Dried Shrimp Recipe
This homemade dried shrimp recipe uses a simple lemon-salt brine, then gently cooks and dehydrates shell-on shrimp until they are dry and brittle. Use the dried shrimp whole or grind them into shrimp powder for soups, stews, broths, and seasoning blends.
Equipment
- Food Dehydrator
Ingredients
- 1 pound shrimp (shells left on)
- 1 quart water
- 1/4 cup kosher salt
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 bay leaf
- half of one lemon (sliced)
Instructions
- Either on the stove top or microwave bring the one quart of water to a simmer. Remove from the heat, add the salt and sugar and stir until dissolved. Add the lemon, garlic and bay leaf. Place in the refrigerator until the liquid is chilled.
- Add the shrimp to the brine and refrigerate for 4 to 6 hours.
- Drain the shrimp and place them in a pot. Add enough water to cover the shrimp. Bring the water to a slow simmer and cook until they are just cooked through, about 5 minutes.
- Drain the shrimp well and discard the other ingredients. Place the shrimp onto your dehydrator trays, ensuring the shrimp are not touching one another.
- Set the dehydrator to 145 degrees and dry them for one hour.
- Reduce the temperature to 120 degrees and continue to dry them until they break apart easily. The drying time will vary depending on the size of your shrimp.
NOTES
- Brining is optional. The brine is there for added flavor, so you can skip it if needed.
- Chill the brine first. Let the brine cool fully before adding the shrimp, then refrigerate them in it for 4 to 6 hours.
- Cook the shrimp gently. Simmer them just until cooked through, about 5 minutes, then drain them well before dehydrating.
- Keep the trays spaced. Arrange the shrimp so they are not touching on the dehydrator trays, or they will not dry evenly.
- Start hot, then lower. Dry at 145 F for 1 hour, then reduce the temperature to 120 F and keep drying until the shrimp break apart easily.
- Expect drying to vary. Total drying time can take up to 10 hours, depending on the size of the shrimp and your dehydrator.
- Store them airtight. Vacuum-sealed dried shrimp can keep for up to 1 year
Nutrition
Calories: 638kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 122g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.03g | Cholesterol: 974mg | Sodium: 38508mg | Potassium: 1606mg | Fiber: 0.04g | Sugar: 32g | Vitamin A: 8IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 450mg | Iron: 4mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation. Nutrition is per serving.
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