My pepper shrimp recipe is rated H for Hot. Any hotter than this, and this pepper shrimp recipe would be banned for inducing spontaneous combustion LOL!! hahaha.
The Origin of Pepper Shrimp
Pepper shrimp is a recipe that has been influenced by our Chinese heritage on the island, but like all other trini recipes, this one has evolved to a more trini style Chinese recipe in our main stream trini cooking. First of all, the method is a little different (at least how we do it is!) to traditional Chinese cooking. How I like to put it, is that it starts of Chinese but by the end of its cooking the pepper shrimp becomes Trini.
What I would like to think makes Pepper Shrimp very Trini is the amount of ketchup that is used. If you know anything about the trini palate, you'll know that we love ketchup. Added to that, there is also the, distinctly trini, seasonings that we use: there's lots of chadon beni, chive and garlic.
Pepper shrimp is of course peppery and spicy, and to me a bit lava-ish, but being done trini style makes it mouthwateringly delectable. It's like a love/ hate relationship or, as I would put it, a sweet/ hot relationship: you're seduced by the sweet exotic tasting sauce, only to be stung by the peppery end, but you can't stop now because the sauce already has you tootoolbay for more. 🙂
Making Trini Style Pepper Shrimp
For this Trinidad pepper shrimp recipe we're doing it with the shell on, so that the sauce could really soak into the shrimp. Of course you could do it without the shell: it's just a matter of preference. I am very aware that some people don't like to stop to take out the shell when enjoying this spicy shrimp delight. 🙂
This trini style pepper shrimp is a sure winner in our kitchen and once you master it, it will be in yours too. It goes great as a side with fried rice and perhaps anything you could think of: probably with Hops bread too who knows! One thing for sure is that it would surely add some spice to your life! Here's pepper shrimp trinistyle. Enjoy!
The Pepper Shrimp Recipe
Ingredients:
1 lb shrimp
1 tsp soy sauce
1 tbsp grated ginger
1 med. sweet pepper
1 small carrot
1 hot pepper
2 pimento peppers
2 cloves garlic, grated
4 leaves chadon beni, chopped
1 small onion
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 tsp lime juice
2 chives (divided), chopped
1 tbsp. sesame oil
1/2 cup ketchup
water
Method:
Devein the shrimp leaving the shell on.
Wash and drain.
Chop the herbs.
Season with ginger, pimento pepper, garlic, black pepper, chadon beni, lime juice, 1 chive and salt.
Take a fork and scour the sides of the carrot. As you can see, we are doing this to make a pattern. Cut the carrot into 1/8 ” slices
Cut the onion in four. Then cut each piece in half. Separate the onion layers.
Cut up the hot pepper and chive.
Heat the oil in the wok over a medium flame.
Add the hot pepper and fry for 1 minute.
Note: Frying hot pepper releases noxious fumes which can burn your eyes and make you cough and sneeze so be careful. I actually had to take the photograph quickly and run out of the kitchen but I still ended up with watery eyes and had an uncontrollable sneeze! (*sniff, sniff, Achoo!*) lol!
Add the shrimp and stir fry for 1 minute. Add about 1/4 cup of ketchup, soy sauce and a little water…
Then add the onion, chive, sweet pepper and carrots
Add 1/4 cup ketchup and 1/4 cup water. Stir.
Cover and simmer for 2 minutes
The pepper shrimp looks good now. The water has reduced to the right consistency. Garnish with a sprig of chive.
Now you know how to make Trinistyle pepper shrimp. I hope it was a wonderful experience for you.
Pepper Shrimp
Ingredients
- 1 lb. shrimp
- 1 tsp. soy sauce
- 1 tbsp. grated ginger
- 1 med. sweet pepper
- 1 small carrot
- 1 hot pepper
- 2 pimento peppers
- 2 cloves garlic grated
- 4 leaves chadon beni chopped
- 1 small onion
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1/2 tsp. black pepper
- 1 tsp. lime juice
- 2 chives divided, chopped
- 1 tbsp. sesame oil
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- Water
Instructions
- Devein the shrimp leaving the shell on. Wash and drain. Season with ginger, pimento pepper, garlic, black pepper, chadon beni, lime juice, 1 chive and salt.
- Take a fork and scour the sides of the carrot. Note: We are doing this to make a pattern. Cut the carrot into 1/8 ” slices. Cut the onion in four. Then cut each piece in half. Separate the onion layers. Cut up the hot pepper and chive.
- Heat the oil in the wok over a medium flame. Add the hot pepper and fry for 1 minute. Be careful! Add the shrimp and stir fry for 1 minute. Add about 1/4 cup of ketchup, soy sauce and a little water. Then add the onion, chive, sweet pepper and carrots. Add 1/4 cup ketchup and 1/4 cup water. Stir. Cover and simmer for 2 minutes.
