The Best Kung Pao Shrimp Recipes

KUNG PAO SHRIMP

Steps:

• Combine soy sauce, chicken broth, and sesame oil in a bowl. Dissolve cornstarch in water and mix into the bowl. Add shrimp and stir to coat. Cover and refrigerate for 1 1/2 hours; stir occasionally.
• Mix chicken broth, sugar, vinegar, soy sauce, sesame oil, and cornstarch together to make the sauce. Set aside.
• Heat oil in a large frying pan. Add onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until limp and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add shrimp and stir until pink, about 1 minute. Stir in bamboo shoots, bell peppers, and dried chile; cook for 1 minute. Pour in sauce and peanuts. Cook until sauce boils and thickens slightly, about 5 minutes.

KUNG PAO SHRIMP

Steps:

• In a small dry skillet, toast the dry chiles until they have deepened in color and have begun to release a toasty aroma, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Remove from the skillet and set aside.
• Heat a large saute pan over high heat for about 1 minute. When you see the first wisps of white smoke, swirl in the vegetable oil, cashews, garlic, and toasted chiles. Stir and scrape the pan until the garlic is light brown, about 30 seconds.
• Toss the shrimp into the pan, stirring constantly, until the shrimp just starts to turn pink and everything starts to smell amazing, about 1 more minute. Add the bell pepper and onions, and cook, stirring, until the onion starts to turn translucent, about 1 minute.
• Add the oyster sauce and sambal. Stir the cornstarch into the chicken stock to make a slurry, then add it to the pan. Stir well, scraping the brown bits from the bottom of the pan to deglaze and incorporate them into the sauce. Taste and adjust the seasoning if necessary. When the shrimp have just turned pink and opaque, meaning the shrimp are cooked through, turn off the heat. Sprinkle in the scallions, add the sesame oil and a pinch of white pepper. Stir everything in the pan to coat all the ingredients.
• Serve immediately with steamed rice.

KUNG PAO SHRIMP

Steps:

• Mix the shrimp, Shaoxing wine, 1 teaspoon cornstarch and a pinch of salt in a bowl until the shrimp are evenly coated. Let stand while you prepare the other ingredients.
• Stir the sugar, soy sauce, vinegar, Sichuan pepper and remaining teaspoon cornstarch in a separate bowl. Dice the bell pepper and thinly slice the garlic. Have all your ingredients ready next to the stove.
• Heat the oil in a wok or large skillet over medium-high heat for 15 seconds. Add the peanuts and stir until browned in spots, 30 to 60 seconds. Add the bell pepper and garlic, and sprinkle with salt. Cook, stirring, until the pepper is bright and the garlic starts to become translucent, about 30 seconds. Add the chiles and stir well, then add the shrimp with its marinade. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the shrimp are curled and just opaque, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Add the scallions and stir until glossy, about 15 seconds, then add the sauce. Cook, stirring, until the sauce thickens and coats everything evenly, about 1 minute. If any of the starchy sauce has stuck to the bottom of the pan, add a splash of water and scrape up any browned bits. Taste and add more Sichuan pepper if you'd like. Immediately transfer to a dish and serve hot.