Beer Battered Fried Shrimp

There’s a saying that goes, ‘everything tastes better fried!’ No matter your stance on whether or not that saying is true, it’d be hard to argue against these beer battered shrimp.

Fried shrimp is the perfect finger food. It’s filling and, most importantly, tasty. Plus, it’s incredibly easy to make. All you need is a good batter and some oil for frying.

Many people think they need an actual fryer to make fried foods at home. All that frying requires is some oil and a pot. For fried shrimp, just fill your pot with enough oil to cover your shrimp entirely when you drop them in.

What makes this recipe unique is that it uses beer to add an extra kick of flavor to the shrimp. Adding beer to the batter makes the final product lighter and richer than most batters. Light beers like FRIO work best. They keep the hops flavor to a minimum, while also adding an underlying earthy flavor that keeps this dish interesting.

Serves 10

TIME: 30 minutes

- Start by preparing your shrimp. Peel, devein, and wash them, then pat them dry. 

- Begin heating your oil to 350°F. Meanwhile, mix together the flour, salt, paprika, and baking powder. Then, pour in the beer and whisk until thick and frothy.

- Once the oil is hot enough, dip the shrimp into the batter. You can coat the tail, or leave it uncoated if that’s what you prefer. Then, drop the shrimp into the oil and let it fry for 2-3 minutes, or until it turns golden brown.

- Take the shrimp out of the oil and pat them dry with a paper towel.

Serve right away with tartar sauce, cocktail sauce, mayo, or ketchup. This makes a perfectly savory lunch or dinner that people of all ages will enjoy.

Any leftover batter can be used to fry fish, calamari, onion rings, or vegetables.