Delightful Cajun Fried Shrimp

Ingredients:

Crunchy Shrimp:

• 12 large raw prawns, peeled with tails intact
• ½ cup vegetable oil
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• ½ teaspoon freshly grated lemon zest
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 ½ teaspoons Cajun spice
• 1 large egg
• 1 tablespoon milk
• 1 cup panko bread crumbs

Cajun Sauce:

• ½ cup mayonnaise
• 2 tablespoons sour cream
• 1 tablespoon ketchup
• 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning

Instructions:

Cajun Sauce:

1. In a bowl, combine mayonnaise, sour cream, ketchup, and Cajun seasoning. Whisk until well blended. Set aside.

Cajun Crunchy Shrimp:

1. In a bowl, mix flour, salt, lemon zest, and Cajun seasoning evenly.
2. In another bowl, beat egg with milk.
3. Place panko bread crumbs on a plate.
4. Arrange the stations in a line: flour mixture, egg mixture, then panko breadcrumbs. Place a clean plate at the end.
5. With one hand, coat each shrimp in flour mixture, then dip into the egg mixture, and finally coat with panko breadcrumbs. Ensure even coverage.
6. Heat vegetable oil in a cast-iron skillet until it reaches about an inch deep. Adjust for skillet size.
7. Test oil readiness by sprinkling breadcrumbs into it; it should sizzle.
8. Carefully place shrimp in the hot oil using tongs, ensuring they don’t touch each other to allow even cooking.
9. Cook shrimp for about 90 seconds on each side, gently flipping halfway through. Adjust timing if breadcrumbs brown too quickly.
10. Once cooked, transfer shrimp to a plate lined with paper towels to drain excess oil.
11. Serve immediately with the prepared Cajun sauce. Enjoy the crispy, flavorful goodness!