Some party foods may be eye catchy, but when comes to the taste, it may not be as expected. But, some food items would be pleasing to both eyes and tongue. This delectable Shrimp Appetizer on toothpick is one of its kind. The swirled shrimp around the toothpick gives a dramatic twist to the regular recipe.
Party or family evening, surprise everyone with simple, easy-to-make toothpick shrimp, and make every moment unforgettable. This recipe can be set as a basic recipe; add your favorite add-ons and enjoy different flavors each time.
This time, we paired this shrimp appetizer on a toothpick with a fresh green salad with vinaigrette dressing and this shrimp appetizer, which made me forget the world around me. This finger food is convenient for serving and eating as well.
If you are searching for a centerpiece food for a party table? This easy-to-pick finger food is perfect, to my knowledge. The less preparation and ease of making large catches are the other positive factors associated here.
More party-friendly recipes
Tips and Variations for party Shrimp recipe:
- Shrimp gets cooked very quickly and becomes hard and rubbery in texture when overcooked. So, remove it from the heat once it gets thoroughly cooked.
- Add paprika, cayenne pepper, cajun seasoning, and red pepper flakes for flavor.
- Add grated ginger or grated garlic for a rich taste.
- The cornstarch can be substituted with tapioca flour.
Shrimp appetizer on toothpick-directions
Remove head and tail, clean, devein shrimp/prawn. I went in with tailed-off, deveined, uncooked shrimps available here. Washing with vinegar helps to remove any odor.
Insert a toothpick into all the shrimp individually. Dilute cornflour with ½ a cup of water and add salt. Dip a few toothpicks and insert shrimps into this diluted flour at a time.
Heat oil in a pan. Fry shrimp in medium flame. Shrimps get cooked quickly and tend to become rubbery when overcooked. It’s time to pull out from the oil when the sizzling sound reduces. Do not crowd the pan and fry them in batches.
Test fry a couple of shrimp in the beginning to get perfectly cooked shrimps. Remove them from the fire and place them in tissue paper to grab the excess oil.
Serve Shrimp as an appetizer with garden-fresh salad. Hot sauce, soy sauce, and ranch are its best accompaniments.
The recipe FAQ
Can I use the same recipe for making with prawns? Yes, of course. Another important question arises: Are Shrimp and Prawns the same?’. Lookalike prawns and shrimp belong to the same family; they are similar but not the same. They slightly differ in the texture. Overcooking can spoil both prawns and shrimp, but shrimp becomes more rubbery than prawns do. So, care should be taken while dealing with both.
Can I marinate the shrimp? We didn't opt for marination since we wanted to keep this shrimp appetizer on a toothpick recipe quick and simple. Our batter is good enough for the shrimp to be more flavorful. But if needed, marinate for 15-30 minutes with the spices.
How to determine whether it is cooked or undercooked? The perfectly cooked shrimp are in a 'C' shape. Of the shrimps, uncooked is straight. And overcooked shrimp are in 'O' shape
Can I make it ahead of time? The batter-coated shrimps are more delicious when made and served hot. But it is better to be served within 2 hours because the shrimp may lose its crispness afterward.
How do you store the leftovers? An air-sealed container is the best. Avoid storing in ziplock bags, as the toothpick may pierce them. Shrimp appetizer on toothpick stays good for up to 3 three days when refrigerated and up to 2 months when frozen.
How to reheat? The oven gives the best results out of all other variations. Check this How to Reheat is the Shrimp for more detailed care and instructions.
Other shrimp recipes
- Hawaiian shrimp
- Garlic pepper shrimp
- Spicy sriracha shrimp
- Shrimp bruschetta pasta
- Shrimp pasta
- Spicy seafood recipes
Printable recipe card
Shrimp Appetizer with toothpick
Ingredients
For prepping
- 4 tablespoon cornstarch
- ¼ teaspoon salt or as required
- 5 tablespoon water
For deep frying
- 2 lbs shrimp
- 1 cup vegetable oil for frying
Instructions
For prepping
- In a mixing bowl, add cornstarch, water, and salt.
- Mix and set aside.
- Insert a toothpick to each of the shrimp in lengthwise. And set aside.
For deep frying
- Over medium heat, place a pan and add vegetable oil.
- Dip each toothpick inserted shrimps in flour mixer and gently drop it in the oil.
- Cook for 5 minutes or until the shrimps are done well.
- Transfer to a serving plave and serve wtih spicy sriracha dipping sauyce.
Notes
Nutrition
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Happys Cook
yummy and mouthwatering appetizer... I am ur new follower... will be glad if u follow me back...
Ali
I’m having some friends over this weekend and this is the perfect appetizer to make, thanks for the recipe!
Stephanie
These shrimp appetizers were gobbled up when I set them out on the table. Really simple to make and much more appealing than just serving shrimp with sauce. Thanks for the lemon juice tip
Jill
I usually think of shrimp cocktail for a party, but I really like this idea too. Going to try this at the next gathering I have. Also, had no idea about using vinegar to clean them. Thanks!
Kerri
These shrimp appetizers are so good! They were a perfect gameday snack for my guests!
Jacqueline
Frying in batches is a really good tip.