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Crispy Cajun Fried Shrimp with Remoulade

Crispy Cajun Fried Shrimp with Remoulade reads citrus 6.3, sourness 6.0 and fruity 4.4 on Palate's 0–10 flavor X-ray — a Cajun/Creole main, about 56 min. Measured from the recipe itself: ingredients and technique.

The flavor X-ray — six axes, 0–10

The measured notes (of 18)

Citrus 6.3 · Sourness 6.0 · Fruity 4.4 · Umami 4.2 · Salinity 4.2 · Richness 4.0 · Marine & Briny 3.2 · Allium 3.1 · Heat 2.9 · Herbaceous 2.6 · Warm Spice 2.4 · Smoke 2.2 · Sweetness 2.2 · Funk & Ferment 1.8 · Earthy 1.4 · Nutty 1.2 · Bitterness 1.2 · Floral 1.1

What's in it (15)

Time & effort: about 56 min (21 min active) · effort: involved

Nutrition (per 100 g, engine-estimated): 237.6 kcal, 8.8 g protein, 14.8 g fat, 18.1 g carbs

Dietary: Contains meat · Contains seafood · Contains dairy — engine-derived; double-check anything allergy-critical.

How it's cooked (8 steps)

  1. Make the remoulade: whisk the mayonnaise, Creole mustard, horseradish, hot sauce, garlic, and lemon juice in a small bowl until smooth.
  2. Cover and refrigerate the remoulade while you prep the shrimp, at least 20 minutes (it can be made up to 2 days ahead).
  3. Pat the shrimp dry, place in a medium bowl, and pour in the buttermilk, turning to coat; let sit at room temperature until ready to bread, about 15 minutes — this short soak is what keeps the shrimp tender and gives the crust something to cling to.
  4. Whisk the cornmeal, flour, Cajun seasoning, smoked paprika, and salt together in a wide shallow dish.
  5. Pour the oil into a heavy pot or Dutch oven to a depth of 3 inches and heat over medium-high until a deep-fry thermometer reads 350°F, about 8 minutes.
  6. Working in batches of 6-8 shrimp, lift each from the buttermilk letting the excess drip off, then dredge in the cornmeal mixture, pressing gently to coat evenly, and shake off the excess.
  7. Fry the shrimp in batches, without crowding the pot, until the crust is deeply golden and crisp and the shrimp are opaque and just cooked through, 2-3 minutes, flipping once halfway; transfer to a wire rack set over a baking sheet and season with a pinch of salt while still hot, letting the oil climb back to 350°F between batches.
  8. Serve the shrimp hot, piled high, with the chilled remoulade and lemon wedges for squeezing.

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Every number above is Palate's engine-measured estimate, computed from this recipe's ingredients and techniques — not human-tasted ratings or reviews.