Tempura shrimp is commonly seen as an appetizer at your local Asian restaurant. I’ve kicked things up a notch by coating these fried shrimp in a hot-honey buffalo sauce and it’s incredible.

What is Tempura?
Tempura is a common Japanese dish where seafood, vegetables, or even sushi is lightly battered and fried to create a light, crispy coating. Tempura batter is consists of flour, egg, and club soda; this batter combination allows the food to retain more moisture the results in a crispy and tasty shell. You’ll notice that the fried coating is more delicate, light and crispier than conventional fry batter.

How to make Hot-Honey Shrimp Tempura
- Season shrimp with Cajun seasoning and set aside.
- Whisk together the cornstarch, flour, Creole seasoning and Italian seasoning in a bowl; then whisk in the egg and then the club soda until well combined. It’s okay to have a few lumps in the batter. If you feel the batter is too thick, add more club soda to get the right consistency.
- Add oil to a heavy-bottomed pot and heat up to about 350°F over medium-high heat.
- Dip the shrimp into the batter and then add to the oil to fry for about 2-5 minutes, or until browned.
- Transfer to a paper-lined plate to soak up any excess oil and repeat until all shrimp are fried.
- Next, stir together the buffalo sauce, butter, and honey in a microwave-safe bowl.
- Microwave for about 90 seconds or until butter is melted.
- Stir in cayenne pepper and more Tony’s seasoning; taste and adjust per your spice preference.
- Dump shrimp into a large bowl and pour shrimp over them; toss shrimp with sauce until they’re fully coated.

Why club soda?
The club soda/sparkling water is a critical ingredient tempura batter that can’t be omitted or substituted. It’s what makes the coating lighter and airy.


Hot-Honey Shrimp Tempura
Ingredients
Instructions
-
Season shrimp with Cajun seasoning and set aside.
-
Whisk together the cornstarch, flour, Creole seasoning and Italian seasoning in a bowl; then whisk in the egg and then the club soda until well combined. It's okay to have a few lumps in the batter. If you feel the batter is too thick, add more club soda to get the right consistency.
-
Add oil to a heavy-bottomed pot and heat up to about 350°F over medium-high heat.
-
Dip the shrimp into the batter and then add to the oil to fry for about 2-5 minutes, or until browned.
-
Transfer to a paper-lined plate to soak up any excess oil and repeat until all shrimp are fried.
-
Next, stir together the buffalo sauce, butter, and honey in a microwave-safe bowl.
-
Microwave for about 90 seconds or until butter is melted.
-
Stir in cayenne pepper and more Tony’s seasoning; taste and adjust per your spice preference.
-
Dump shrimp into a large bowl and pour shrimp over them; toss shrimp with sauce until they're fully coated.