Boom Boom shrimp is one of my favorite appetizers. Crispy shrimp coated in a sweet, spicy and slightly garlicky cream sauce is both decadent and addicting. We never have leftovers when we make this dish.
My lightened-up recipe has all the flavor of the original dish, but with less sugar and fat. Boom Boom shrimp comes together quickly, and this easy dish looks impressive enough to serve to guests.
Boom Boom shrimp are great on a bed of greens, but they’d also taste great folded into a tortilla like a taco or served over rice with stir-fried broccoli.
Boom boom shrimp has become a hugely popular appetizer in recent years. This crispy, fried shrimp is tossed in a sweet and spicy sauce that packs a flavorful punch. But for those who haven’t tried it yet the name alone brings up an important question – what does boom boom shrimp actually taste like?
As a lover of Southern cooking and spicy foods, I was eager to find out the answer. I decided to do some research on this famous dish, trying out recipes and reading reviews to get the full boom boom shrimp experience. Here’s a detailed look at what this appetizer tastes like and why it has become such a hit across the South.
A Quick Overview of Boom Boom Shrimp
Boom boom shrimp is made up of a few basic components
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Shrimp – The shrimp is usually battered and fried before tossing in the boom boom sauce. This gives it a crispy, crunchy coating.
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Boom boom sauce – The sauce has a creamy, spicy, and slightly sweet flavor. It’s typically made with mayonnaise, chili sauce or paste, garlic, and other seasonings.
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Garnishes – The cooked shrimp is usually served over greens and garnished with sesame seeds or green onions.
The origins of boom boom shrimp are unclear, but it seems to have come from American Chinese restaurants. It has since taken off across the Southern U.S. as a tasty and unique appetizer.
The Crispy, Crunchy Shrimp
The texture of the fried shrimp in boom boom shrimp is an essential part of its appeal. The shrimp is double-dredged in a seasoned flour mixture, then fried until golden brown and crispy. This gives each bite a satisfying crunch.
The shrimp itself retains a tender, juicy texture on the inside. When cooked properly, the shrimp is perfectly plump and firm. The contrast between the crispy coating and the soft interior makes for a great mouthfeel.
When I tried making boom boom shrimp at home, that delicious crispy texture was my favorite part of the dish. The fried coating almost reminded me of fried chicken, with its crackling crunch and rich flavor. Every bite was extremely satisfying.
The Sweet and Spicy Boom Boom Sauce
While the crispy shrimp provides texture, the boom boom sauce is truly the star of the show taste-wise. It clings to each piece of fried shrimp, providing plenty of sticky, spicy, sweet flavor.
The sauce typically contains mayonnaise for creaminess, along with garlic, chili sauce or paste, and other spices. There are many homemade and store-bought versions available, but they all aim to achieve that ideal balance between sweet and heat.
When I first tried boom boom shrimp, I was surprised by how the sauce seemed both hot and sweet at the same time. As someone who loves spicy food, I also appreciated the slow building heat that came on at the end of each bite. The mayonnaise helped balance out the chilies’ intensity.
Overall, the sauce had tons of addicting flavor that kept me reaching for more shrimp. It reminded me of other spicy mayo sauces like the ones in sushi rolls, but with its own unique blend of seasonings. The sweetness almost gave it a hint of teriyaki or orange chicken sauce.
Perfectly Accompanied By Fresh Garnishes
In addition to the sauce, boom boom shrimp is usually served with some fresh garnish to balance the fried seafood and spices. Bright green lettuce or cabbage leaves are perfect for creating a bed for the shrimp. The cool, crisp greens help offset the heat.
Sprinkled sesame seeds add some nutty crunch, while sliced green onions give a sharp, fresh allium kick. I also love the texture and flavor contrast these garnishes add to the dish. They help cut through the rich flavors of the sauce and fried shrimp.
When plating boom boom shrimp at home, don’t forget these simple garnishes. They take the appetizer to the next level both visually and taste-wise.
Recreating That Boom Boom Flavor at Home
Once I got a sense of what traditional boom boom shrimp tastes like from restaurants, I wanted to try making it myself at home. Luckily, there are plenty of boom boom sauce recipes available online to experiment with.
