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top down picture of shrimp that has been already velveted, on a light blue velvet background, in a glass bowl
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Velvet Shrimp

There’s a little secret in the culinary world called “velveting.” It's the reason why the shrimp in your favorite Chinese restaurant dishes are so incredibly tender and succulent. Today, we’re going to pull back the curtain and teach you how to velvet shrimp at home!
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time5 minutes
Resting Time30 minutes
Total Time40 minutes
Course: Appetizer, Brunch, Dinner, Lunch, Main Course, Salad, Side Dish, Snack
Cuisine: Asian, Chinese, easy
Keyword: asian cuisine, basic chinese food, Basic Prep, chinese technique, cooking tips, home cooking, seafood recipe, shrimp, stir-fry, tender shrimp, velveting
Servings: 4

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 1 lb medium shrimp
  • 1½ tbsp cornstarch
  • 1½ tbsp vegetable oil
  • 1 egg white
  • 1 tbsp Shaoxing wine or dry sherry
  • ½ tsp salt

Instructions

  • To start off, combine the cornstarch, oil, egg white, Shaoxing wine, and salt in a mixing bowl. This forms your marinade.
  • Add your shrimp to the bowl, and gently mix until all the shrimp are coated with the marinade. Let this sit in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to an hour.
  • Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat until the water is at a simmer.
  • Add the marinated shrimp to the simmering water. Stir gently to prevent the shrimp from sticking together.
  • Cook the shrimp until they just turn opaque, usually about 1 minute. Be careful not to overcook them! (They can be slightly undercooked, because you will use them in a stir-fry where they will complete their cooking!)
  • Drain the shrimp immediately and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process.
  • Now your shrimp are velveted and ready to use in your favorite stir-fry recipe!