Butterfly shrimp is a fun and tasty way to prepare shrimp for cooking. By slicing shrimp almost all the way through and spreading it open it resembles a butterfly shape. Butterflying shrimp helps it cook more evenly absorb flavors better, and makes for an attractive presentation. While restaurants often serve up fancy butterfly shrimp dishes, you can easily make this technique at home.
Why Butterfly Shrimp?
Butterflying shrimp has a few advantages over leaving shrimp intact:
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Cooks more evenly Butterflying allows heat to access the insides better, preventing overcooking on the outside and undercooking on the inside.
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Absorbs flavors Opening up the shrimp exposes more surface area to marinades, breading or sauces.
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Looks pretty: The butterfly shape is more visually appealing than plain shrimp. Kids might find it more fun to eat too!
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Lays flat: Butterflied shrimp sits flatter on the grill or in the pan, keeping it from curling up while cooking.
How to Butterfly Shrimp
Butterflying shrimp is easy once you get the hang of it. Here’s a step-by-step guide:
Ingredients
- Raw shrimp, peeled and deveined
- Sharp paring knife
- Cutting board
- Bowl of ice (to store prepped shrimp)
Instructions
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Rinse shrimp under cool water and pat dry. Remove shells and tails if desired.
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Using a paring knife, make a shallow cut along the outer curve of the shrimp, from head to tail. Cut just deep enough to expose the flesh inside.
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Gently spread the shrimp open like a book. The two halves should still be connected.
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Place butterflied shrimp in a bowl of ice to keep cool. Repeat with remaining shrimp.
And that’s it! The shrimp is now ready to cook as butterfly shrimp.
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Butterflying shrimp opens up more surface area for even cooking.
Cooking Butterfly Shrimp
Butterfly shrimp lends itself well to almost any cooking method. Some popular ways to cook include:
- Pan frying: Coat with flour, breadcrumbs, or batter and pan fry in oil for 2-3 minutes per side.
- Grilling: Toss with olive oil, salt, and pepper and grill for 2-3 minutes per side.
- Sauteeing: Cook gently in a pan with garlic butter or other sauce for 1-2 minutes per side.
- Baking: Arrange on a sheet pan and bake at 400°F for 4-6 minutes until opaque.
Monitor carefully to avoid overcooking. Shrimp cooks very quickly!
Serving Suggestions
Butterfly shrimp makes a fantastic appetizer or main dish. Here are some tasty ways to serve it:
- Coconut shrimp – coat in coconut flakes and serve with mango chutney.
- Bang bang shrimp – fry, then toss in spicy mayo.
- Shrimp scampi – sauté in lemon garlic butter sauce over pasta.
- Cajun shrimp – blackened with Cajun seasoning and remoulade sauce.
- Shrimp tacos – with avocado, cotija cheese, and chili lime crema.
- Shrimp skewers – alternated with veggies and grilled.
Get creative with different marinades, breadings, and sauces! The butterfly shape allows for lots of flavor possibilities.
Tips for Perfect Butterfly Shrimp
- Use fresh, properly deveined and peeled shrimp for best results.
- Work quickly and place prepped shrimp immediately in ice to prevent spoilage.
- Don’t overcrowd the pan when cooking – cook in batches if needed.
- Remove from heat as soon as opaque to prevent overcooking.
- Allow 3-5 butterfly shrimp per person, depending on size.
- Take advantage of the butterfly shape to layer on flavors.
The Easiest Way to Butterfly Shrimp
If manually butterflying each shrimp seems daunting, here’s a little trick. Place the shrimp in the shallow bowl of a food processor fitted with a metal blade. Pulse 5-10 times until the shrimp are sliced. You’ll have perfectly butterflied shrimp in seconds!
Enjoy Restaurant-Quality Shrimp at Home
Butterfly shrimp is easy to make yourself using a simple butterflying technique. Cook it any way you like, from crispy coconut shrimp to seared shrimp scampi. Impress your family and friends with this fun, tasty shrimp dish! With a little practice, you can serve up platter after platter of delicious butterfly shrimp.
How To Butterfly Shrimp with Emeril Lagasse | Southern Living
How do you make a butterfly on a shrimp?
Wash and peel the shrimp. To do an inner butterfly, slice along the inner curve with a knife to divide the body into two attached halves. For a back butterfly, place the knife near the head and slice along the back all the way to the tail to divide the body into two connected halves.
How do you cook fried butterfly shrimp?
When cooking a large amount of fried shrimp, I keep the cooked shrimp in a 200 degrees F oven. This keeps them warm and crispy until all the shrimp are finished frying. I like to serve my fried butterfly shrimp with cocktail sauce and lemon wedges, but my grandkids prefer ketchup. To each her own!
How do you make butterfly shrimp with bacon?
Butterfly Shrimp with Bacon is made by layering bacon on a large butterflied shrimp, dipping it in egg, searing in a wok, and serving on a bed of savory ketchup-y onions. Serve this dish with some steamed rice, and you will wonder why you went so long without bacon wrapped butterfly shrimp in your life!
How do you cook butterflied shrimp?
Lay each butterflied shrimp flat. That’s it! Your shrimp are now successfully butterflied and ready to cook and serve however you see fit. Put your butterflied shrimp to use in these recipes. Keep an eye on cooking times, however, because butterflied shrimp cook through more quickly than shrimp that are fully intact.