Tasty Recipes for the Home Cook

Appetizer Fish / Seafood Main Dish Sandwich

Shrimp Tempura Burger

Shrimp Tempura Burger features shrimp in a light batter and is served on a toasted bun with Asian coleslaw and sriracha mayo. Add a side of fries or chips for a fantastic meal. Or turn into sliders for the most tasty party food!

Shrimp Tempura Burger

When I first thought of putting shrimp tempura onto hamburger buns with cabbage slaw, I imagined the sandwich would be light-tasting and have a great texture. The combination of tender shrimp, light and crispy tempura batter, crunchy slaw, and toasted hamburger buns would create a stellar burger. What I imagined was exactly what I got!

It’s a pretty easy meal to put together, too! You can whip it together in just 30 minutes. For convenience, use uncooked, peeled, and deveined shrimp. Packaged shredded cabbage or coleslaw mix also makes prep work quick and easy. I like to incorporate my own hand-shaven carrots into the slaw for additional color, flavor, and sweetness. That takes only a few minutes. Totally worth the time!

Is it fried?

Yes, there is frying involved, but it’s shallow frying. You won’t need much oil, and the splashing is minimal compared to deep frying. And because shrimp is used, cook time is super quick…less than 2 minutes per side. 

Great for a meal or finger food:

For a meal, serve with a side of fries and potato chips. If you prefer a lighter option, a simple salad is great. Or, make extra coleslaw to serve as a side.

For party food, reduce the size of the shrimp tempura patty and serve it on toasted dinner rolls. Arrange the sliders on a platter and watch them get devoured!!

Shrimp Tempura Burger

Recipe highlights:

  • Whisk together lime juice, rice wine vinegar, fish sauce, and sugar in a bowl.
  • Shave thin strips of carrots with a vegetable peeler. Add carrot, shredded cabbage, and cilantro to the bowl. Mix to combine. Set aside.
  • Mix mayonnaise, sriracha, and honey in a small bowl. Refrigerate.
  • Combine flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and seasonings for the tempura batter in a bowl. Add COLD water. Whisk.
  • Next, add shrimp and chopped scallion.
  • Stir batter until just combined.
  • Use a large fork or slotted spoon to drop the batter into a preheated skillet filled with 1/4 inch of neutral oil. Fry for 1.5 to 2 minutes per side.
  • Transfer to a wire rack to drain.
  • Fill toasted hamburger buns with sriracha mayo, tempura patty, and Asian coleslaw.
  • Refer to the recipe card below for detailed instructions.

View the how-to video or save it for later with this Pinterest Pin.

What size shrimp to use?

I like to use small (51/60 count) or medium-sized (41/50 count) shrimp because they provide a substantial bite yet are small enough to form patties. I find it hard to shape the patties into nice, round shapes when I use larger shrimp. If you use larger shrimp, chop into smaller 1 to 1.5 -inch bite-size chunks.

How to store shrimp tempura patties:

When working with seafood, it’s best to store it for no longer than 2 days. Cool completely, then place the patties, without touching each other, in an airtight container. If you stack the patties, use parchment or wax paper between them. Refrigerate and use within 2 days.

How to store the coleslaw and sriracha mayo:

Store the coleslaw in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Sriracha mayonnaise can be kept for longer. Keep it in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 2 weeks.

While these shrimp tempura patties make an incredible sandwich, they’re just as delicious served in other ways. Turn them into a rice bowl by serving them over steamed rice with fresh cucumber, shaved carrots, and cilantro, then drizzle with nuoc cham or sriracha mayo. Or tuck them into warm tortillas for Asian-inspired tacos topped with crunchy slaw or fresh mango salsa, then finish with a spicy aioli.

