Description
A crispy Italian-inspired appetizer featuring lightly battered and fried shrimp and bell peppers, served with a creamy spicy ranch dipping sauce.
Ingredients
Scale
- 16 oz raw medium shrimp, thawed and drained
- 1/2 red bell pepper, cut into strips
- 2–3 cups neutral oil for deep frying (e.g., canola, vegetable)
- Spicy Ranch Sauce:
- 1/4 cup creamy ranch dressing
- 1 Tbsp cherry pepper spread
- 3 Tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
- 3 Tbsp Olive Garden salad dressing
- Dry Breading:
- 2 Tbsp cornstarch
- 2 Tbsp ground cornmeal
- 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 Tbsp seasoned salt
- 1/2 Tbsp garlic salt
- 1 tsp lemon pepper
- 2 tsp paprika
- 1 Tbsp dried parsley
- Wet Batter:
- 1/2 cup of the dry breading mixture
- 1/2 cup cold water
Instructions
- Prepare the Spicy Ranch Sauce: Mix ranch dressing, cherry pepper spread, Parmesan cheese, and Olive Garden salad dressing. Chill until serving.
- Prepare the dry breading: In a bowl, combine cornstarch, cornmeal, flour, seasoned salt, garlic salt, lemon pepper, paprika, and parsley. Whisk well and reserve 1/2 cup of this mixture for the wet batter.
- Make the wet batter: Combine the reserved 1/2 cup of dry breading mixture with 1/2 cup of cold water until smooth.
- Preheat oil: Heat oil in a deep pot to 350°F (175°C).
- Bread the shrimp and peppers: Dip each shrimp and bell pepper strip into the wet batter, then coat thoroughly with the reserved dry breading. Work in small batches to ensure even coating.
- Fry: Carefully add the breaded shrimp to the hot oil and fry for 2–3 minutes, or until golden brown and floating. Fry the bell pepper strips for about 1 minute until crispy.
- Drain: Remove the fried shrimp and peppers with a slotted spoon and place them on paper towels to drain excess oil.
- Serve: Arrange the Shrimp Fritto Misto on a platter and serve hot with the prepared spicy ranch sauce or marinara sauce.
Notes
- Ensure shrimp and peppers are well-drained before battering to prevent soggy breading.
- Do not overcrowd the fryer; fry in batches to maintain oil temperature for crispier results.
- Reheat leftovers in an oven or toaster oven at 400°F for 10-15 minutes to restore crispiness. Avoid using a microwave.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Deep Frying
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approx.)
- Calories: 158 kcal