Classic Cajun Popcorn Shrimp

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 lbsmall shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 1 cupbuttermilk
• 1 tbsphot sauce
• 1 cupall-purpose flour
• 1 cupyellow cornmeal
• 2 tbspCajun seasoning
• 1 tspcayenne pepper
• 1 tspgarlic powder
• 1 tspkosher salt
• vegetable oil, for frying
• 1/2 cupremoulade sauce, for serving

Nutrition / serving

No nutrition data for this recipe — tap Nutrition in Ask Chef AI above for an estimate.

Method

1. 1

   Combine shrimp, buttermilk, and hot sauce in a bowl. Cover and marinate in the refrigerator 20–30 minutes.

   ⏱Start 20:00
2. 2

   Whisk together flour, cornmeal, Cajun seasoning, cayenne, garlic powder, and salt in a shallow dish.

3. 3

   Heat 2 inches of oil in a heavy pot or Dutch oven to 365°F.

4. 4

   Working in batches, lift shrimp from the buttermilk, letting excess drip off, and dredge thoroughly in the cornmeal mixture, pressing to coat.

5. 5

   Fry in batches, without crowding the pot, 1 1/2 to 2 minutes per batch, until golden brown and crisp and the shrimp are just cooked through.

   ⏱Start 1:30
6. 6

   Drain on a wire rack or paper towels and season with a pinch more Cajun seasoning while hot.

7. 7

   Serve immediately with remoulade sauce for dipping.