I tested out a few different homemade boom boom sauce options to find my favorite. The best ones balanced sweetness, spice, tang, creaminess, and garlic flavor. They made the shrimp pop with flavor despite having fewer calories than heavy restaurant versions.
Here are a few tips I learned for recreating boom boom shrimp’s iconic flavor at home:
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Use a high quality mayonnaise for creaminess and bind the sauce. Japanese mayo like Kewpie works especially well.
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Add multiple sources of heat like sriracha, chili garlic paste, cayenne, etc. This builds deeper flavor.
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Sweeten with a bit of brown sugar, honey, or sweet Thai chili sauce. A teaspoon or two is plenty.
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Season with garlic, ginger, sesame oil, rice vinegar, etc. This gives the sauce complexity.
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Toss the shrimp in the sauce right before serving to keep it crispy.
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Garnish with shredded lettuce, cabbage, sesame seeds, and sliced green onions.
Once I had mastered the boom boom sauce, frying up the crunchy shrimp was simple. Now I can satisfy my boom boom shrimp cravings anytime at home.
Why This Spicy App Has Become So Popular
After getting to enjoy the full experience of boom boom shrimp’s flavors and textures, it’s no surprise to me why it has become such a hit. Here are a few reasons this dish is so addicting:
It balances flavors and textures perfectly. Between the crispy shrimp, spicy mayo sauce, and fresh garnishes, your tastebuds get excited by the complex combination. The fried shrimp also provides terrific crunch against the creamy sauce.
It combines Southern and Asian flavors. The mayo-based sauce has hints of Asian chili sauces, while the fried shrimp is classically Southern. It brings together the best of both food worlds.
It’s indulgent yet easy to make. You get deliciously crispy, saucy shrimp without much fuss. It also comes together quickly as an appetizer for entertaining.
It has universal appeal. From spice lovers to seafood fans, boom boom shrimp offers something for everyone. Both adults and kids will love the crispy shrimp and zesty sauce combo.
It’s customizable. The sauce can be adjusted to preference with different levels of heat, sweetness, garlic, etc. You can experiment with flavors to put your own spin on it.
It’s fun to eat. Served on skewers or over greens, boom boom shrimp makes for a playful, hands-on eating experience. Dunking the saucy shrimp and loading up crispy bites is all part of the enjoyment.
Giving This Southern Appetizer a Try
For fans of spicy, flavorful foods, boom boom shrimp is a must-try Southern staple. This crowd-pleasing appetizer combines the irresistible crunch of fried shrimp with an addictively sweet and tangy chili sauce. It offers the perfect balance of heat, sweetness, and texture in each bite.
While many restaurants serve up their own versions, boom boom shrimp is also easy to recreate at home. All it takes is a batch of crispy fried shrimp and a creamy, spiced up sauce for tossing. Top it off with some crunchy sesame seeds and fresh lettuce.
So next time you come across boom boom shrimp on a menu, don’t hesitate to order it. Or better yet, head home and fry up a batch yourself with a homemade boom boom sauce recipe. One taste, and you’ll understand why this shrimp appetizer is a Southern staple. The flavors live up to the fun and fiery name. Just be ready to make extra – these spicy shrimp disappear fast!
What to serve with Boom Boom shrimp?
I like to serve Boom Boom shrimp over a bed of greens as an appetizer. It tastes great folded up in a taco or served over jasmine rice with green vegetables for a light meal.
You can also serve it a spicy shrimp po’ boy – just add the shrimp to bread and top with lettuce, tomato, mayo and pickles.
Is Boom Boom Shrimp the Same as Bang Bang Shrimp?
While both sauces look the same, the taste profile is different. Bang Bang sauce is a mayonnaise-based sauce made with sriracha, sweet chili, and rice vinegar. Some of the other things that go into Boom Boom sauce to make it taste better are garlic, ketchup, and chili-garlic sauce. This Boom Boom shrimp recipe can be made with either my low-calorie Boom Boom sauce or a store-bought one.