Dinner: Salt-and-Pepper Shrimp

The ingredient list is short, and the cook time is too. But the flavors? Huge. All it needs is a bowl of white rice." —Dawn Perry, Senior Food Editor Crunchy shrimp (thanks for the help, cornstarch!) gets its zesty, floral heat from Sichuan peppercorns. I

Ingredients

1 1/2 pound shell-on large shrimp
3 tablespoons cornstarch
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided
1 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon Sichuan peppercorns, ground
1 Fresno chile, thinly sliced, seeds removed if desired
1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves with tender stems

Instructions

Using kitchen shears, cut along the backs of shrimp through shells and just deep enough to expose veins; remove veins. Pat shrimp dry. Whisk cornstarch, black pepper, and 3/4 teaspoons salt in a large bowl; add shrimp and toss to coat.
Heat oil in a large skillet over mediumhigh heat. Working in 2 batches, fry shrimp until golden, crisp, and cooked through, about 1 minute per side. Transfer to paper towels and let drain, then toss in a medium bowl with Sichuan peppercorns and remaining 3/4 teaspoons salt. Add chile and cilantro to bowl and toss to combine.

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