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These crispy beer battered fried shrimp make an awesome appetizer! The dipping sauce is fresh and zesty.
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Beer Battered Fried Shrimp Appetizer

An easy & delicious beer battered shrimp appetizer with a zesty lemon dipping sauce.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Keyword: beer battered fried shrimp appetizer
Servings: 4
Author: Natasha Bull

Ingredients

  • 3/4 pound large shrimp
  • 1/2 cup flour
  • 1/2 cup cold beer
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • Generous pinch salt & pepper
  • Peanut oil for frying

Zesty lemon dipping sauce:

  • 1/2 cup mayo
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
  • Zest of 1/2 lemon
  • 1 clove garlic minced
  • Salt & pepper to taste

Instructions

  • If frozen, thaw shrimp under cool running water. Peel & devein shrimp but leave the tails on. Make sure the shrimp are thoroughly dried so the batter sticks (I used paper towel for this).
  • Meanwhile, make the dipping sauce by combining the dipping sauce ingredients. Refrigerate until needed.
  • Prepare the batter by adding the flour, garlic powder, salt & pepper, and beer to a bowl. Whisk until smooth. 
  • Line a large plate with paper towel to absorb any oil from the fried shrimp.
  • In a heavy pot, add about 1/2 inch of peanut oil. Heat on medium-high heat. To be safe, you really should use a deep fry thermometer. It should read between 350F-375F.
  • You'll want to coat the shrimp in the batter one by one, and then carefully place them into the hot oil. Work quickly, and ensure you don't overcrowd the shrimp (I ended up doing three batches). Cook for about two minutes per side (tongs make the flipping job a lot easier) or until they're cooked through and golden but not too browned. When cooked, place them on the paper towel lined plate.
  • Serve with the dipping sauce and fresh wedges of lemon if desired. These are best served hot - the batter does soften up as they cool.

Notes

  • I used this heavy, deep pot to fry these in. This is the awesome lemon zester I used.