Food Styling: Anne Disrude
Props: Marina Malchin.

Almost-Famous Spicy Fried Shrimp

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  • Level: Easy
  • Total: 40 min
  • Active: 40 min
  • Yield: 4 to 6 servings
When Bang Bang Shrimp first hit the menu at Bonefish Grill eight years ago, it was a flop. The dish — crunchy fried shrimp in Thai chili sauce — wasn’t the problem. The name was. After chain founder Tim Curci changed the name from Creamy Spicy Shrimp to Bang Bang Shrimp, the appetizer became the restaurant’s best-selling dish. And as the shrimp exploded in popularity, so did Bonefish Grill. The chain now has more than 150 locations across the country. Regulars everywhere have a nickname for the signature snack: They just order a “Bang.” Many of these fans, including Lori Piscopo from Valley Township, PA, wrote to us asking for the recipe, and while Curci remained tight-lipped on the details, Food Network Kitchens managed to create this perfect imitation.

Ingredients

For the Sauce:

For the Shrimp:

Directions

  1. Make the sauce: Mix the mayonnaise, chili sauce, honey, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1 tablespoon water in a large bowl; set aside.
  2. Prepare the shrimp: Heat about 2 inches of vegetable oil in a heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven over medium heat until a deep-fry thermometer registers 350 degrees F. Meanwhile, whisk the eggs in a shallow bowl. Whisk the flour, cornstarch and 1 teaspoon each salt and pepper in another shallow bowl.
  3. Working in batches, dredge the shrimp in the flour mixture, shaking off any excess, dip in the beaten eggs, then return to the flour mixture, turning to form a thick crust. Fry the shrimp in the hot oil until lightly golden, 1 to 2 minutes, adjusting the heat as needed to maintain the oil temperature. Transfer to a paper-towel-lined plate with a slotted spoon.
  4. Toss the shrimp with the prepared sauce. Arrange the lettuce in a shallow serving bowl or on individual plates. Top with the shrimp and garnish with scallions.