This fake Panda Express Sizzling Shrimp is packed with strong flavors from juicy jumbo shrimp in a thick, savory sauce. This recipe is ready in less than 30 minutes and has a taste that is sweet, spicy, and tangy all in one bite. It uses crisp vegetables and Asian sauces to make it taste great.
With this recipe, it’s never been easier to make restaurant-quality food at home on a busy weeknight! This panda express sizzling shrimp recipe is even better than takeout because it saves you money and can be changed to suit your family’s tastes. Adjust the spice level, swap the veggies, or make it a little sweeter. Pair this shrimp stir-fry with your favorite Asian sides for a home-cooked meal that tastes as good as anything you’d get at a restaurant.
Panda Express’ sizzling shrimp is a fan favorite entrée, featuring plump shrimp wok-tossed in a sweet and savory glaze. With its eye-catching presentation and tempting aromas, this dish frequently graces Panda Express menus and combining plates. But many who haven’t tried it wonder – is Panda’s sizzling shrimp spicy?
In this article, we’ll take an in-depth look at the flavors in this dish and examine just how hot it really is. We’ll check the ingredients list, analyze customer reviews, and compare it to other Panda Express menu items. Read on to get the full scoop on the spice level of sizzling shrimp!
Sizzling Shrimp Description
First, let’s quickly review what exactly sizzling shrimp is. This entrée features battered shrimp fried until golden brown and crispy. The shrimp are then tossed in Panda’s signature wok with onions, red bell peppers, green onions, and a sweet glaze sauce. It arrives at the table sizzling loudly on a cast iron platter.
The sauce gracing the shrimp has notes of garlic, ginger, soy sauce, brown sugar, and vinegar. This combines to create a glistening glaze that provides a sheen to the plump, crispy shrimp.
So what about spiciness? Let’s investigate further.
Analyzing the Ingredients List
A quick scan of the ingredients list for sizzling shrimp reveals
- Shrimp
- Onions
- Red bell peppers
- Green onions
- Soybean oil
- Modified corn starch
- Soy sauce
- Sugar
- Rice vinegar
- Garlic
- Ginger
- Chili paste
The chili paste jumps out as a potential source of heat Chili pastes are made from hot chilies that can provide anything from a mild buzz to searing spice depending on the type used
Panda likely uses a moderately spicy chili paste in this dish to contribute flavor without making it too fiery. But the sweetness of the sugar and soy sauce probably helps balance it out.
Overall the ingredients indicate there is likely a modest amount of spiciness present. But it is not extremely hot by any means. Now let’s check some customer reviews.
What Customers Say About the Spice Level
Reviews of Panda Express’s sizzling shrimp provide further insight into the dish’s level of heat. Here’s what customers have to say:
- “It has a nice little kick thanks to ginger and chili but nothing overpowering.”
- “There’s a subtle heat to it that creeps up on you after a few bites.”
- “I’d call it a medium spice level, enough to give it some punch but not uncomfortably hot.”
- “The sweet glaze does a good job of counteracting the slight chili burn.”
- “It’s just a little tingly, I can handle more heat than this.”
The consensus seems to be that there is a bit of heat present, but not enough to be considered spicy by true chili-heads. The general range seems to fall into the mild to medium category on the spice-o-meter.
Heat Factor Compared to Other Panda Items
To better gauge the spiciness, it helps to compare sizzling shrimp to some other items from Panda’s menu:
-
Kung pao chicken: This dish contains dried chilies and packs more noticeable heat than the shrimp.
-
Chow mein: With no chili ingredients, the chow mein noodles have no spice whatsoever.
-
Mushroom chicken: Another mild menu choice with no discernible heat.
-
Spicy chili chicken: True to its name, this entree delivers a strong peppery kick that out-heats the shrimp.
So compared to the non-spicy items, Panda’s sizzling shrimp brings more heat. But it does not match dishes purposefully made extra fiery and tongue-tingling. It strikes a balance of providing a warming, chili-infused flavor without an intensely strong burn.
Tips to Adjust the Spice Level
Panda Express prepares their sizzling shrimp recipe to have a universally palatable spice level. But that doesn’t mean you can’t tweak it to your personal tastes:
-
Add a few dashes of chili oil or garlic chili sauce to make it spicier.
-
Mix in extra chili paste if you want to increase the heat.
-
Cut back on the chili paste or omit it completely for a very mild version.
-
Enjoy it with a cup of cooling cucumber salad to counteract the spice.
-
Complement it with steamed white rice to mellow out the heat.
So feel free to adjust the sizzling shrimp to find your desired level of zing. With some minor tweaks, you can easily transform this dish from mildly spicy to wildly fiery or vice versa.
