Sweet and Sour Shrimp 

This one of the Chinese dishes that brings out the popular sweet and sour shrimp. Such a dish provides a perfect harmony of flavors from being sweet to sour and salty.

It does much more apart from its appearance; it provides bold flavors along with light-seared shrimps just sufficient enough to carry in juiciness, coating it with sauce to make the coat glossy.

You can have it over rice, noodles, even close to restaurant quality at home in 20 minutes.

More Recipes Like This

1. Sweet And Sour Chicken
2. Garlic Butter Shrimp
3. Chicken Wings (with Sesame Honey And Lemon!)

Why This Sweet and Sour Shrimp Stands Out

It is perfect as this recipe hits the balanced sauce level without overpowering, getting the right quantity of tanginess, umami, and sweetness with this sweet and sour shrimp dish. It stays juicy.

Lightly seared shrimp absorb the rich flavors of the sauce but remain succulent. It’s quick and easy too.

Ready in just 20 minutes, which makes it absolutely perfect for any flavorful weeknight dinner.

Variety of serving options – serves well over steamed rice; mix it into noodles; the sauce can also be used on chicken or tofu for added diversity.

Ingredients

500 grams shrimp, unpeeled and butterfly cut, or peeled (optional)

1 red or yellow bell pepper, diced

1 large red or white onion, diced

4 cloves of garlic, minced

1 teaspoon white pepper

Salt, to taste

Sugar, to taste

Vegetable oil, for frying

Spring onions, for garnish

Sweet and Sour Sauce

2 tablespoons Chinese dark or white vinegar

3 tablespoons tomato ketchup

1 tablespoon oyster sauce

1 tablespoon light soy sauce

½ tablespoon sesame oil

1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 3 tablespoons water

Directions

1. Preparation of Shrimp

Rinse the shrimp and blot them dry with a paper towel. Butter slashed the shrimp that allows more area on surface to the sauce stick on shrimp, season by dash of salt and white pepper.

2. Pan Fry Shrimps

1 tablespoon vegetable oil is added to a large skillet or wok and heated over medium-high. Shrimps are added, and the shrimp are stir-fried until they turn pinkish red and slightly translucent. Stir-fry for another 1–2 minutes on each side. Set aside.

3. Stir-fry the vegetables

Add more oil if needed. Stir-fry the chopped onions and bell pepper a little soft until about 2 minutes, adding the minced garlic and carry on another 30 seconds over medium heat till fragrant.

4. Prepare the Sauce

In a separate bowl, mix the vinegar, tomato ketchup, oyster sauce, soy sauce and sesame oil. In another bowl, whisk the water with the cornstarch to form a slurry. 

5. Stir together all

Return the cooked shrimp to the pan, add the sauce, and mix until fully coated. Gradually stir in the cornstarch slurry, letting the sauce thicken as it simmers for 1-2 minutes until glossy.

6. Serve it

Turn off the gas and sprinkle with fresh-cut spring onions, and serve immediately over steamed rice or stir-fried noodles.

Cooking Tips

Crunchier Toppings – Sprinkle a thin layer of cornstarch on the shrimps before searing. They will be a bit crunchy.

Less Sweet  – If you want it not that sweet, you just adjust it or throw in a little pineapple juice for that touch of natural sweetness.

Add more sauce to it – If it is too weakly sour, then a little more vinegar can be added to increase the sourness.

Use of Fresh Ingredients – Using fresh shrimp, garlic, and good quality soy sauce will surely make a difference in the overall taste.

Conclusion

This sweet and sour shrimp homemade version is actually somewhat of a very delicious dish that would go quite well in a restaurant to serve.

To serve it at home over dinner or to your guests, you are assuredly sure to wow with rich flavors and strong colors. You try it with added vegetables and/or proteins according to your likes. Let me know how this dish turns out for you.