko tempura breadcrumbs. Add more as needed for your batter.
- 2 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoon chicken powder
- 1 teaspoon ground white pepper
- 2-3 eggs, as needed, for dipping shrimp in flour and tempura
- Oil for deep frying
Instructions
- Prepare the shrimp. On a cutting board, remove the shells and heads of the shrimp and leave the last tails on for easy handling and easy eating. Then, make a lengthwise incision along the back of the shrimp with the tip of your knife. Slice through the center of the shrimp without cutting all the way through. Use a small paring knife to remove the veins. You'll need a lot of paper towels to wipe your fingers through this step.
- Ice the shrimp. This step is optional but highly recommended. In a large glass bowl or platter, place a handful of ice under the deveined shrimp to keep it cool while prepping the other ingredients. It will also help make it more crispy once deep-fried in the hot oil.
- Season the shrimp. In a mixing bowl, combine oyster sauce, soy sauce, fish sauce, and white pepper, then marinate the shrimp. Allow it to marinade while you prep the flour and breadcrumb mixture.
- The batter. Prepare the Gogi tempura coating by combining Goi flour, salt, and chicken powder. Then, Whisk the eggs until smooth. Place breadcrumbs in a separate bowl to coat the shrimp. You should have 3 bowls for this step: a Gogi flour bowl, a Panko bread crumb bowl, and a bowl of whisked eggs. Set them all near each other to coat the shrimp.
- The coating. Dip each shrimp in the Gogi tempura coating, then in beaten eggs, and finally back into the coating mixture, ensuring all the sides of the shrimp are well-coated. Place the breaded shrimp on a single layer on a baking sheet.
- Frying. Heat oil for deep frying over medium-high heat. Fry the coated shrimp until they turn golden brown. Fry 3-5 pieces at a time, depending on the size of your pan. This step happens quickly, so be ready with a wire mesh skimmer to remove the shrimp to a baking sheet or a paper towel-lined platter. Repeat the steps until the shrimp is all cooked.
Serve with your favorite sauce and garnish with lime or lemon wedges, or cilantro leaf.
Notes
- If using frozen shrimp, allow them to thaw naturally from the frozen state. Then, make sure to pat it dry with paper towels as much as you can to remove access water.
- For food safety, ensure thorough cooking to avoid any health risks associated with seafood.
- Use a deep fryer for the best results.
- For a beautiful presentation, add thinly sliced purple and white cabbage on a serving platter and place the fried shrimp on top. The cabbage can be used as a small salad. Add a squeeze of lemon or lime as a tangy dressing.
- Removing the dark vein from the back of the shrimp ensures a cleaner and more appealing presentation.
** Thank you so much for visiting my blog! This is truly a passion for me. If you have enjoyed these recipes and appreciate the hard work I put into them, I would love it if you would share them with your friends! Your recommendation is the highest review I could hope for, and I’d appreciate it! **
- Prep Time: 20
- Cook Time: 10
- Category: Thai appetizers
- Method: deep frying
- Cuisine: Thai
More Thai Appetizers You'll Love
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these tasty Thai appetizers.
Suwanee
So glad you loved it, Kim!
Kim Buckley
This Butterfly Shrimp was the perfect appetizer! It was lightly breaded with a lovely balanced flavor that was delicious all on it's own. Pair it with a sweet or spicy sauce if you like.