Cajun Shrimp with Spicy Dipping Sauce

Fried shrimp are so delicious - wouldn't it be nice if we got to eat them more often? With this recipe, you can have crunchy, flavorful fried shrimp, but without the deep frying. 

original recipe via cookinglight.com 

Panko + pan frying = amazing. It makes for a healthier dish, but you still get lots of crispy crunchies. And as usual, I have a nice big bag of frozen shrimp to cut down on cost and prep time. Be warned: you will probably need to make a lot of these because they disappear fast!

Grocery list items: 

1 lb frozen shrimp 

Worcestershire sauce 

mayonnaise 

Panko (Japanese bread crumbs)

You could use a Cajun spice mix to make this recipe, but I ended up using Old Bay with some garlic powder and cayenne. I also recommend putting some kind of veggie with this, so that you have a nice balanced meal.

Cajun Shrimp with Spicy Dipping Sauce 

1 lb frozen shrimp, peeled and thawed

1/2 cup all purpose flour

1 cup panko 

salt + pepper 

2 tsp Old Bay 

1/2 tsp garlic powder 

1/4 tsp cayenne

1/4 cup milk (I used almond, any type works) 

3 tbsp mayonnaise 

2 tsp Worcestershire sauce 

1/2 tsp hot sauce 

2-3 tbsp olive oil 

Start by combining flour, 1 tsp seasoning, salt, and pepper together in a bowl. Place milk and panko each on a separate dish.

Dredge the shrimp first in the flour, then the milk, then coat in breadcrumbs. Heat a large, non-stick pan and start with half the olive oil, spread thin. When the pan is hot, place shrimp in the pan and cook 5-6 min, until browned and crispy, and they release easily from the pan. 

Flip the shrimp and repeat on the other side. If needed, use the rest of the olive oil to cook the rest of the shrimp.  

Quickly mix up a dipping sauce from mayonnaise, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, and 1 tsp Old Bay. 

Serve fried shrimp fresh from the pan with dipping sauce. Yum!

Cajun Shrimp with Spicy Dipping Sauce

1 lb frozen shrimp, thawed

1/2 cup all purpose flour
1 cup panko
salt + pepper

2 tsp Old Bay 

1/2 tsp garlic powder 

1/4 tsp cayenne

1/4 cup milk (almond or any other)
3 tbsp mayonnaise
2 tsp Worcester sauce
1/2 tsp hot sauce (Sriracha or other)
2-3 tbsp olive oil
Directions:
1. Combine flour, 1 tsp cajun seasoning, salt, and pepper together in a bowl. Place milk and panko each on a separate dish.
2. Dredge the shrimp first in the flour, then the milk, then coat in breadcrumbs.

3. Heat olive oil, spread thin in pan.

4. Cook shrimp 5-6 min a side, until they release easily from the pan. 

5. Mix together mayonnaise, Worcester sauce, hot sauce, and 1 tsp Cajun seasoning for dipping sauce.

6. Serve shrimp hot with sauce and green vegetables.