Shrimp Ssam

Delicious and bright with simple, easy to prepare ingredients.

By
Sydney Oland
Sydney Oland: Contributing Writer at Serious Eats
Sydney Oland
Sydney Oland lives in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, where she develops recipes and owns and operates three businesses: a bean-to-bar chocolate company, an ice cream company, and a collective food production space. Previously, she wrote brunch and British food recipe columns for Serious Eats.
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Updated September 28, 2020
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Sydney Oland

This version of a popular Korean dish is delicious and bright, with simple, easy to prepare ingredients. There are many different versions of ssam: grilled meat or fish might be wrapped around cabbage and lettuce, or meat may be the wrapper itself. Ssam are a great food to serve as part of a lively brunch—your guests can pick and choose the ingredients they want to wrap in their lettuce cup. If you're feeling inspired, there are many other additions that can really liven up a simple ssam. A personal favorite of mine are quickly pickled carrots or cucumbers.

When putting together the marinade for the shrimp, tailor it to your tastes. No matter how you serve it, crisp beer is the perfect accompaniment.

Recipe Details

Shrimp Ssam Recipe

Active 25 mins
Total 25 mins
Serves 4 servings
Cook Mode (Keep screen awake)

Ingredients

  • 1 (2-inch) piece ginger, finely chopped (about 4 teaspoons)

  • 3 medium cloves garlic, finely chopped (about 3 teaspoons)

  • 1 bunch cilantro, coarsely chopped divided (about 1 loosely packed cup)

  • 1/4 cup vegetable oil, divided

  • 2 tablespoons chile paste (like sambal or sriracha)

  • 2 pounds peeled and deveined medium raw shrimp

  • 1 head Bibb lettuce

  • 2 limes, cut into wedges

  • 1 bunch scallions, finely sliced

  • Kosher salt

Directions

  1. Combine ginger, garlic, 1/4 cup chopped cilantro, 3 tablespoons vegetable oil and chili paste in a large dish. Toss shrimp in marinade and allow to stand for 15 minutes (or up to 2 hours).

  2. Gently remove each leaf from the head of Bibb lettuce and arrange on a platter. Place remaining cilantro, limes and chopped scallions in small bowls.

  3. When ready to eat heat remaining oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. When oil is shimmering add shrimp in single layer and cook until first side is pink and spotty, 1 to 2 minutes. Flip shrimp and cook until second side is pink and shrimp is cooked through, 1 to 2 minutes longer. Season to taste with salt. Place in a serving dish and serve passing along with lettuce, scallions, cilantro and limes so that everyone can make their own lettuce wrap.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
423Calories
18gFat
11gCarbs
53gProtein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories423
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 18g23%
Saturated Fat 2g11%
Cholesterol 478mg159%
Sodium 2350mg102%
Total Carbohydrate 11g4%
Dietary Fiber 2g6%
Total Sugars 2g
Protein 53g
Vitamin C 19mg96%
Calcium 257mg20%
Iron 2mg11%
Potassium 711mg15%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

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