Shrimp Tempura Burger

How to reheat shrimp tempura patties:

Tempura shrimp are best fresh out of the skillet. The batter tends to soften when stored. However, it can be reheated to restore some of the crispiness:

  • Oven method: Preheat the oven to 350° F. Place the shrimp tempura patties, spaced apart, on a baking sheet. Bake for 6-8 minutes or until heated through.
  • Skillet method: Coat the bottom of a skillet with oil. Preheat to medium. Cook shrimp patties for 2 minutes or until heated through, flipping over halfway.

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Shrimp Tempura Burger

Difficulty:BeginnerPrep time: 23 minutesCook time: 7 minutesRest time: minutesTotal time: 30 minutesServings:6 ServingsCalories:300 kcal Best Season:Summer

Description

Shrimp Tempura Burger features shrimp in a light batter and is served on a toasted bun with Asian coleslaw and sriracha mayo. Add a side of fries or chips for a fantastic meal. Or turn into sliders for the most tasty party food!

Ingredients

    For the shrimp tempura:

    For the slaw:

    Sriracha mayo:

    Instructions

      For the Asian coleslaw:

    1. Use a vegetable peeler to shave thin strips of carrots. Rough chop any long strips into 2-inch lengths. Shave just enough to fill 1/2 cup.
    2. Whisk together lime juice, rice wine vinegar, fish sauce, and sugar in a bowl. Add cabbage, carrot, and cilantro. Mix to combine. Set aside to allow the flavors to meld.
    3. For the sriracha mayo:

    4. Add the ingredients to a mixing bowl. Blend well. Refrigerate.
    5. For the shrimp tempura:

    6. If using large shrimps, chop into 1 1/2-inch pieces.
    7. Have the oil hot and ready to use immediately after you make the tempura batter. Preheat 1/4 inch of oil to medium heat (about 350° F) while you mix the batter.
    8. Add flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and all the dry seasonings into a mixing bowl. Add ice-cold water. Whisk until only small lumps remain. Add shrimp and chopped scallion. Mix just until combined.
    9. Use a slotted spoon (recommended) or a large fork to gently drop tempura shrimp batter into the hot oil. Drop them into 3 1/2-inch flat, round patties as best you can. They will not be perfect. Avoid adding excess tempura batter to the shrimp patties. It will make them doughy.
    10. Cook for 3 to 3.5 minutes, turning over halfway. Shrimp are cooked when they are opaque throughout. Transfer shrimp patties to a metal cooling rack to drain. Continue cooking the rest of the patties.
    11. To assemble burgers:

    12. Before assembly, toast hamburger buns. Spread sriracha mayo onto both the top and bottom buns. Place the shrimp tempura patty on the bottom bun; add Asian coleslaw. Cover with the top bun.
    13. Serve with a side of chips or fries, optional.
    14. Makes 6 buns.

    Notes

    • * I like to use small or medium-sized shrimp. If using larger shrimps, chop into approximately 1.50-inch pieces. The chunks are easier to drop into roundish patties than large shrimp.
    • Store shrimp tempura patties in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. If stacking, separate the layers with parchment or wax paper.
    • Store the Asian coleslaw in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Store the sriracha mayo in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2 weeks.
    • Reheat patties in a 350° F oven for 6-8 minutes or until heated through. Or cook in a skillet coated with oil over medium heat for 2 minutes, turning halfway through.
    Keywords:Shrimp tempura burger recipe, Fried shrimp patty burger, Tempura shrimp sandwich, Easy seafood party sliders, Crispy and crunchy shrimp sandwich recipe, How to make shrimp tempura burgers

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    6 Comments

    1. It looks just soooo flavorful! I always wondered why prawn burgers were not a thing! I need to try your recipe ASAP

      1. I don’t get it either. The two are a marriage made in burger heaven! Do try this! It’s so good!!!

    2. What a great idea! Love the slaw, too.

      1. Thank you! The slaw adds a fresh crunch and a tangy, sweet, and salty flavor.

    3. Fantastic! Are they quite delicate? I could see smaller version served as appetizers with some great dipping sauces!

      1. They are tender and delicate but can withstand some handling. Smaller version makes the most delightful apps!!

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