The Secret Ingredient (Marmalade): Orange Peel Shrimp Recipe

Updated August 30, 2018

For all that I write about on this site, you might think that my grandmother and I sit around plucking escargots every time we meet for lunch. But our true tradition is a hedonistic Chinese lunch, with fortune cookie reading-aloud time for dessert. And while some of our other dishes may change depending on the week, the one thing we always order is orange peel shrimp: sweet, spicy, savory, and tart all at once, it's meaty and perfect and the kind of thing I always thought I could never in a million years recreate at home.

How wrong I was.

Thanks to the miracle of marmalade, a sweet-tart orange jam full of bitter citrus rind, I have come up with such an easy version, using stuff I always have on hand: frozen shrimp, honey, soy sauce, garlic. The sauce comes together in 3 minutes, and the shrimp in another 2. I serve the intensely flavored shrimp with plain white rice.

What makes marmalade such a perfect secret ingredient is twofold: flavor, and texture. One jar of high-quality marmalade combines bitterness and sweetness in a classic, time-tested balance that takes a lot of experience to achieve in kitchen. And the texture allows a certain stickiness in the sauce. In short, I imagine making this recipe without marmalade would require a lot more kitchen finesse than making it with it. And armed with this recipe, this week I can invite Mémé over to my house, instead of meeting her out at a restaurant. Now, if only I could master fortune cookies.

Recipe Details

The Secret Ingredient (Marmalade): Orange Peel Shrimp Recipe

Active 20 mins

Total 20 mins

Serves 4 servings

Ingredients

2 teaspoons plus 1/4 cup canola oil
2 cloves garlic, grated
2 scallions, thinly sliced on the angle, plus extra for garnish
1/2 teaspoon dried red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon orange zest
1/4 cup orange marmalade
2 teaspoons honey (preferably orange blossom)
1/4 cup soy sauce
2 tablespoons fresh orange juice
1/2 teaspoon cornstarch, plus 6 tablespoons
Kosher salt
2 pounds 11-15 count shrimp, peeled and deveined, dried on a paper towel

Directions

Heat 2 teaspoons canola oil in small skillet over medium heat. When oil just shimmers, add garlic, scallions, red pepper flakes, and orange zest and cook until fragrant, less than a minute.
Immediately add marmalade, honey, and soy sauce to skillet. Allow to bubble for 1 minutes.
Meanwhile, use small whisk to combine the fresh orange juice and 1/2 teaspoon cornstarch in small bowl. Add slurry to skillet and whisk continuously for 1 final minute until sauce is thick. Set aside.
Toss dry shrimp with remaining cornstarch and pinch of salt. Heat remaining canola oil in wok over medium heat until lightly smoking. Fry shrimp six at a time until orange, curled, and slightly crisp, about 2 minutes, turning once half way through cooking. Drain on paper towel. Repeat for all 4 batches. Add more oil if necessary.
Toss shrimp with orange sauce. Garnish with fresh scallions and orange zest. Serve with plain white rice.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
430	Calories
19g	Fat
32g	Carbs
33g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories	430
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 19g	24%
Saturated Fat 2g	9%
Cholesterol 286mg	95%
Sodium 2191mg	95%
Total Carbohydrate 32g	12%
Dietary Fiber 1g	3%
Total Sugars 16g
Protein 33g
Vitamin C 8mg	38%
Calcium 146mg	11%
Iron 1mg	5%
Potassium 383mg	8%
*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.