Crispy Whole Shrimp Appetizer with Netted Rice Paper Wrapper

Golden crispy whole shrimp wrapped in delicate netted rice paper for a delicious and quick appetizer.

Ingredients · Servings 4

Method · 20 min

Rinse the shrimp under cold water and patting them dry to remove any fishy smell. Score the underside of each shrimp with 3-4 cuts to help them lay straight.
In a bowl, combine the shrimp with oyster sauce and sugar. Set aside.
Using scissors, cut the rice paper in half. Fill a wide, shallow bowl with room temperature water, or use a spray bottle.
For each roll, moisten rice by quickly dipping it in the water. Gently shake off any excess water and transfer the softened rice paper to a clean plate. If using a spray bottle, lightly mist the rice paper. Work quickly to assemble the rolls: place a shrimp towards the bottom of the rice paper, leaving the tail exposed. Roll up to seal the shrimp inside. Repeat this process with the remaining shrimp. When setting them aside, make sure they don’t touch each other to prevent sticking and tearing.
Fill a skillet with about 1 inch of oil and heat it to 375°F. Fry in batches for about 2 minutes or until they are golden brown, flipping them halfway through for even cooking. Transfer the fried shrimp rolls to a wire rack or a plate lined with paper towels to drain off excess oil.
Plate and serve the shrimp rolls immediately for the best crunch. Enjoy as is or wrap in fresh lettuce leaves and dip them in your favorite sauce.

Enjoy them as is or wrap them in leafy lettuce and Vietnamese herbs and dip them in a sweet and savory chili sauce.

Perfect for parties, easy to prepare, and ready in 20 minutes.

What You Will Need

To make this easy and delicious shrimp appetizer, gather the following ingredients:

Large Shrimp — I’m using large shrimp size 21/25 which I like to get at Costco. They come already peeled and deveined with tail on.
Oyster Sauce — Oyster sauce is an Asian salt alternative. It adds a savory and salty flavor to the shrimp.
Sugar — A touch of sugar balances out the salty oyster sauce. You can use white sugar, brown sugar, or even honey as a substitute. I’m using granulated white sugar.
Oil — Use a high smoke point oil like canola, peanut oil, or vegetable oil for frying. I’m using vegetable oil.
Netted Rice Paper Wrapper — Netted rice paper is a special type of rice paper that features a net-like pattern.
This unique design allows oil to penetrate underneath during frying, ensuring even cooking and perfect crispiness.
You can find these wrappers in most Asian grocery stores in the freezer aisle.