The Verdict
After this in-depth look, we can determine that Panda Express’s sizzling shrimp does have a bit of spiciness from chili paste, but not enough to make it an overly hot dish. For the average person, the spice level lands somewhere in the range of mild to medium-low.
Compared to intentionally extra spicy Szechuan dishes, it does not have nearly the same amount of blistering heat. The sweet notes complement and temper the chili flavor. But there is enough of a kick to provide a little tingle and lingering warmth.
So if you can handle a moderate amount of chili zing, you will likely find Panda’s sizzling shrimp to be a pleasing balance of sweet, savory, and spicy. The spice contributes flavor without being tongue-scorching or overwhelming.
If unsure, you can always sample a bite before diving into a full serving. But armed with the intel from this article, you can now determine if Panda Express’s sizzling shrimp has the right spice level for your preferences.
How To Make Panda Express Sizzling Shrimp
Step 1: Prepare the Shrimp. Pat the shrimp dry using paper towels to remove excess moisture. In a bowl, season the shrimp with salt, garlic powder, pepper, and paprika. Toss the shrimp to ensure even coating. Sprinkle cornstarch over the seasoned shrimp and toss until they are well-coated.
Step 2: Cook the Shrimp. Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add 2 tablespoons of oil. When the oil is hot, add the shrimp carefully in a single layer, making sure they don’t touch each other. Cook the shrimp for 2-3 minutes on each side until they are golden brown and cooked through. Once cooked, transfer the shrimp to a plate and set aside.
Step 3: Sauté the Vegetables. In the same skillet, add the remaining tablespoon of oil. Add the sliced onions, cubed bell peppers, and baby broccoli to the skillet. Sauté the vegetables for 3-5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they are tender but still crisp.
Step 4: Prepare the Sauce. Put the rice vinegar, brown sugar, peeled garlic and ginger, crushed red pepper flakes, soy sauce, Gochujang sauce, and sesame oil in a small bowl. Stir until the ingredients are well incorporated.
Step 5: Combine Shrimp and Sauce. Return the cooked shrimp to the skillet with the sautéed vegetables. Pour the sauce mixture over the shrimp and vegetables in the skillet. Toss everything together until the shrimp and vegetables are evenly coated with the sauce.
Step 6: Finish Cooking. Once the vegetables and shrimp are warm, add a little more sauce and cook for a few more minutes. The sauce should get a little thicker.
Step 7: Serve. Serve the shrimp over rice or any other base you like, and let the bright colors and tempting smells take your breath away.
- Prepare the Ingredients: Make sure all of your ingredients are ready to go before you start cooking. This includes cutting up the vegetables, peeling and deveining the shrimp, and measuring out the sauce ingredients.
- Coat Shrimp Evenly: When you season the shrimp and coat them in cornstarch, make sure that all of them are covered the same amount. This will ensure even cooking and a uniform texture.
- Grill Vegetables Until Soft and Crisp: When you grill the baby broccoli, onions, and bell peppers, you want them to be soft but still a little crisp. This will keep their shape and color, making the dish taste more fresh.
- If You Want a Thicker Sauce: You can let the sauce simmer for a few more minutes to reduce and thicken it if you want a thicker sauce. You can also quickly thicken the sauce by adding a cornstarch slurry, which is cornstarch mixed with water.
- Serve right away: shrimp that is sizzling is best when it’s hot and fresh from the pan. Serve it right away with rice or your favorite base to get the most out of all the flavors and textures.
Why I Love This Recipe
- It’s fresh. Succulent shrimp and fresh veggies are light and refreshing.
- It’s healthy. You can be sure that YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT IS IN YOUR FOOD. Without any extra ingredients or preservatives, this restaurant version of your favorite meal will be safe for you.
- It’s family-friendly. This recipe is great for busy weeknights when everyone is hungry. It is quick and easy to make, and both kids and adults will enjoy it.
- Shrimp: Jumbo shrimp that are soft and seasoned with a mix of salt, garlic powder, ground pepper, and paprika. They are then covered in cornstarch to make them crispy. Vegetarian? Swap out the shrimp for tofu cubes.
- Vegetables: A mix of bright vegetables, like yellow onion, red bell pepper, and fresh baby broccoli, cooked until they are just right gives the dish a lively crunch. You can use any vegetables that are in season that you have on hand.
- Sauce: The delicious sauce is made from a mix of tastes. Soy sauce low in sodium is the base for the dish’s flavor, and Gochujang sauce adds a spicy kick. The sweetness of brown sugar balances everything out. Adding finely grated garlic and ginger gives the sauce a warm, complex smell, and crushed red pepper flakes give it a tantalizing heat that makes every bite fiery. A little sesame oil adds a nutty smell and depth of flavor, tying everything together into a sauce that is hard to resist.
