Chinese Takeout Style Shrimp with Garlic Sauce

This recipe for making an authentic Chinese takeout style shrimp with garlic sauce is the perfect replacement for real takeout. Not only is this homemade shrimp meal incredibly tasty, but it’s also made with healthier alternatives. You can even add your own choice of vegetables for more variety!

How to Make Chinese Takeout Style Shrimp

You’ll never need to go out for takeout again once you find out how ridiculously tasty this shrimp and garlic sauce meal turns out:

• Prepare the homemade garlic sauce. Use a large glass measuring cup and add the chicken broth, minced garlic cloves, minced ginger, rice wine vinegar, light soy sauce, sesame oil, chili paste, dry sherry, cornstarch, water and (optionally) thinly sliced scallions. Whisk well to combine.
• Prepare the cooking skillet. Use a large cooking skillet to heat the vegetable oil over high heat.
• Stir-fry. Add the broccoli florets and sliced red bell pepper and stir-fry for 3 to 4 minutes.
• Transfer. Transfer the veggies to a plate.
• Cook the shrimp. Add the shrimp to the same skillet and cook for 2 minutes per side (or until pink).
• Add the sauce. Add the garlic sauce and stir to combine.
• Cook. Cook everything together for 1 minute.
• Add the vegetables. Add the veggies back in and stir to combine.
• Keep cooking. Cook for an additional minute (or until the sauce has thickened to your liking).
• Serve. Serve the shrimp warm.

How to Prep Shrimp Before Cooking

Before using your shrimp to make this recipe, you’ll first need to do a little bit of prep work. Here’s what you’ll need to know:

• First things first: rinse the shrimp in cold water.
• Shrimp often comes with the heads pre-removed; if not, you may need to remove the head yourself by gently pulling off and discarding.
• Hold the shrimp firmly and gently remove the legs.
• Next, pull the tail and the shell off the body of the shrimp.
• You’ll need to use a small knife for the next bit of prep work.
• Use the knife to make a small incision in the back of the shrimp and then devein the shrimp by removing the intestines.

3 Tips for Making Authentic Chinese Takeout Style Dishes

Here are 3 useful tips that will help to make sure you’re nailing that authentic Chinese takeout style flavor whenever you’re making recipes like this one:

• Use a large wok (or skillet). Most Chinese restaurants are using woks that are far larger than what you’ll typically have available at home, which naturally results in a higher heat output. With that in mind, the first tip is to use as large of a skillet or wok as you reasonably can in your own kitchen.
• Use healthier replacement ingredients. An unfortunate reality is that Chinese takeout food is often made with large amounts of both sugar and MSG – both of which are rather unhealthy. In order to give your homemade dishes that authentic takeout flavor, you’ll need to come up with a healthier sauce alternative. Thankfully, this exact recipe will show you exactly what you’ll need to do just that.
• Expand your sauce repertoire. Building on from the point above, you also shouldn’t be afraid to experiment with making your own homemade versions of popular Chinese takeout sauces. It’s particularly easy to make your own homemade versions of hoisin sauce and General Tso sauce.

(Also try: 5-Minute Broccoli with Garlic Sauce)

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