Description
A quick and easy air-fried shrimp tempura recipe that delivers restaurant-quality crunch without the grease. Coated in a light heavy cream and panko batter, these shrimp are ready in just 20 minutes and served with a tangy, spicy dipping sauce.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound large shrimp (peeled and deveined)
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- Cooking spray (avocado or canola oil)
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1–2 teaspoons sriracha
- 2 stalks green onions (finely chopped)
- Lemon wedges for serving
Instructions
- Thaw frozen shrimp in cold water if necessary, then drain and pat completely dry with paper towels.
- Set up a dredging station with three shallow bowls: one with flour mixed with garlic powder, salt, and pepper; one with heavy cream; and one with panko breadcrumbs.
- Dredge each shrimp in the flour mixture, shaking off excess, then dip into the heavy cream, and finally press into the panko breadcrumbs to coat evenly.
- Preheat air fryer to 400°F (200°C) and lightly spray the basket with cooking spray.
- Arrange shrimp in a single layer in the air fryer basket, leaving space for air circulation. Lightly spray the tops with oil.
- Cook for 5 minutes, then flip the shrimp and spray the other side. Cook for another 5-7 minutes until golden brown and crispy.
- While shrimp cook, whisk together mayonnaise, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, and sriracha in a small bowl. Stir in chopped green onions.
- Serve shrimp immediately with the dipping sauce and lemon wedges.
Notes
Ensure shrimp are completely dry before coating to prevent sogginess. Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket. For oven baking, cook at 400°F on a wire rack for 15-18 minutes, flipping halfway. The dipping sauce can be made up to 2 days ahead.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Cuisine: Japanese
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6 shrimp per serving
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 2
- Sodium: 450
- Fat: 12
- Saturated Fat: 3
- Carbohydrates: 18
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 22
Keywords: shrimp tempura, air fryer shrimp, panko shrimp, easy dinner, quick recipes, crispy shrimp, seafood appetizer