Homemade simple and tasty fried shrimp chips or prawn crackers is a classic Chinese New Year or special event snack like pork jerky. It is not only crispy, but also melts in the mouth! This homemade shrimp chips recipe has step by step photos and a video below the recipe card to watch the fun processes of how to make Asian shrimp chips at home for your snack.
Like snacks? Check out these pork jerky, curry fish ball, red bean paste rice cake, Chinese pancake, caramel popcorn, red bean mochi, Asian air fryer french fries and Korean tteokbokki recipes.
What is shrimp chips (蝦片)?
Shrimp chips is a common snack and cuisine among Southeast Asia, Japan, Korea, Hong Kong and China. Some called it prawn crackers or prawn chips. It is a savory and flavorful snack. Also, it made of tapioca flour and shrimp or prawns flavored. They are usually deep fried to create a light and crispy texture.
In Chinese cuisine, Chinese shrimp chips have different colors like yellow, green, pink and white. Personally, I prefer the white one because it is less coloring.
When do people normally make prawn chips?
Most Chinese like to make shrimp chips during Chinese New Year and special events. As a little kid I remembered my family deep dried shrimp chips for special events such as Chinese New Year and birthdays.
I thought it was magic because a little dried plastic like circles in hot oil turned out to be chips. And, I was happy to see my parents make these fried prawn chips.
What are the ingredients for deep fried homemade shrimp chips?
This prawn or shrimp chips recipe is very simple. It only has two ingredients: vegetable oil and dried prawn chips.
Cooking tips for how to make shrimp chips:
- Use a thermometer to test the oil and see if the oil is hot enough for deep frying the prawn chips.
- Make sure the oil temperature reaches around 338F-374F. If the oil is not hot enough. It will take a long time and some will not expand.
- Make sure to turn the fire to small after the oil reaches around 360F.
- Once the chips expand, take them out quickly. If you leave the chips in the oil a little bit longer, it will burn.
- Put the chips in a bowl with paper towels to absorb excess oil from the chips.
FAQs:
It’s like nude color, circle and plastic because it's dried. Some have colors, green, pink, and yellow. 
Yes, It is made of tapioca flour and shrimp or prawn flavoring.
Prawn crackers or shrimp chips are a common snack throughout Southeast Asia, but it originates from Indonesia.
Yes, shrimp chips have a distinct shrimp flavor because of the presence of shrimp in the ingredients and flavoring. Different brands have slightly different tastes.
Instructions for how to make homemade shrimp chips:
1. Pour 2 cups of vegetable oil into a pan and turn on the fire to medium high.
2. Let the oil heat up around 338 F-374 F. Then, turn the fire to small or low. (*If the oil is not hot enough. It will take a long time and some will not expand well.)
3. Put 2-3 pieces of dried chips into hot oil for a few seconds, then it will expand. (Try not to put a lot all at once.)
4. Once the chips expand, take them out quickly. If you leave the chips in the oil a little bit longer, it will burn.
5. After that, put the chips in a bowl with paper towels to absorb excess oil from the chips.
Enjoy this tasty, crispy and melt in your mouth Asian Chinese homemade shrimp chips recipe! Also, check out these strawberry chocolate, hot chocolate balls, Thai chicken pizza, papaya milk, black sesame soup and mouth watering chicken recipes.
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Shrimp Chips
Video
Ingredients
- 2 cups Vegetable Oil
- 1 box Dry shrimp chips (200g/7.05 oz)
Instructions
- Pour 2 cups of vegetable oil into a pan and turn on the fire to medium high.
- Let the oil heat up around 338 F-374 F. Then, turn the fire to small or low. (*If the oil is not hot enough. It will take a long time and some will not expand well.)
- Put 2-3 pieces of dried chips into hot oil for a few seconds, then it will expand. (Try not to put a lot all at once.)
- Once the chips expand, take them out quickly. If you leave the chips in the oil a little bit longer, it will burn.
- After that, put the chips in a bowl with paper towels to absorb excess oil from the chips.
Notes
Cooking tips for how to make shrimp chips:
- Use a thermometer to test the oil and see if the oil is hot enough for deep frying the prawn chips.
- Make sure the oil temperature reaches around 338F-374F. If the oil is not hot enough. It will take a long time and some will not expand.
- Make sure to turn the fire to small after the oil reaches around 360F
- Once the chips expand, take them out quickly. If you leave the chips in the oil a little bit longer, it will burn.
- Put the chips in a bowl with paper towels to absorb excess oil from the chips.
Suella says
Do I dredge the shrimp in the flour before frying? Thanks
Tracy O. says
Hi Suella, I am not sure I understand your question. I just deep fry the dried shrimp chips in a package. I did not add anything. The temperature of oil is very important in this recipe.