Crispy Shrimp Chips (Prawn Crackers For A Light Snack)
on Sep 27, 2021, Updated Nov 19, 2023
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Shrimp Chips are crispy, flavorful and so fun to eat! They’re a beloved snack and appetizer in Asian cuisine and are often served at Chinese, Thai, Korean, and Vietnamese restaurants. If you can’t get enough of these addictive snacks, now you can prepare them at home to enjoy any time you like.
Also known as prawn crackers, these chips can be found in several parts of Asia. Since you can buy ready-to-fry shrimp chips, it couldn’t be easier to whip up a serving of these tasty snacks at home. Keep a pack at home and fry them up for movie nights and get-togethers.
What Are Shrimp Chips?
These chips are a deep-fried snack commonly found in Southeast Asian cuisine and are most closely associated with Indonesia and Malaysia. They are most often white, but multi-colored varieties are also popular. They are similar to potato chips in texture, being crispy and light. Shrimp chips have a puffed appearance and a slightly sweet seafood flavor.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Uncooked Prawn Crackers: Luckily, there’s no need to prepare prawn crackers from scratch. You can purchase pre-made, ready-to-fry shrimp chips online at retailers such as Amazon or Walmart.
- Vegetable Oil: You’ll need a good amount of oil to deep fry your prawn chips. We recommend a neutral and inexpensive oil such as vegetable oil, canola oil or safflower oil.
How to Make Shrimp Chips
1. Add 2 inches of oil to a large pot over medium-high heat and add 2 inches of oil. Heat the oil to 300˚F. Set aside a baking sheet lined with paper towels.
2. Once the oil is ready, carefully place a few pieces of prawn crackers into the hot oil. Gently stir them with a wooden spoon.
3. The crackers will open up and expand within a few seconds. Remove the chips from the oil immediately using a slotted spoon.
4. Transfer them to the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with the rest of the chips. Serve and enjoy!
Tips & Tricks
- Before you begin cooking, prepare a plate or baking sheet lined with paper towels to absorb the excess oil after frying.
- These shrimp chips burn easily. For best results, you’ll need to ensure that the oil reaches the ideal temperature before putting in your chips. Use a thermometer to ensure the oil is between 300 and 325˚F – any hotter and you’ll risk burning the chips.
- They’ll be cooked in just a few seconds, so be sure to keep an eye on them. Cook a handful at a time to avoid overcrowding the pot.
Frequently Asked Questions
These snacks are made with starch (most commonly tapioca flour) and dehydrated shrimp or prawns. The mixture is combined with water to make a paste, which is then dried and cut into thin chips. Before eating, the chips are deep-fried, making them puff up and become crispy. Some pawn crackers also include food coloring for a fun, multi-colored look.
They are light, crispy, salty, and slightly sweet. The texture is similar to potato chips. Despite the name, they don’t have a strong shrimp taste.
Perhaps the easiest and most convenient place to get these chips is on Amazon. You can get them in either white or multicolored.
Calbee Shrimp Chips are a ready-to-eat alternative that you do not have to fry yourself. They can be found at bodegas, supermarkets and Asian markets. You can also purchase multi-packs of Calbee Flavored Shrimp Chips on Amazon to have them delivered to your home.
As with most deep-fried foods, shrimp chips aren’t the healthiest option. They tend to be high in calories and sodium. Just like potato chips, they’re a tasty snack best enjoyed in moderation.
Most varieties of shrimp chips contain monosodium glutamate to improve their flavor. If you prefer to avoid this, be sure to purchase shrimp chips without MSG, such as the Apexy brand, which can be found on Amazon.
Other Appetizers You May Like
Easy Shrimp Chips Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 box uncooked prawn crackers
- vegetable oil, for frying
Instructions
- Place a large pot or deep fryer over medium-high heat and add 2 inches of oil. Heat the oil to 300˚F.
- Set aside a baking sheet lined with paper towels.
- Once the oil is ready, carefully place a few pieces of prawn crackers into the hot oil. Gently stir them with a wooden spoon.
- The crackers will open up and expand within a few seconds. Remove the chips from the oil immediately using a slotted spoon. (Make sure to take them out immediately, otherwise they’ll get burned quickly). Transfer them to the prepared baking sheet.
- Repeat with the rest of the chips. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- I recommend using a thermometer to monitor the temperature.
- Keep the oil temperature between 300 to 325˚F.
- Fry in batches and avoid overcrowding the pan.
- It only takes a few seconds to fry the chips, so don’t walk away from the pan.
- If your chips are curling too much after frying, you can press ends with chopsticks immediately after you take them out from the oil.
Nutrition information provided is an estimate only and will vary based on ingredient brands and cooking methods used.