- Remove from the flame when the water has reduced to the right consistency. Garnish with a sprig of chive.
See you next week with more trini recipes.
Ah gone! 🙂
P.S. If you liked my pepper shrimp recipe why not leave a comment below.
great recipe, thanks for posting
I made this recipe and it came out quite good. Everyone loved it. They said it tasted better than some restaurants. I added extra pepper and used ginger and garlic in the cooking. I will make it again.
I tried other pepper shrimp recipes but they were never this simple or tasty.
thanks !!:)
omg, this looks sooo easy to make as it looks incredible to taste. Will definitely try this recipe this week…heck tomorrow. Thanks
Hey Felix I trying This tonight! If my mouth catch fire I coming by you for sorrel LOL
looks sooo yummy can’t wait to try this ….thanks 4 sharing !!!!
Looks delicious. Trying this tonight
Looks delicious. Trying this tonight
I made this many times and it’s always delightful and mouth watering! Thank you for the many delicious recipes Felix!
great post
Thanks
Thank u I needed this for tomorrow nite….my contribution to the party….great recipe
Thank you Andrew 🙂
Delish Recipe.
I love your flavours
Best pepper shrimp ever! Was delicious!Thanks for sharing!
This recipe was the best….it was absolutely delicious
Thank you Kerry, much appreciated 🙂
I tried this recipe and it came out gr8. Thanks much 🙂
Easy to follow recipe.
Thank you Camille 🙂
Hey man tried this recipe with the vegetable chow mein….fantastic…this blog is awesome.
glad you liked it Tian 🙂
I’M GOING TO TRY THIS NOW IT LOOKS YUMMI
Ok i just finished making it i added abit of chinese seasoning and salt an it came out really good yummi yum yum lol
Glad you liked it Maria 🙂
This is sooo delish I made it today….can’t wait to the hubby get home.
This is similar to the Shrimp Creole in Louisiana
I made pepper shrimp with the vegetable chow mein for my co-workers and we had it for lunch today. They loved it !!!!
Good for you Joanna. Please tell them where you got the recipe and spread the good news 🙂
Im so glad I found this recipe.simple and great.
Nice recipe
Great recipe. My family loves it. Thanks for sharing.
You’re welcome 🙂
I love your recipes… Thanks for sharing….
Just made this for my Trini wife living in Scotland. She is in heaven, the real deal taste of Trinidad. Thanks.
Hi, This recipe sounds great but I am looking for the recipe for the shrimp cocktail made with a pink sauce. I have been to Trinidad twice first in 1977. I went to a restaurant there and I can’t remember the name for anything. They served it there. The best dish I have ever eaten and I have been looking for this recipe since I left. Any possible way you may know what I am talking about? Or anyone who reads this. Desperate in Texas. Thanks and I love Trini cooking.
Will look into it for you 🙂
As a trini living in Canada. I LOVE your recipes and keep coming back to your site especially for the pepper shrimp recipe! Excellence in cooking! Keep it up!
I tried this recipe and it was delicious. Thank you so much for this wonderful recipe.
You’re welcome Gary 🙂
Fantastic! Love the pictures and steps as well!
tried this recipe and loved it will master it
Love your recipe…been making this for years (very similar to your recipe)..I usually like to quick fry the shrimp in the shell..gives it a nice crunch….??
Thaaaank You!!! wanted to learn to make this for a very long time….kudos!
Used your recipe, it was hands down the best pepper shrimp I have ever had anywhere, even better than restaurant quality.
I tried this pepper shrimp today and it was the best!!! Thank you!
I’ve tried most of your recipes so far including this one and everything is so simple and tasty. Love it!
I tried your recipe, it was very good. Tasted great. Do you have a recipe for a larger quantity of shrimps? Approx 6 lbs of shrimp?
Just take the recipe and multiply by six.
This is the best recipe…I made it about 7years ago and today I searched everywhere to make it again … easy and soooooooo delicious. Thanks! ?
You’re welcome.
Do you, perchance, also have the Trini Chinese version? Had that version years ago at a St. James restaurant..absolutely delicious
You should explain how it tasted …Maybe I’ll have to do some research.
If the trinidad Chinese version is what we get with the red sauce, then this is it. I actually just finished making it. Wish I could have attached a pic
So, I made this today with ur recipe (which was easy to follow and understand) except with 3lbs of shrimp.. it came out amazing and tasted great! Thanks!??
Absolutely delicious recipe. I will try this again😋😋
Trying this today Jan 31 2022
I’m actually seasoning my shrimp right now to cook for lunch tomorrow. I am so excited, I’m sure it will be delicious!
Thank you for this delicious recipe who tastes for the whole family very well !