• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • Sous Vide
  • Air Fryer
  • Starbucks Copycat Drinks

IzzyCooking

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Home
  • Sous Vide
  • Air Fryer
  • Starbucks Copycat Drinks
  • Let’s Connect!

    • Email
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Home
    • Sous Vide
    • Air Fryer
    • Starbucks Copycat Drinks
  • Let’s Connect!

    • Email
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Recipes

    02/03/2023

    Amaebi (Sweet Shrimp / Spot Prawns)

    • Share
    Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe

    Amaebi means sweet shrimp in Japanese. It’s one of the most popular dishes among sushi lovers. Amaebi is often served raw in sashimi, sushi, or nigiri. Alternatively, you can make shrimp tempura or grill it. In this post, you’ll learn everything about ama ebi (ebi shrimp), and how to make sweet shrimp sashimi.

    Amaebi means sweet shrimp in Japanese. It’s one of the most popular dishes among sushi lovers. Amaebi is often served raw as amaebi sashimi, amaebi sushi, or amaebi nigiri. Alternatively, you can make shrimp tempura, grill it. In this post you’ll learn everything about ama ebi (ebi shrimp), and how to make sweet shrimp sashimi. #amaebi #amaebiSushi #shrimpSashimi#sweetShrimp
    Table of Contents Show
    What is Amaebi?
    Ways to Use Amaebi
    How to Prepare Raw Amaebi Sweet Shrimp?
    How to Make Amaebi Shrimp Sashimi
    Nutrition Value and Health Benefits
    Substitutes For Amaebi In Sushi And Nigiri
    Amaebi vs Ebi
    Frequently Asked Questions
    What Does Amaebi Taste Like?
    Where to Buy Sashimi-grade Amaebi?
    How to Store Amaebi Spot Prawn
    What Is The Best Season for Amaebi?
    Can You Freeze Amaebi?
    What if the Amaebi Contains Eggs?
    How Do You Defrost Frozen Amaebi Properly?
    Amaebi Sweet Shrimp Sashimi Recipe

    What is Amaebi?

    Also called sweet shrimp, pink shrimp or spot prawns, amaebi are cold-water northern shrimp that comes from very deep in the ocean. They have a unique sweet flavor, and are caught small when they’re at the peak of the sweetness early in their life cycle.

    They’re often served as a fresh and raw delicacy.

    Ways to Use Amaebi

    Amaebi is very versatile and can be served raw or cooked. It’s often served in:

    • Sashimi
    • Nigiri
    • Sushi
    • Shrimp Tempura
    • Grilled Sweet Shrimp

    When it’s served raw with sushi rice, it’s often accompanied by wasabi, and topped with masago or tobiko. When the head is served, it’s often fried in potato starch.

    Amaebi means sweet shrimp in Japanese. It’s one of the most popular dishes among sushi lovers. Amaebi is often served raw as amaebi sashimi, amaebi sushi, or amaebi nigiri. Alternatively, you can make shrimp tempura, grill it. In this post you’ll learn everything about ama ebi (ebi shrimp), and how to make sweet shrimp sashimi. #amaebi #amaebiSushi #shrimpSashimi#sweetShrimp

    How to Prepare Raw Amaebi Sweet Shrimp?

    Defrost your shrimp beforehand if they’re frozen.

    First, grab the body with one hand and pinch the head between the thumb and index finger of the other hand. Twist the body of the shrimp to remove the head. Then gently remove the shell around the body, leaving the last piece of the shell connected to the tail. The tail is usually left as the beautiful decoration.

    Then, cut open the shrimp body from the back (or belly side), but don’t cut it through to the other side. Remove the entrails.

    Closeup of cutting open the body of the shrimp.

    How to Make Amaebi Shrimp Sashimi

    • Prepare a bowl of hot water and iced water.
    • Dip the prepared amaebi shrimp into the hot water for a few seconds.
    • Then place the shrimp into the iced water immediately.
    • Pat them dry with paper towels.
    • Arrange them on a plate. (Optional: You can deep fry the head and place it next to the amaebi as a decoration).
    Amaebi means sweet shrimp in Japanese. It’s one of the most popular dishes among sushi lovers. Amaebi is often served raw as amaebi sashimi, amaebi sushi, or amaebi nigiri. Alternatively, you can make shrimp tempura, grill it. In this post you’ll learn everything about ama ebi (ebi shrimp), and how to make sweet shrimp sashimi. #amaebi #amaebiSushi #shrimpSashimi#sweetShrimp

    Nutrition Value and Health Benefits

    Amaebi is a good source of lean protein and phosphorus which supports our teeth and bones. It’s also rich in vitamin B12 and low in saturated fat.

    Substitutes For Amaebi In Sushi And Nigiri

    All out of Amaebi? No need to worry! There are a couple of substitutes you can use instead in sushi and nigiri. Some of your options are kuruma, sakuri, botan, and shiro. 

