Crispy Rice with Spicy Shrimp Salad
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I’m currently 20 weeks pregnant and have been craving my beloved spicy tuna crispy rice! Unfortunately since raw fish during pregnancy is not advised, I haven’t been able to indulge. Instead I’ve come up with this pregnancy (or raw fish aversion friendly) version of the fan favorite using cooked shrimp salad and piling it on crispy rice.
The shrimp is finely chopped into small pieces and combined with kewpie mayonnaise, sriracha, a touch of soy sauce, green onion, diced jalapeño and panko breadcrumbs for some added crunch. Craving more dishes like this? My spicy crab crispy rice recipe is right up your alley. Learn how to nail the technique with this Nobu-style crispy rice method. The key is in how you press, chill, and fry the rice.
Why You’ll Love Crispy Rice with Spicy Shrimp Salad
- Crispy, golden perfection. Each bite of the crunchy rice base pairs perfectly with the creamy, spicy shrimp salad topping for the ultimate contrast in texture.
- Restaurant-quality at home. This dish looks and tastes like something you’d order at a trendy sushi bar, but is surprisingly easy to recreate in your own kitchen.
- Great sushi alternative. This iteration is great for those in areas without fresh raw fish available, the raw fish averse and anyone who may be pregant and using precaution when eating raw foods.
Key Ingredients in This Recipe
- Shrimp – I don’t season the shrimp before cooking it since the added sauces in the salad provide a fair amount of salt. I recommend cutting the shrimp into small pieces for the salad so it can easily be piled on top of the crispy rice.
- Panko – Panko, or Japanese breadcrumbs, are light and airy. Because the shrimp are much more firm than raw fish, I add panko for extra crunch and to help bind the salad.
- Mayonnaise – Kewpie is a type of Japanese mayonnaise that has added seasoning. If you cannot find Kewpie then substitute regular mayonnaise with a ½ teaspoon of mirin.
- Sriracha – Sriracha is great because it is so easy to find and adds a spicy, garlic flavor to the shrimp salad.
- Rice – Short-grain Japanese sushi rice is used to make this recipe. The plump grains stick together well, making it perfect for crispy rice. Long-grain rice won’t stick together enough to fry the pieces as the base.
- Green onion – In this recipe I use both the white, more pungent bottom parts of the stalk as well as the more mild green tops.
- Jalapeño – I add chopped jalapeño to the salad as well as a small slice on top to garnish the crispy rice. Removing the seeds and membrane from the jalapeño before chopping it cuts down on the spice level. As a result the jalapeño flavor remains.
- Mirin – I season the rice with mirin for extra flavor though this step can be skipped.
- Eel sauce – I love adding a drizzle of eel sauce over the top of the crispy rice. You can even make your own eel sauce!
A full ingredient list with exact amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Tips for Perfect Crispy Rice
If your rice isn’t crisping up or browning the way you want, these tips will help you achieve that golden, crunchy exterior every time.
- Use the right rice: Stick with short-grain sushi rice. It has the ideal starch content to hold together and crisp up beautifully.
- Pack it tightly: Make sure the rice is firmly pressed with no loose grains sticking out. I like to sandwich the rice between two same-size sheet pans to get an even, compact layer or make sure it’s pressed into one pan.
- Heat your oil properly: Don’t rush this step! The oil should be shimmering hot before you start frying; otherwise, the rice will absorb oil instead of crisping.
- Add a light cornstarch coating: A quick dusting of cornstarch on the rice before frying helps create a deeply golden crust.
- Use a deep pot: A high-sided pot or Dutch oven minimizes splatter and helps maintain even heat for frying.
Special Equipment
While it’s not required for this recipe, I recommend using a rice cooker for perfect fluffy rice, every time.
Swaps and Substitutions
- Shrimp: Swap the shrimp for cooked crab, chopped sushi-grade tuna, or salmon for a different spin on the topping. For a vegetarian option, use finely diced avocado or spicy tofu instead.
- Spicy sauce: If you don’t have Sriracha, try using gochujang, chili crisp, or even a dash of hot sauce for a similar kick. You can also mix in a little wasabi for an extra kick of heat.
- Soy Sauce: Tamari or coconut aminos both make great gluten-free alternatives to soy sauce.
- Toppings: Play around with texture and flavor! Add sliced scallions or sesame seeds.
