Beer Battered Fried Shrimp

Let's be real, beer battered fried seafood is almost always at the top of people's "favorite things to eat" list. And while this is usually regulated to your typical fish and chips, switching things up and using shrimp is an awesome alternative (and easier to make!).

When making fried shrimp, you can adjust the thickness of the batter to your liking. The thicker the batter, the longer it'll take to cook, but really, you can do it however you like. Add more beer (or water) for a thiner, crispier coating, or add less to get a thicker, more dense crust.

Fried shrimp also gives us the perfect excuss to dive into our own Coastal Seafoods housemade cocktail and tartar sauces! Seriously, these are some top of the line sauces and they're all made in-house, which means they're as fresh as a sauce can get, and these fried shrimp are the absolute perfect vehicle for indulging in both of them!

Beer Battered Fried Shrimp

Serves 4

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 LB shrimp, peeled and devained
• 1-1/2 cups all purpose flour
• 1 - 2 cups beer of your choosing (or cold water)
• 1 tablespoon of your favorite hot sauce (optional)
• Vegetable oil for frying
• Salt
• Coastal Seafoods brand Cocktail & Tartar Sauce (optional of course!)
• Lemon wedges for garnish

DIRECTIONS:

1. In a medium sized mixing bowl add your flour and slowly whisk in your beer (or water) until you reach your desired consistancy. Add your hot sauce and stir to combine
2. Place a large pot on your stove over medium-high heat and add enough oil to cover the shrimp, but be sure not to fill the pot more than half way. Bring oil to 350 degrees
3. Dredge the shrimp in the batter and add to the hot oil. Do not overfill the pot, fry in batches in necessary. Cook for approximately 2-3 minutes or until the batter is golden and crispy. Remove from the oil using a slotted spoon and place on a drying rock or on a plate lined with a paper towl to drain away excess oil. Season with salt.
4. Serve shrimp alongside the Coastal Seafoods Cocktail and Tartar sauce and garnish with lemon wedges. Enjoy!