Get ready for an irresistible appetizer! This Keto Bang Bang Shrimp recipe captures the crispy texture and creamy, spicy-sweet flavor of the classic dish without the carbs. Crucially, we use an almond flour and Parmesan breading baked in the air fryer to achieve a perfect crunch. Furthermore, the sugar-free Bang Bang sauce balances the heat of the sriracha with a tangy sweetness, making this air fryer keto shrimp a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.
Ingredients for a Spicy Keto Appetizer
- Almond flour and Parmesan: Combined to create the crispy, low-carb breading mixture.
- Kosher Salt and Pepper: Used to season the breading mixture.
- Jumbo Shrimp: Must be peeled and deveined before cooking.
- Egg: Beaten; acts as the binder to help the breading adhere to the shrimp.
- Sauce: Mayo: Forms the creamy base of the sauce; can be replaced with 0% Greek yogurt for a Weight Watchers-friendly option.
- Sauce: Sriracha: Provides the essential heat and spiciness for the Bang Bang flavor.
- Sauce: Lime juice and Rice vinegar: Adds necessary acidity and tanginess to cut through the richness of the mayo.
- Sauce: Garlic powder and Ginger paste: Adds aromatic depth and flavor complexity to the sauce.
- Sauce: Soy sauce: Contributes a savory, umami note.
- Sauce: Granular Sweetener: Used to provide the sweet balance to the spicy sriracha in the sauce.
How to Make Keto Bang Bang Shrimp
This recipe is quick, relying on the air fryer for a fast, crispy finish. The simple sauce comes together while the shrimp cooks.
1. Breading the Shrimp
A quick pulse in the food processor ensures the breading has a fine texture for better coverage.
- Make Breading: Add almond flour, Parmesan, salt, and pepper to a food processor and pulse until it resembles coarse crumbs. Dump into a shallow bowl.
- Bread Shrimp: Dip each shrimp in the beaten egg and then coat in the crumbs, Place in a single layer in the air fryer. You may need to cook in 2 batches.
2. Air Frying and Saucing
The two-stage cooking process ensures the shrimp cooks through before the heat is increased for maximum crispiness.
- Air Fry: Cook in the air fryer at 360°F for 4 minutes, then turn up the temperature to 400°F and cook for 4 more minutes. If your shrimp are smal,l you will need to decrease the cook time.
- Make Sauce: To make the sauce, place all ingredients in a medium bowl and whisk to combine.
- Serve: Coat each shrimp with the sauce and serve.
Recipe Notes and Serving Suggestions
- Weight Watchers: To make these weight watchers friendly, replace the mayo with 0% Greek yogurt for 6 Freestyle points.
- Oven Instructions: To bake these in the oven, lay them all out on a lined sheet pan after breading. Bake in a 400F oven for 10 minutes, then Hi broil until they start to brown. Flip and broil for a few minutes more.
- Batch Cooking: Air Fryer: Cooking the shrimp in a single layer, even if it requires multiple batches, is crucial for achieving crispy results.
- Sauce Adjustments: Adjust the amount of sriracha to your preferred level of heat.
Prep Time
15 minutes
Cook Time
8 minutes
Total Time
8 minutes
Ingredients
- 1 cup almond flour
- 1/2 cup Parmesan
- 1/2 teaspoon Kosher Salt
- 1/4 teaspoon Pepper
- 1 pound Jumbo Shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1 Egg, beaten
- Sauce
- 1/2 cup Mayo or 0% Greek yogurt for WW
- 1 tablespoon Sriracha
- Juice of 1 Lime
- 2 tablespoons Rice vinegar
- 1 teaspoon Garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons Soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons Granular Sweetener
- 1 tablespoon Ginger paste
Instructions
- Make Breading: Add almond flour, Parmesan, salt, and pepper to a food processor and pulse until it resembles coarse crumbs. Transfer to a shallow bowl.
- Bread Shrimp: Dip each shrimp in the beaten egg, then coat completely in the crumb mixture. Place in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
- Cook (Air Fryer): Cook at 360F for 4 minutes, then increase the temperature to 400F and cook for 4 more minutes until golden and cooked through. (Cook time may vary based on shrimp size).
- Make Sauce: In a medium bowl, whisk together all sauce ingredients (Mayo, Sriracha, Lime juice, Rice vinegar, Garlic powder, Soy sauce, Granular Sweetener, and Ginger paste).
- Serve: Coat each batch of cooked shrimp generously with the sauce and serve immediately.
Notes
- Oven Option: To bake, arrange shrimp on a lined sheet pan, bake at 400F for 10 minutes, then use the Hi broil setting until they brown. Flip and broil for a few minutes more.
- Weight Watchers: Replace the mayo with 0% Greek yogurt for 6 Freestyle points.
Nutrition Information:
Serving Size:
per serving size
Amount Per Serving:
Calories: 350Total Fat: 25gSaturated Fat: 5gCarbohydrates: 8gNet Carbohydrates: 5gFiber: 3gSugar: 1gProtein: 25g