Air Fried Salt and Pepper Shrimp are so easy to make in your Air Fryer, and are so much healthier than traditionally fried shrimp. Rice flour makes these air fried shrimp both crunchy and gluten-free.
What Makes This Air Fryer Shrimp Amazing?
- Fast. Ready in 10 minutes in your air fryer.
- Easy. A simple pour and cook recipe.
- Gluten Free. Rice flour makes this gluten allergy-friendly.
- Low Carb. Only 8 net carbs per serving.
- Delicious. A great appetizer recipe for any party.
What Do You Need for Air Fried Salt and Pepper Shrimp?
Peppercorns! Outside of traditional peppercorns, the Sichuan peppercorns give this Air Fried Shrimp such an amazing spice profile. They're different from regular peppercorns.
They're just the right amount of spice but more importantly, they make your tongue slightly numb and tingly which is a lot of fun.
If you don't have those, try using regular ground pepper and see if you like the recipe. If you do, you can get Sichuan peppercorns for a change.
Can I Make This With Cornstarch?
I will tell you I tried these with cornstarch and they really weren't as good as with rice flour. So I'd take the time to get rice flour for this shrimp recipe.
Once you have it, you can use rice flour to make other breaded air fryer recipes as well, and you only use a small amount, so it will last awhile.
Can you use frozen shrimp for Air Fried Shrimp?
- Plan. You can! It does require some planning ahead.
- Thaw. You will need to make sure the shrimp is completely thawed before applying the breading, otherwise it will not stick.
- Hot Water. I suggest to defrost the frozen shrimp by using hot tap water. Soak the shrimp in hot water. When the water gets cold, pour out, and add more hot water. And within 10-15 minutes at most, it will be defrosted.
- Cook. Then, proceed with the air fried shrimp recipe.
Tips For Salt and Pepper Shrimp
- Rice Flour. Using rice flour makes this air fryer shrimp recipe perfect for gluten-free and crisps nicely in the air fryer. You could substitute potato flour or corn flour as well.
- Find it. Rice flour can be found right in the regular grocery store in the flour section.
- Rolling Pin. For those without a mortar and pestle what works well is to put the peppercorns in a zip top bag. You can then bang the peppercorns with a rolling pin or a heavy object to crush them. Just be careful not to break your countertop!
How To Make Salt and Pepper Shrimp
- Toast the Szechuan peppers lightly until they give off a lovely, tantalizing fragrance, about a minute or two.
- Grind the toasted peppers and salt together in a mortar and pestle, or in a clean coffee grinder.
- Add in Rice flour and toss to coat.
- Add oil and mix well.
- Put the shrimp in the air fryer basket and spray to coat with oil again. Do not skip this step. Shrimp are so lean, that you really need that little extra oil to help crisp the breading.
- Set the air fryer to 325F and cook for 8-10 minutes, tossing half way through.
Want more Air Fryer recipes?
- Chicken Jalfrezi
- Stuffed Poblano Peppers
- Keto Shrimp Scampi
- Gochujang Chicken Wings
- Cheesy Potatoes
- Buffalo Cauliflower Wings
However you choose to serve this simple salt and pepper shrimp recipe, you're going to be happy you did! Air Fryer Shrimp are easy enough for lunch, special enough for company, and tasty enough to be a repeat dish!
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons Whole Black Peppercorns, ground
- 2 teaspoons Sichuan peppercorns, ground
- 1 teaspoon Kosher Salt
- 1 teaspoon Sugar Or Other Sweetener Equivalent
- 1 pound Shrimp, 21-25 per pound
- 3 tablespoons Rice Flour
- 2 tablespoons Oil
Instructions
- Heat a saucepan on medium heat and roast the black peppercorns and sichuan peppercorns together for 1-2 minutes until you can smell the aroma from the peppercorns. Allow them to cool.
- Add salt and sugar, and using a mortar and pestle, crush the spices together to form a coarse powder.
- Place shrimp in a large bowl. Add the spices, rice flour and oil, and mix well until the shrimp are well-coated.
- Place the shrimp in the airfryer basket, trying to keep them in as flat a layer as possible. You may want to use a rack, and place half the shrimp in the basket and the other half on the rack.
- Spray well with additional oil.
- Set the air fryer to 325F and cook for 8-10 minutes, tossing halfway through.
Watch The Video
- Using rice flour makes this recipe perfect for gluten-free and crisps nicely in the air fryer. You could substitute potato flour or corn flour as well.
- Rice flour can be found right in the regular grocery store in the flour section.
- For those without a mortal and pestle what works well is to put the peppercorns in a zip top bag. You can then bang the peppercorns with a rolling pin or a heavy object to crush them. Just be careful not to break your countertop!
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Nutrition
Originally Published May 29, 2018
And don't forget to check out my air fryer cookbooks! Every day easy air fryer, and Air Fryer Revolution.
Cheryl Wine
Are you cooking the shrimp with the shells off but tails on? Or all of the shell on?
TwoSleevers
Correct. Shell off before coating but leave the tail on for easy bites after they cook.
Rachel
Never thaw shrimp in hot water! Not good safe. Instead, rinse with shrimp in a strainer with COLD water
Traveler
Can I use all-purpose flour instead?
Nina Lane
Do you use white or brown rice flour?
URVASHI PITRE
I used white rice flour
Arch
So delicious! Even my one year old who is an extremely picky eater loved it!
Denise Martin
Love this so much. Keep up the good work.
Gayle Cobb
I’ve been looking for this recipe. I had the most delicious salt & pepper shrimp from a Hunan Chinese restaurant in Connecticut. I haven’t seen them on any menu since leaving CT. Thanks, I will be trying it.
URVASHI PITRE
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