    Amaebi vs Ebi

    Ebi refers to a Japanese traditional method of preparing shrimp by “butterflying” them. The shrimp are split open from the bottom and laid out flat. It’s originally used on nigiri, but can also be used on maki. Ebi often means cooked butterflied shrimp tails, while amaebi often refers to live spot prawns that are served as sashimi, nigiri, or sushi.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What Does Amaebi Taste Like?

    Amaebi tastes sweet and delicious with a special texture.

    Where to Buy Sashimi-grade Amaebi?

    You can find sashimi-grade amaebi at local Japanese grocery stores, or order them online. Healthy amaebi sweet shrimp are translucent. If they look pink and the tails are curling up, they’re not fresh.

    Look for Amaebi that have little or no black spotting in the head.

    How to Store Amaebi Spot Prawn

    If you bought live amaebi, it’s best to cook your amaebi immediately for the best flavor. If you have to wait, remove the head as soon as possible and rinse the tails thoroughly. Then keep them in a container with packaged ice. Replace the ice daily and you can store them up to 3 days in the refrigerator.

    What Is The Best Season for Amaebi?

    To get the freshest amaebi, you’ll want to eat them from May to June or September to October. 

    Can You Freeze Amaebi?

    Yes you can! If you want your Amaebi to last longer than 3 days then it’s best to freeze them. To do this, store them in a single layer in a freezer bag and cover them with a saline solution. Make note that when doing this, your Amaebi won’t retain the same taste as if it were fresh. 

    What if the Amaebi Contains Eggs?

    Then you’re in luck! The eggs in the Amaebi mean that you’re eating a female shrimp. The eggs are edible as well! The eggs have a rich taste and will provide extra flavoring to your meals., plus they can also be used as a garnish on your sushi rolls. 

    How Do You Defrost Frozen Amaebi Properly?

    You can defrost them in the fridge overnight. If you want to thaw them faster, fill a large bowl with cold water, remove the shrimp from their packaging and place them under running water for about 15 minutes.

    Other Japanese Recipes You May Also Like

    • Uni Sushi
    • Tuna Nigiri
    • Salmon Nigiri
    Amaebi means sweet shrimp in Japanese. It’s one of the most popular dishes among sushi lovers. Amaebi is often served raw as amaebi sashimi, amaebi sushi, or amaebi nigiri.

    Amaebi Sweet Shrimp Sashimi Recipe

    Amaebi means sweet shrimp in Japanese. It’s one of the most popular dishes among sushi lovers. Amaebi is often served raw as amaebi sashimi, amaebi sushi, or amaebi nigiri.
    Print Pin Rate
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Total Time: 10 minutes
    Servings: 2
    Author: Izzy
    Calories: 14kcal

    Ingredients 

    • 1 oz Amaebi (sweet shrimp)

    Optional for Serving

    • wasabi
    • pickled ginger
    • soy sauce

    Instructions 

    Prepare Amaebi:

    • Defrost your shrimp beforehand if they’re frozen.
    • Grab the body with one hand and pinch the head between the thumb and index finger of the other hand.
    • Twist the body of the shrimp to remove the head. Then gently remove the shell around the body, leaving the last piece of the shell connected to the tail. The tail is usually left as the beautiful decoration.
    • Rinse the shrimp thoroughly. Cut open the body from the back (or belly side), but don’t cut it through to the other side. Remove the entrails.

    Make Amaebi Sashimi:

    • Prepare a bowl of hot water and iced water.
    • Dip the prepared amaebi shrimp into the hot water for a few seconds.
    • Then place the shrimp into the iced water immediately.
    • Pat them dry with paper towels.
    • Arrange them on a plate. (Optional: You can deep fry the head and place it next to the amaebi as a decoration).

    Nutrition

    Calories: 14kcal | Protein: 3g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 36mg | Sodium: 110mg | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 21mg | Iron: 1mg
    Author: Izzy
    Course: Dinner
    Cuisine: Japanese
    Keyword: Amaebi, Amaebi Sushi, Shrimp Sashimi, Sweet Shrimp
    Tried this recipe?Follow or tag us on Pinterest @izzycooking

    Filed Under: Dinner, Recipes Tagged With: sweet shrimp

    About Izzy

    I'm Izzy, a food lover and photographer. Here you’ll find a collection of simple recipes that are perfect for busy people. My blog aims to help you make and enjoy delicious and healthy food at home.

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, this is Izzy! On my blog, you will find easy and delicious recipes for the everyday home cook, with easy-to-follow instructions and step-by-step photos.

    More about me →

    Popular

    • Sous Vide Chicken Wings with Buffalo Sauce
    • Blue Drink Starbucks Copycat
    • Garlic Herb Sous Vide Potatoes
    • Iced Caramel Cloud Macchiato (Starbucks Copycat Recipe)

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Copyright © 2022 - Izzycooking