Crispy Shrimp Fritto Misto (Printable)
Golden battered shrimp and vegetables, finished with lemon and parsley for a bright Italian-style starter or light main.
# Ingredient List:
→ Seafood & Vegetables
01 - 14 oz large raw shrimp, peeled and deveined
02 - 1 small zucchini, sliced into thin rounds
03 - 1 small red bell pepper, cut into strips
04 - 3.5 oz green beans, trimmed
05 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
06 - 3.5 oz baby squid, cleaned and cut into rings (optional)
→ Batter
07 - 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
08 - 1/3 cup corn starch
09 - 1 teaspoon baking powder
10 - 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
11 - 1 cup plus 1 tablespoon sparkling water, ice cold
→ For Frying
12 - Neutral oil, such as sunflower or canola, for deep frying
→ To Serve
13 - 1 lemon, cut into wedges
14 - Fresh parsley, chopped
# Steps:
01 - Gently pat the shrimp and all vegetables dry using paper towels to remove excess moisture.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, whisk together all-purpose flour, corn starch, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add ice-cold sparkling water, stirring until the batter is just combined and slightly lumpy.
03 - Pour neutral oil into a deep fryer or heavy, deep saucepan. Using a kitchen thermometer, heat the oil to 350°F.
04 - Working in batches, dip the shrimp and vegetables into the batter. Allow excess batter to drip off before carefully lowering each piece into the hot oil. Fry for 2 to 3 minutes until they become golden and crisp.
05 - Remove the fried seafood and vegetables using a slotted spoon, transferring them to a plate lined with paper towels. Continue the process with the remaining ingredients, maintaining oil temperature between batches.
06 - Arrange the crispy fritto misto on a serving platter. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley and lemon wedges. Serve immediately while hot.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The sparkling water batter gives everything an airy crunch yet somehow feels almost guilt free.
- You can mix up the vegetables each time and it becomes a whole new dish without fuss.
02 -
- The biggest mishap was letting the batter rest too long—the bubbles disappeared and the coating turned dense instead of light.
- Once I started keeping my sparkling water in the freezer for a few minutes before using, the crisp factor became unbeatable.
03 -
- Whisk your batter just until mixed—overmixing is the enemy of those coveted light air pockets.
- A squeeze of lemon over the just fried fritto brings everything into balance and wakes up the whole dish.