How to Make Delicious Boom Boom Shrimp at Home

Boom boom shrimp is a popular appetizer or main dish that features crispy fried shrimp coated in a sweet and spicy sauce. With a fun name and an explosion of flavors, it’s easy to see why this dish is a crowd-pleaser. In this article, I’ll walk you through the simple steps for how to make perfect boom boom shrimp at home.

Overview of Boom Boom Shrimp

Boom boom shrimp originated in Asian restaurants and takeout joints. It likely was inspired by “bang bang” shrimp a similar Chinese-American dish. The name refers to the flavor explosion in your mouth when you bite into the crispy shrimp coated in spicy tangy sauce.

This moreish dish has now become popular across America in restaurants and homes. It makes a fantastic appetizer for sharing or a Weeknight main served with rice or noodles.

While you can find ready-made boom boom sauce at some grocery stores, it’s easy and inexpensive to make your own from scratch

The key components of boom boom shrimp are:

• Shrimp: The star of the show. Large shrimp are dredged in flour then fried up until golden and crispy.

• Boom boom sauce: A creamy, sweet and spicy sauce tossed with the shrimp. It’s a combo of mayo, sweet chili sauce, sriracha, garlic, and spices.

• Coating: Before frying, the shrimp are tossed in flour to give them a crispy coating.

That’s really all you need for an indulgent shrimp appetizer bursting with flavor. Now let’s get to the how-to!

Ingredients You’ll Need

Here’s what you’ll need on hand to make boom boom shrimp:

For the Shrimp:

• 1 lb large raw shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 2 cups peanut, vegetable or canola oil for frying
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 large eggs, beaten
• 1⁄2 cup ice cold water

For the Boom Boom Sauce:

• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 3 Tbsp Thai sweet chili sauce
• 1-2 Tbsp sriracha sauce (to taste)
• 1 Tbsp ketchup
• 1/4 tsp garlic powder
• 1/4 tsp onion powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (optional)

That’s all you need for irresistible boom boom shrimp!

Step-By-Step Instructions

Follow these simple steps for how to make dynamite boom boom shrimp at home.

Step 1: Make the Boom Boom Sauce

In a small bowl, whisk together all of the ingredients for the boom boom sauce until smooth. Taste and adjust any seasonings as desired. You want the sauce to be sweet, spicy, and tangy.

Set the sauce aside while you prepare the shrimp.

Step 2: Set Up Your Coating Station

• Place the flour in a shallow dish for dredging the shrimp.

• In a separate small bowl, beat the eggs with 1⁄2 cup ice water. This will be your wet batter.

• Line a baking sheet with paper towels and set aside. This is for draining the cooked shrimp.

Step 3: Coat and Fry the Shrimp

1. Pat the shrimp dry with paper towels. Dredge each shrimp in the flour, coating all sides.

2. Dip the floured shrimp in the egg batter to coat completely. Allow any excess batter to drip off.

3. Working in batches, carefully add the battered shrimp to the hot oil and fry for 2-3 minutes per side, until golden brown.

4. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the fried shrimp to the prepared baking sheet. Allow the excess oil to drain off.

5. Repeat steps 1-4 until all shrimp are fried.

Step 4: Toss Shrimp in Boom Boom Sauce

Once all the shrimp are fried and drained, transfer them to a large bowl. Pour the prepared boom boom sauce over the shrimp. Gently toss to coat the shrimp completely in the sauce.

Step 5: Serve and Enjoy!

That’s it – your boom boom shrimp is ready to devour! For best results, serve the shrimp immediately while the coating is still crispy.

Boom boom shrimp is fantastic on its own as an appetizer for dipping, or you can serve it as a main dish with rice or noodles. Garnish with chopped scallions, sesame seeds, or cilantro if desired.

Now crack open an ice cold beer and get ready to dig into these crazy delicious spicy shrimp!

Tips for Perfectly Crispy Boom Boom Shrimp

Here are some helpful tips to ensure your shrimp fry up crispy and crunchy:

• Use large shrimp for the best texture – small shrimp overcook too quickly.

• Pat shrimp very dry before breading to help the coating stick.

• Allow breaded shrimp to rest for 5 minutes before frying so coating sets.

• Use very hot oil (375°F) so coating gets crispy fast before shrimp overcooks.

• Work in small batches so oil temp doesn’t drop too much.

• Don’t overcrowd the pan – shrimp should not touch while frying.

• Flip shrimp halfway through frying for even cooking.

• Drain fried shrimp on a paper towel lined pan before saucing.

Follow these steps and you’ll get perfectly crispy, crunchy shrimp every time!

How to Customize Your Boom Boom Shrimp

One of the great things about this dish is how versatile and customizable it is. Here are some ideas for putting your own spin on boom boom shrimp:

• For the sauce, you can substitute sriracha for other hot sauces like Tabasco.

• Add a splash of lime juice or rice wine vinegar for extra tang.

• Use garlic chili sauce or hoisin sauce instead of sweet chili sauce.

• Stir in a tablespoon of chopped cilantro or green onion.

• For more heat, add a pinch of cayenne or red pepper flakes.

• Use cornflour for a gluten-free version.

• Coat shrimp in panko breadcrumbs for extra crunch.

• Instead of frying, bake or air fry the shrimp for a lighter option.

• Substitute chicken, tofu, or cauliflower for the shrimp to make it vegetarian.

Get creative with the flavors and make this iconic dish your own!

How to Make Boom Boom Shrimp in an Air Fryer

While frying yields the crispiest texture, you can also make boom boom shrimp in an air fryer with very good results. Here’s how:

1. Toss shrimp in flour, then egg batter as above.

2. Coat in panko breadcrumbs, pressing to adhere.

3. Spray shrimp with oil and arrange in a single layer in air fryer basket.

4. Cook at 400°F for 4-5 minutes until shrimp are opaque.

5. Toss in prepared boom boom sauce and serve.

The air fryer gives you that satisfying crunch without all the oil for a healthier version of this recipe. Just be sure not to overcrowd the basket and mist the shrimp with oil before cooking.

How to Reheat Leftover Boom Boom Shrimp

Like most fried foods, boom boom shrimp is best eaten freshly made. But leftovers can be revived by:

• Microwaving on a paper towel lined plate for 1-2 minutes until heated through.

• Placing in a hot oven at 375°F for 4-6 minutes, until crispy again.

• Tossing in an air fryer at 350°F for 3-5 minutes to re-crisp.

• Sautéeing in a skillet over medium-high heat with a bit of oil.

The key is to re-crisp the coating by using high heat. Just be careful not to overcook the shrimp.

With one of these quick reheating methods, your leftovers will taste nearly as good as fresh!

Common Questions about Boom Boom Shrimp

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about making this popular appetizer at home:

Should I use fresh or frozen shrimp?

Either works fine! Defrost frozen shrimp overnight in the fridge before using.

Can I bread the shrimp in advance?

Yes, you can bread shrimp up to 4 hours before frying. Store on a baking sheet in the fridge.

Do I need a thermometer to fry shrimp?

A thermometer is highly recommended so you can regulate the oil temperature. Overheating oil will lead to burning.

Is boom boom sauce spicy?

It has a mild kick from sriracha but isn’t overly spicy. Adjust the sriracha to suit your taste.

How long does boom boom sauce keep?

Store the sauce in an airtight container in