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If you are craving a dish that truly bursts with vibrant flavors and irresistible textures, look no further than this Volcano Shrimp with Spicy Buffalo Glaze Recipe. Imagine perfectly crispy shrimp coated in a bold buffalo glaze that melds sweet, spicy, and tangy notes into one unforgettable bite. This dish is a perfect harmony of crunchy and saucy, making it an instant crowd-pleaser that’s just as thrilling to make as it is to eat. Whether you’re cooking for a cozy night in or impressing friends at a dinner party, Volcano Shrimp is guaranteed to bring excitement and satisfaction to your table.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Getting this Volcano Shrimp with Spicy Buffalo Glaze Recipe just right depends on a handful of straightforward ingredients that pack powerful flavor and create wonderful textures. Each ingredient plays a key role, from the crispy coating on the shrimp to the tangy, spicy-sweet volcano sauce that ties everything together.
- Light brown sugar: Adds a rich sweetness that balances the heat in the glaze perfectly.
- Buffalo sauce: Provides that classic spicy-tangy kick critical to the dish’s signature flavor.
- Sriracha: Enhances the heat level with a flavorful chili punch.
- Rice vinegar: Brings brightness and acidity to keep the sauce lively.
- Garlic (finely minced): Imparts a fragrant depth essential to savory balance.
- Honey: Offers a smooth natural sweetness that rounds out the sauce.
- Unsalted butter: Enriches the glaze, giving it a silky texture and body.
- Red pepper flakes: Customizable heat booster to fit your spice preference.
- Chopped parsley: Adds a fresh herbal note and a pop of green for color contrast.
- Large shrimp (peeled, deveined, no tail): The star protein delivering juicy, tender bites under the crispy coating.
- Cornstarch: Creates an ultra-crisp crust on the shrimp when fried.
- Salt and black pepper: Seasoning essentials that enhance every layer of flavor.
- Eggs: Bind the cornstarch and shrimp for a sturdy, crunchy breading layer.
- Vegetable oil: For frying the shrimp to golden perfection and maintaining that satisfying crunch.
How to Make Volcano Shrimp with Spicy Buffalo Glaze Recipe
Step 1: Prepare the Volcano Sauce
Start by combining the buffalo sauce, light brown sugar, rice vinegar, sriracha, minced garlic, and honey in a saucepan over medium heat. Let this simmer gently, stirring occasionally, until it thickens into a luscious glaze. Once thickened, stir in butter, red pepper flakes, and chopped parsley to add richness, heat, and freshness. Remove from heat and transfer the sauce to a large bowl ready for tossing with the crispy shrimp later.
Step 2: Set Up the Breading Station
In a shallow bowl, mix the cornstarch with salt and pepper. In a separate bowl, whisk together eggs with a pinch of salt and pepper. This two-step dipping process ensures each shrimp gets a perfect veil of batter that crisps up beautifully when fried.
Step 3: Fry the Shrimp
Heat vegetable oil in a frying pan to 350°F, ensuring it’s hot enough to cook the shrimp evenly and create a crunchy crust. Dip each shrimp first into the egg mixture, allowing excess to drip off, then coat thoroughly in the cornstarch mixture. Fry the shrimp in small batches to avoid overcrowding, tossing gently occasionally until they turn a gorgeous golden brown, about 6 to 7 minutes per batch. Remove the shrimp and drain on a wire rack to keep them crispy.
Step 4: Toss and Glaze
Once all the shrimp are perfectly fried, toss them immediately in your prepared volcano glaze. This lets the sauce cling to every crispy nook, coating each shrimp in that signature bright orange-red, spicy-sweet goodness. This is the moment where the dish truly comes alive.
How to Serve Volcano Shrimp with Spicy Buffalo Glaze Recipe
Garnishes
To finish your dish with style and extra flavor, sprinkle chopped green onions and toasted sesame seeds over the shrimp. These simple garnishes add a fresh crunch and a hint of nuttiness, elevating the presentation and taste.
Side Dishes
Volcano Shrimp pairs beautifully with steamed white rice or fluffy jasmine rice to soak up the flavorful glaze. For a healthier option or extra color, serve alongside steamed broccoli or mixed sautéed vegetables. Noodles tossed lightly in sesame oil and scallions also make a fantastic complement for this bold, saucy dish.
Creative Ways to Present
For a fun twist, serve your Volcano Shrimp as a filling for lettuce wraps with crisp iceberg or butter lettuce leaves, creating a handheld delight with added freshness. Another great idea is to pile the shrimp over a bed of crispy fried rice, garnished with fresh herbs and a wedge of lime to squeeze over before indulging.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
If you find yourself with leftovers, place them in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 2 days. The shrimp will remain tasty, though the crispiness may soften slightly as it sits in the glaze.
Freezing
While the shrimp is best enjoyed fresh, you can freeze the cooked shrimp separately from the sauce for up to 1 month. Freeze the shrimp on a tray in a single layer, then transfer to a freezer-safe bag once solid. Thaw in the fridge before reheating and tossing with freshly made volcano glaze.
