Sugar Shrimp Bao with Pickled Cucumbers and Creamy Ginger Lime Sauce
Sugar Shrimp Bao with Pickled Cucumbers and Creamy Ginger Lime Sauce
Ingredients
For the Sugar Shrimp
- 1 pound medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1/4 cup butter, melted
- 1/3 cup light brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons panko breadcrumbs
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon white pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt, or to taste
For the Pickled Cucumbers
- 2 Persian cucumbers, thinly sliced
- 1/4 cup rice vinegar
- 1 1/2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon chili crisp oil
For the Ginger Lime Sauce
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 1 1/2 tablespoons lime juice, from 1 lime
- 1 teaspoon lime zest, from 1 lime
- 2 teaspoons freshly grated ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 1/2 tablespoons honey
- 1 pinch kosher salt
For Assembly
- 8 bao buns, warmed
- 2 tablespoons fresh chives, chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- 1
Preheat your oven to 475°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper for easy cleanup.
⏱️ 10 min•🌡️ 475
- 2
In a shallow dish, combine the light brown sugar, panko breadcrumbs, all-purpose flour, garlic powder, white pepper, ground ginger, cayenne pepper, and 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt. Mix well to ensure all ingredients are evenly distributed.
⏱️ 3 min
- 3
Pat the peeled and deveined shrimp very dry with paper towels. This helps the coating adhere better. In a separate shallow dish, pour the melted butter.
⏱️ 3 min
- 4
Dip each shrimp into the melted butter, allowing any excess to drip off, then immediately dredge it in the sugar mixture, pressing gently to ensure a good coating. Place the coated shrimp in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet.
⏱️ 5 min
- 5
Bake the shrimp for 6 to 8 minutes, or until they are pink, opaque, and caramelized. For extra crispness, you may broil them for an additional 1 to 2 minutes, watching carefully to prevent burning.
⏱️ 8 min•🌡️ 475
- 6
While the shrimp are baking, prepare the pickled cucumbers. In a medium bowl, whisk together the rice vinegar, granulated sugar, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, and chili crisp oil until the sugar and salt are dissolved.
⏱️ 3 min
- 7
Add the thinly sliced Persian cucumbers to the vinegar mixture and toss to coat. Let them sit and pickle for 20 to 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
⏱️ 2 min
- 8
Prepare the ginger lime sauce. In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, lime juice, lime zest, freshly grated ginger, sesame oil, honey, and a pinch of kosher salt until the sauce is smooth and well combined.
⏱️ 4 min
- 9
Cover the ginger lime sauce and refrigerate until ready to use. This can be made ahead of time.
- 10
Warm your bao buns according to package instructions or your preferred method (steamer, microwave).
⏱️ 2 min
- 11
To assemble, open a warm bao bun and fill it with a few slices of the pickled cucumbers, 2 sugar shrimp, and a generous drizzle of the creamy ginger lime sauce.
⏱️ 3 min
- 12
Garnish with chopped fresh chives and serve immediately. Enjoy your Sugar Shrimp Bao!
⏱️ 2 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Sugar Shrimp Bao with Pickled Cucumbers and Creamy Ginger Lime Sauce
For the Sugar Shrimp
- 1 pound medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1/4 cup butter, melted
- 1/3 cup light brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons panko breadcrumbs
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon white pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt, or to taste
For the Pickled Cucumbers
- 2 Persian cucumbers, thinly sliced
- 1/4 cup rice vinegar
- 1 1/2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon chili crisp oil
For the Ginger Lime Sauce
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 1 1/2 tablespoons lime juice, from 1 lime
- 1 teaspoon lime zest, from 1 lime
- 2 teaspoons freshly grated ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 1/2 tablespoons honey
- 1 pinch kosher salt
For Assembly
- 8 bao buns, warmed
- 2 tablespoons fresh chives, chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- 1
Preheat your oven to 475°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper for easy cleanup.
⏱️ 10 min•🌡️ 475 - 2
In a shallow dish, combine the light brown sugar, panko breadcrumbs, all-purpose flour, garlic powder, white pepper, ground ginger, cayenne pepper, and 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt. Mix well to ensure all ingredients are evenly distributed.
⏱️ 3 min - 3
Pat the peeled and deveined shrimp very dry with paper towels. This helps the coating adhere better. In a separate shallow dish, pour the melted butter.
⏱️ 3 min - 4
Dip each shrimp into the melted butter, allowing any excess to drip off, then immediately dredge it in the sugar mixture, pressing gently to ensure a good coating. Place the coated shrimp in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet.
⏱️ 5 min - 5
Bake the shrimp for 6 to 8 minutes, or until they are pink, opaque, and caramelized. For extra crispness, you may broil them for an additional 1 to 2 minutes, watching carefully to prevent burning.
⏱️ 8 min•🌡️ 475 - 6
While the shrimp are baking, prepare the pickled cucumbers. In a medium bowl, whisk together the rice vinegar, granulated sugar, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, and chili crisp oil until the sugar and salt are dissolved.
⏱️ 3 min - 7
Add the thinly sliced Persian cucumbers to the vinegar mixture and toss to coat. Let them sit and pickle for 20 to 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
⏱️ 2 min - 8
Prepare the ginger lime sauce. In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, lime juice, lime zest, freshly grated ginger, sesame oil, honey, and a pinch of kosher salt until the sauce is smooth and well combined.
⏱️ 4 min - 9
Cover the ginger lime sauce and refrigerate until ready to use. This can be made ahead of time.
- 10
Warm your bao buns according to package instructions or your preferred method (steamer, microwave).
⏱️ 2 min - 11
To assemble, open a warm bao bun and fill it with a few slices of the pickled cucumbers, 2 sugar shrimp, and a generous drizzle of the creamy ginger lime sauce.
⏱️ 3 min - 12
Garnish with chopped fresh chives and serve immediately. Enjoy your Sugar Shrimp Bao!
⏱️ 2 min