The Best Gulf Coast Battered Fried Shrimp Recipe

Gulf Coast Shrimp

The wild gulf coast shrimp are wild-caught--or free-range-from the Gulf Coast of the US, where they naturally exist.

They can be distinguished into white shrimp, brown and pink shrimp. These shrimp are all warm water species recognized for their sweet taste, firm texture, crunchy meat. Aside from their color, the different varieties of the Wild Gulf Coast shrimp are very similar.

The white shrimp have grayish-white shells that turn pink when cooked; the brown shrimp have light brown or tan shells that turn coral when cooked and the pink shrimp have light pink shells with a pearl-like texture that turn a deeper shade of pink when cooked.

Here's a recipe from the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Deep South Shrimp and Onion Ring Batter.

1 egg separated

1/2 cup milk, divided

2 tablespoons melted butter

1/2 cup White Lilly® Flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Dash of sea salt and fresh ground pepper

1 teaspoon Old Bay® Seasoning or liquid shrimp boil

1 pound peeled and deveined Gulf Coast shrimp

Corn starch to coat shrimp with

Separate egg yolk and egg white. Put the egg yolk in a small glass or stainless steel mixing bowl and egg yolk in another small bowl.Whisk the yolk, 1/4 cup of milk and butter together. Add flour and rest of milk and beat well.Beat the egg white until stiff and fold into other mixture gently.Dip the shrimp in batter and then roll(or shake in a plastic or paper bag) in cornstarch, flour or fish fry breading. Fry in hot oil until golden brown, about 3-4 minutes.Use the same for onion rings except omit Seafood seasoning. Slice onion rings about 1/2 " thick and let set in cold water about an hour before frying. Make sure to pat them dry before dipping in batter and flour.Coat them with cornstarch first, dip in wet mixture next and lastly toss in breadcrumbs. They should be ice cold before frying so that the breading adheres well. I sprinkly a good lemon pepper on the rings and it pairs perfect with the shrimp. Just add something cool and creamy like a coleslaw or ice cold fresh tossed salad with a creamy dressing.

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