Reheating
To bring back some crispiness when reheating, warm the shrimp gently in an oven or air fryer at 350°F for about 5 minutes. Avoid microwaving directly as it tends to make the breading soggy. After reheating, toss with fresh volcano sauce for maximum flavor.
FAQs
Can I use frozen shrimp for this recipe?
Absolutely! Just be sure to thaw the shrimp completely and pat them dry before breading. Excess moisture can make the coating soggy and prevent that coveted crispy texture.
How spicy is the Volcano Shrimp with Spicy Buffalo Glaze Recipe?
The heat level is adjustable. The combination of buffalo sauce, sriracha, and red pepper flakes creates a lively spicy kick, but you can always reduce or increase the chili amounts to suit your taste.
Can I bake the shrimp instead of frying?
While frying yields the crispiest shrimp, you can bake them at 425°F on a greased baking sheet for about 15-20 minutes, flipping halfway. They won’t be quite as crunchy but still delicious when tossed in the volcano glaze.
Is the volcano sauce difficult to make?
Not at all! The sauce comes together in one pot with simple ingredients and just a bit of simmering. It’s quick and rewarding, and the bold flavor more than makes up for the slight hands-on time.
What should I serve with this dish for a crowd?
Serve the shrimp alongside fluffy rice, veggies, and a crisp salad for balance. You can also offer a variety of dipping sauces or extra volcano glaze on the side for guests to adjust their heat levels.
Final Thoughts
I cannot recommend you try making the Volcano Shrimp with Spicy Buffalo Glaze Recipe enough — it brings a fireworks show of flavor to your plate with every bite. The combination of tender shrimp, crunchy breading, and that addictive spicy-sweet glaze is pure magic. It’s perfect for any occasion when you want to impress with minimal fuss and maximum wow factor. So grab those ingredients and get ready to unleash this volcano of deliciousness in your kitchen!
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Volcano Shrimp with Spicy Buffalo Glaze Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
Description
Volcano Shrimp is an exciting dish bursting with bold flavors, featuring crispy battered shrimp coated in a sweet and spicy buffalo-inspired glaze known as volcano sauce. This vibrant orange-red sauce combines sweet brown sugar, tangy buffalo sauce, fiery sriracha, and aromatic garlic, balanced with butter and red pepper flakes. Perfectly fried shrimp tossed in this luscious glaze make an irresistible meal, ideally served over steamed rice and broccoli for a complete, satisfying dinner.
Ingredients
Volcano Sauce
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar
- 1/3 cup buffalo sauce
- 1 tablespoon sriracha
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 2 teaspoons finely minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 to 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (to taste)
- 1 tablespoon chopped parsley
Breaded Shrimp
- 1 pound large shrimp (peeled, deveined, and no tail)
- 3/4 cup cornstarch
- 1/4 teaspoon salt (plus additional for batter and egg mixture)
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper (plus additional for batter and egg mixture)
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- Vegetable oil, for frying
Instructions
- Prepare Volcano Sauce: Heat a pot or saucepan over medium heat and combine buffalo sauce, light brown sugar, rice vinegar, sriracha, minced garlic, and honey. Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook until it thickens into a glaze. Once thickened, stir in butter, red pepper flakes, and chopped parsley. Remove from heat and transfer the sauce to a large bowl; set aside.
- Prepare Dry Batter: In a shallow bowl, mix together cornstarch, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper evenly.
- Prepare Wet Batter: In a separate smaller bowl, whisk the eggs with 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper until fully combined.
- Heat Oil: Pour vegetable oil into a frying pan deep enough for frying and heat it to 350°F (175°C).
- Bread the Shrimp: Working in small batches, dip shrimp first into the wet egg batter, allowing any excess to drip off, then coat thoroughly in the dry cornstarch mixture, shaking off the surplus.
- Fry the Shrimp: Carefully add the breaded shrimp to the hot oil, avoiding overcrowding the pan. Fry in two batches for about 6 to 7 minutes until golden and crispy. Use a slotted spoon to remove shrimp and place on a wire rack to drain any excess oil.
- Toss Shrimp in Sauce: Place the fried shrimp into the bowl with the prepared volcano sauce and toss gently to coat evenly.
- Serve: Garnish with chopped green onions and sesame seeds if desired. Serve hot over rice, noodles, or vegetables such as broccoli for a complete meal.
Notes
- Ensure oil temperature stays around 350°F for best frying results and crispy shrimp.
- Do not overcrowd the pan when frying to maintain oil temperature and avoid soggy shrimp.
- Adjust red pepper flakes in the volcano sauce according to your preferred spice level.
- Using wire rack after frying helps keep the shrimp crispy by draining excess oil properly.
- This dish pairs wonderfully with steamed rice and sautéed or steamed broccoli for a balanced meal.
