Homemade Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos are an excellent way to enjoy bang bang shrimp at home! Crispy fried shrimp coated in bang bang sauce, served on a corn tortilla with fresh veggies and a spritz of lime juice. This recipe is inspired by the version at Bonefish Grill. And if I'm being honest, I think it tastes even better than the restaurant.
Looking for more delicious shrimp recipes? Try my Coconut Shrimp next!
About This Recipe
When it comes to tacos, bang bang shrimp is hands down my favorite protein to use. It's so crispy and crunchy, and the spicy and creamy mayo is one of the most flavorful sauces you'll ever try.
In the U.S, Bonefish Grill is one of the most popular restaurants that serve bang bang shrimp tacos. Last time my friends and I went to Seattle, we stopped at the Bonefish Grill in Marysville, and โ of us ordered their bang bang shrimp tacos. They were AMAZING.
The shrimp was crispy and plump, and the bang bang sauce was to die for. They were served on corn tortillas with shredded cabbage, diced tomatoes, and sour cream. For my recipe, I also added some extra purple cabbage for color, and cilantro for freshness.
Key Ingredients
Shrimp: I'm using U31-40 sized shrimp, which means there are 31-40 shrimps per pound. You can go for a larger size like U15-21, but I wouldn't recommend going smaller than U31-40 because then the ratio of shrimp meat to crust is way off.
Buttermilk dredge: This is a mixture of buttermilk, black pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder. When I made this on social media, a lot of people asked whether regular milk could be used and I will say that I don't recommend it. Buttermilk is ideal because it has a thicker texture for coating the shrimp.
Cornstarch: I like using cornstarch because it gives the shrimp an extra crispy crust.
Bang bang sauce: This is a combination of sriracha, Thai chili sauce, and mayonnaise. I highly recommend using Japanese mayonnaise if you have it, otherwise a high-quality mayonnaise like Hellman's or Miracle Whip will work.
For the tacos: I used purple cabbage, green cabbage, tomatoes, cilantro, and lime juice. You can change up the toppings to whatever you want. If you're trying to emulate Bonefish Grill, just use green cabbage, tomatoes, and sour cream.
Instructions
STEP 1: In a small bowl, combine the bang bang sauce ingredients and set aside.
STEP 2: Combine the shrimp, buttermilk, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper in a medium bowl. Let this marinate for 10 minutes.
STEP 3: Place the cornstarch in a shallow dish or bowl. Working one at a time, pull out a shrimp from the marinade, shake off excess, and transfer to the cornstarch and coat all over.
STEP 4: Transfer the shrimps to a baking sheet.
STEP 5: Heat a pot of oil to 350ยฐF. Fry the shrimp in batches for 2-3 minutes each until golden and crispy. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to dry.
STEP 6: In a large bowl, toss the fried shrimp with HALF of the bang bang sauce.
STEP 7: Finally, to assemble the tacos, start by heating up the tortillas on a skillet. Add 3 shrimp per taco, and then add your desired toppings. Enjoy!
๐ Recipe
Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos
Ingredients
For the bang bang shrimp
- 1 pound large shrimp (peeled and deveined, tails removed)
- 1 cup buttermilk
- ยฝ teaspoon garlic powder
- ยฝ teaspoon onion powder
- ยผ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup corn starch
For the bang bang sauce
- ยฝ cup high-quality mayonnaise
- 3 tablespoons Thai sweet chili sauce
- 1 tablespoon Sriracha hot sauce (or to taste)
Taco toppings
- 8-12 small white corn tortillas
- 3 cups thinly sliced purple or green cabbage
- 1 medium tomato (diced)
- ยผ cup cilantro (coarsely chopped)
- lime wedges
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine the bang bang sauce ingredients and set aside.
- In a medium bowl, mix together the shrimp with buttermilk, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper. Let it marinate for 10 minutes.
- Place the cornstarch in a shallow dish. Working one at a time, remove the shrimp from the marinade, letting any excess drip off, then coat it in cornstarch. Transfer to a baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining shrimp.
- In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat 1-2 inches of oil to 350ยฐF. Fry the shrimp in batches for 2-3 minutes, until crispy and golden brown. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil.
- In a large bowl, toss the fried shrimp with ยฝ of the bang bang sauce.
- To assemble a taco, heat corn tortillas on the stove or in the microwave. Add 3 shrimp per taco and your desired toppings. Finish with a squeeze of lime juice and more bang bang sauce. Enjoy!
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