How to Make Crispy Rice with Spicy Shrimp Salad
Place the rice in a fine mesh strainer and rinse until the water that runs out of the bottom is clear. This gets some of the starch out of the rice. In a medium saucepan, combine the rice and 2 cups (400g) of water.
Bring to a boil then cover and reduce heat to low. Cook until rice is tender and the water has been absorbed, about 20 minutes. Remove from the heat, sprinkle with mirin and fluff the rice with a fork and let cool.
Line a loaf pan with plastic wrap, then spread the sushi rice evenly, pressing it down so that it is tightly packed. Transfer to the refrigerator for at least an hour.
Lift the plastic wrap from the pan, then use a knife to cut it into 8 even squares.
Heat the vegetable oil in a skillet to 375°F (190ºC). Fry only a few squares of rice at a time in the pan. Cook, rotating so that the rice is golden brown on all sides, about 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from the pan to a paper towel-lined plate to drain.
Cut each square of crispy rice in half.
Heat a large sauté pan over medium heat, add the oil and heat through. Add the shrimp to the pan, cooking until pink and no longer translucent, about 1 minute. Flip and continue to cook until just cooked through. Remove to a cutting board and allow to cool completely.
Finely chop the shrimp then add to a bowl with the green onions, breadcrumbs, mayonnaise, sriracha, jalapeño and soy sauce. Stir to combine and set aside.
Top each piece of crispy rice with a slice of avocado and a scoop of the shrimp salad. Drizzle with the eel sauce and top with a slice of jalapeño. Serve immediately with soy sauce for dipping.
How to Make Crispy Rice with Spicy Shrimp Salad Gluten Free
This dish can easily be made gluten free! Rice is naturally gluten free so just make sure there is no cross-contamination in the oil when frying. Check the label of the mirin if using because some can be made with wheat. Substitute the eel sauce and soy sauce with a gluten free Tamari or liquid aminos. I like to add the butter lettuce as a cup filled with the rice like it’s served at Nobu.
FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions
Short-grain sushi rice works best for crispy rice. It has the right amount of starch to hold together when pressed and fry up with a perfectly crunchy exterior. Avoid long-grain rice like basmati or jasmine – they won’t stick together properly.
Pack the rice very tightly before chilling or cutting. I like to press it between two sheet pans and refrigerate it for at least an hour (or overnight). Cold, compact rice holds together much better when fried.
Make sure your oil is hot before frying (around 350°F / 180ºC). If the oil isn’t hot enough, the rice will absorb oil instead of crisping. You can also add a light dusting of cornstarch before frying for extra crunch.
Yes, you can prepare and fry the rice squares ahead of time. Let them cool completely, then store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a few hours. For best texture, re-crisp them in a hot oven or air fryer before topping.
If you prefer not to deep fry, you can shallow-fry the rice in a nonstick pan with a generous amount of oil. It won’t be quite as evenly crispy, but it will still get a nice golden crust.
Crispy rice is super versatile! Try topping it with spicy tuna (the original version), salmon tartare, avocado and eel sauce, or even seared steak for a fun twist.
Other Recipes to Try
If you enjoy this crispy rice with spicy shrimp salad recipe, give these a try and follow me on Instagram for more updates:
Made this dish? Be sure to rate the recipe and drop a comment below! Your feedback means everything (and helps others find it too)!
Crispy Rice with Spicy Shrimp Salad
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Ingredients:
For the crispy rice:
- 1½ cups short grain sushi rice
- 2 teaspoons mirin
- 1 cup Vegetable oil
For the spicy shrimp salad:
- ¾ pound large (21-30 count) shrimp, peeled, deveined and tails removed
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- ¼ cup diced green onions
- ¼ cup panko breadcrumbs
- 3 tablespoons kewpie mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons sriracha
- 1 tablespoon diced jalapeño
- 1 teaspoon soy sauce
For serving:
- 1 medium Hass avocado, pitted, peeled and sliced
- 1 small jalapeño, thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons eel sauce, optional
- Soy sauce, as needed
Instructions:
For the crispy rice:
- Place the rice in a fine mesh strainer and rinse until the water that runs out of the bottom is clear. This gets some of the starch out of the rice. In a medium saucepan, combine the rice and 2 cups (400g) of water.
