Nilasing na Hipon marinated in gin and deep-fried to golden perfection are the perfect beer match. Crispy and tasty, these drunken shrimp are seriously addictive.
When I first made these crispy fried drunken shrimp for the blog in 2013, I couldn't find small head-on shrimps, so I had to use some pretty large ones. The dish still turned out delicious, but smaller shrimps would have been better as they're crispier and more fun to eat.
On the last day of my Philippine vacation, one of my aunts brought some suahe from the wet market, and they were just the right size. I was so excited about my loot, I quickly proceeded to make nilasing na hipon. Never mind that I had yet to pack my things for my trip home.
My favorite crustaceans didn't disappoint. They were golden, crunchy, sweet-tasting, and flavorful. So addictive with spicy vinegar dip!
Ingredient notes
- Shrimp- I suggest using head-on small shrimp, 51/60 count, for best results.
- Liquor- local lambanog is traditional, but you can also use gin, rum, beer, brandy, or wine.
- Aromatics- add minced garlic and freshly-cracked pepper to the liquor to infuse additional flavor.
- Flour and cornstarch- use a mixture of flour and cornstarch for a light and crispy coating
- Seasonings- I use salt and pepper. Feel free to kick it up and experiment with other dried herbs and spices such as garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne, paprika, dried parsley flakes, Italian seasoning, or curry powder.
- Oil- use a neutral-tasting oil with a high smoke point, such as canola, safflower, grapeseed, avocado, or peanut oil
Cooking tips
- Marinate for no more than an hour as the shrimp will begin to cook off in the alcohol. Drain well and pat dry.
- To make coating easier and quicker, place the shrimp and the seasoned flour in a resealable plastic bag. Seal the bag and shake it until the shrimp are evenly and fully coated.
- For the best texture, fry in enough oil so the shrimp can move and brown evenly. Heat the oil to the optimal temperature range of 350 F to 375 F. Do not overcrowd the pan, and cook in batches as needed.
- Drain the fried shrimp on a wire rack set over a baking sheet to catch oil drips.
How to serve and store
- These crunchy drunken shrimp are a delicious appetizer accompaniment to your favorite beer or hard drinks. They also make a great main dish with steamed rice and spicy vinegar or your choice of dipping sauce.
- As with most fried foods, nilasing na hipon is best enjoyed freshly cooked as they tend to lose crispness over time.
More tasty seafood tapas
Ingredients
- 1 pound small shrimp, head-on (51/60 count)
- ยฝ cup Gin or Rum
- 4 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- ยพ cup flour
- ยผ cup corn starch
- canola oil
Instructions
- With scissors, trim off tendrils of shrimp. Wash and drain well.
- In a bowl, combine shrimp, gin, garlic, 1 teaspoon of the salt, and ยฝ teaspoon of the pepper. Marinate for about 30 minutes. Drain well and discard liquid.
- In a bowl, combine flour, cornstarch, the remaining 1 teaspoon salt and ยฝ teaspoon pepper. Dredge shrimp in the mixture until fully coated.
- In a wide pan over medium heat, heat about 2 inches of oil. Add shrimp individually and deep-fry until golden and crisp.
- With a slotted spoon, remove from oil and drain on a wire rack set over a baking sheet. Serve immediately with spicy vinegar, if desired.
Notes
- Marinate for no more than an hour as the shrimp will begin to cook off in the alcohol. Drain well and pat dry.
- To make coating easier and quicker, place the shrimp and the seasoned flour in a resealable plastic bag. Seal the bag and shake it until the shrimp are evenly and fully coated.
Video
Nutrition Information
โThis website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.โ
Mary walker says
How do you eat these?
cyruz says
ano po portion size nyo per serving? (in metric)
Rita says
Can I use Sake instead of Gin? I only have Sake right now. Thks.
Lalaine Manalo says
Yes, you can ๐
mel says
pwede po kaya dito yung nabalatang hipon ?
thanks po
Lalaine says
Pwede rin ๐