Thai Stir-Fried Tamarind Shrimp

Thai Stir-Fried Tamarind Shrimp

Michael Rheault/Getty Images

 

Prep: 20 mins
Cook: 6 mins
Total: 26 mins
Servings: 2 to 3 servings

This Thai shrimp recipe is authentic Thai, yet remarkably simple to make. It's the tamarind that makes this dish sing, so don't be tempted to leave it out (look for tamarind paste at your local Asian or Indian food store). Fresh basil and coriander are also key.

The flavors in this dish are wonderfully bold, so be sure to balance them out with plenty of plain steamed rice on the side. Tip: Have the rice ready before you start stir-frying, as this dish cooks up quite quickly.

Ingredients

  • 16 to 24 shrimp, shells removed, tails can be left on

  • 1 red bell pepper, sliced into thin pieces

  • 4 cloves garlic, minced

  • 1 thumb-size piece galangal, or ginger, grated, or cut into matchstick pieces

  • 1 generous handful cilantro, coarsely chopped

  • 1 generous handful fresh basil, coarsely chopped if leaves are large

  • 1 fresh red chile pepper, minced, or dried crushed chile, to taste

  • 2 tablespoons coconut oil, or other type vegetable oil, for stir-frying

For the Stir-Fry Sauce:

  • 1 1/2 tablespoons tamarind paste

  • 1/4 cup hot water

  • 1/4 cup brown sugar, packed

  • 1/4 cup fish sauce

  • 2 tablespoons chili sauce, or 1/2 to 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Steps to Make It

  1. Place tamarind paste in a cup and pour in the hot water, stirring to dissolve the paste. Add remaining stir-fry sauce ingredients and stir to incorporate.

  2. Do a taste-test, adjusting the flavors to your liking. Note that this sauce should taste sweet first, followed by sour and spicy, then salty. Add more sugar if it's still too sour, or a little more tamarind if it's too sweet. Note that it will taste very strong at this point, but will be delicious once combined with the other ingredients.

  3. Place prepared shrimp in a bowl, being sure to drain off any residual water. Pour 1/4 of the stir-fry sauce over shrimp and stir to coat. Set aside.

  4. Heat a wok or large frying pan over medium-high heat. Add the oil and swirl around, then add the garlic and ginger. If using fresh chile, add that now as well. Stir-fry 30 seconds to 1 minute to release the fragrance (avoid browning the garlic or it will turn bitter).

  5. Add the red bell pepper plus 3 to 4 tablespoons of the stir-fry sauce. Stir-fry 2 minutes, or until pepper is bright red and has softened slightly.

  6. Add shrimp plus remaining stir-fry sauce. Stir-fry another 2 to 3 minutes, or just until shrimp begin to curl inward and are pink and plump. Avoid overcooking the shrimp or they will lose their tenderness.

  7. Remove stir-fry from heat and taste-test it, adding more fish sauce if not flavorful enough. Add more chile for more heat. If it's too sour, add a little more sugar. Serve immediately topped with the fresh coriander and basil, plus plenty of steamed rice on the side. 

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
248 Calories
10g Fat
28g Carbs
13g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 2 to 3
Amount per serving
Calories 248
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 10g 13%
Saturated Fat 8g 39%
Cholesterol 88mg 29%
Sodium 2443mg 106%
Total Carbohydrate 28g 10%
Dietary Fiber 2g 7%
Total Sugars 21g
Protein 13g
Vitamin C 93mg 464%
Calcium 104mg 8%
Iron 2mg 9%
Potassium 437mg 9%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)