- Bring to a boil then cover and reduce heat to low. Cook until rice is tender and the water has been absorbed, about 20 minutes. Remove from the heat, sprinkle with mirin and fluff the rice with a fork and let cool.
- Line a loaf pan with plastic wrap, then spread the sushi rice evenly, pressing it down so that it is tightly packed. Transfer to the refrigerator for at least an hour.
- Lift the plastic wrap from the pan, then use a knife to cut it into 8 even squares.
- Heat the vegetable oil in a skillet to 375°F (190ºC). Fry only a few squares of rice at a time in the pan. Cook, rotating so that the rice is golden brown on all sides, about 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from the pan to a paper towel-lined plate to drain.
- Cut each square of crispy rice in half.
For the spicy shrimp salad:
- Heat a large sauté pan over medium heat, add the oil and heat through. Add the shrimp to the pan, cooking until pink and no longer translucent, about 1 minute. Flip and continue to cook until just cooked through. Remove to a cutting board and allow to cool.
- Finely chop the shrimp then add to a bowl with the green onions, breadcrumbs, mayonnaise, sriracha, jalapeño and soy sauce. Stir to combine and set aside.
For serving:
- Top each piece of crispy rice with a slice of avocado and a scoop of the shrimp salad. Drizzle with the eel sauce and top with a slice of jalapeño. Serve immediately with soy sauce for dipping.
Notes:
Nutrition:
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My family absolutely loves this recipe. I was wondering if and how I could make this a sushi bake? Not sure how I could do the rice. Any ideas? I’m sautéing rice squares for what seems like forever because they eat them as I’m cooking them lol. I’d really like to make it into a “bake” but not sure how.
Can’t wait to try this
I hope you enjoy!
This is absolutely fantastic. Instead of panko, I used crispy fried onions and soooooo good!
Still trying to get the rice exactly right and will enjoy eating it as I perfect it! Thank you.
so happy to hear you enjoyed!! Thanks so much for sharing Randi!
Toast your breadcrumbs on top of stove in a little butter.
Tried this with my 3 year daughter last night and we can’t get enough. We’ve been eating left overs all morning. I shared this with all the women cooks in my family. DELICIOUS recipe!
YAY! I am so happy to hear that Alyssa! Thank you so much for sharing!
Our grandson made this for us the other night – it was delicious and we highly recommend it !
Five stars for the entire family whenever I make this. During crunch time nighta, I just make bowls with butter lettuce, rice and top with the shrimp salad, cuke and avocado, drizzled with eel sauce (jalapeños for those who enjoy). It’s a win-win!
So happy to hear it’s a hit with the whole family! I love your shortcut version with butter lettuce and rice—sounds so fresh and easy. Thanks so much for sharing your take on it!
I made this as part of my husbands birthday dinner. Everyone LOVED it! Followed recipe exactly and it was perfection, thank you!
So happy to hear it was a hit! Thank you so much for sharing!
hey there!
I plan on trying this recipe out. I had a couple questions:
1) can I prepare the rice ahead of time (the day prior) and just fry it on the day of immediately before serving?
2) can I prepare the shrimp salad a day ahead and refrigerate or should that be warm right then and there?
3) can I substitute regular breadcrumbs with Panko or will that not work as well?
I hope you enjoy the recipe! Yes, you can prepare the rice a day in advance and fry it just before serving. You can prepare the shrimp salad a day ahead of time but I recommend waiting to add the breadcrumbs until just before serving so you have a bit more of a crispy texture. You could technically sub regular breadcrumbs but I really suggest using panko – they are larger pieces and much more airy which provides a much better texture.
OMG! Soooo yummy! Cannot wait to make this again!
So happy to hear it Trina! Thank you so much for sharing!
I make it once a week!!
I make this once a week!
So glad it’s made it’s way into your rotation!!!
Thank you for this delicious meal, its quick and makes my belly full and happy. Appreciate you!
Made this tonight. Did rice last night and let sit in fridge so it made prep time easy. Absolutely delicious but shrimp salad doesn’t sit piled nicely on top for me so not as pretty but sooooo delicious. I will definitely make again! I think I will use larger pan for rice making the pieces a bit lower to hold the shrimp (and will give me more pieces too). Thank you!
So happy you enjoyed!! Great idea with the larger pan!
Thank you for your recipe. This is delicious. Finally sushi that is so yummy without driving over 3 hours to get some.