How to Make Homemade Prawn Crackers

prawn crackers
Getty Images / Максим Крысанов
  • 01 of 07

    Prawn Crackers or Shrimp Chips

    Prawn crackers in bowl on wooden table
    Craig Holmes / Getty Images

    Prawn crackers (also called prawn-flavored crackers or shrimp chips) are tasty prawn-flavored chips that puff up when deep-fried.

    Prawn crackers are very addictive despite the fact that their texture has been compared to Styrofoam. They make a great snack food for kids and adults alike and go very well with beer.

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  • 02 of 07

    What You Will Need

    • A package of prawn-flavored crackers 
    • A wok or other equipment for deep-frying
    • Oil for deep-frying
    • Wooden chopstick or deep-fry thermometer
    • Strainer
    • Paper towels
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  • 03 of 07

    Heating the Oil for Deep-Frying

    Heating oil for frying
    The Spruce / Rhonda Parkinson

    Heat the oil to 360 F/182 C to deep-fry the prawn chips.

    To find out if the oil is hot enough either use a deep-fry thermometer or place a cooking chopstick or a wooden spoon upright in the middle of the wok (as shown in the photo). If bubbles start forming around the chopstick or wooden spoon immediately, the oil is ready.

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  • 04 of 07

    Adding the Prawn Crackers to the Oil

    Deep-frying prawn flavored crackers
    The Spruce / Rhonda Parkinson

    Carefully place 5 to 6 chips in the hot oil, separating them if needed. Adding more than that can overcrowd the wok and lower the oil temperature, making the crackers taste greasy.

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  • 05 of 07

    Deep-Frying the Prawn Crackers

    Deep-frying prawn crackers
    The Spruce / Rhonda Parkinson

    Deep-fry the chips for 5 seconds or less (until they puff up).

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  • 06 of 07

    Draining the Prawn Crackers

    Draining deep-fried prawn crackers
    The Spruce / Rhonda Parkinson

    Remove the prawn crackers from the wok—it's easiest to do this quickly if you have a strainer. Drain the prawn crackers on paper towels. Use a fresh paper towel to drain each batch of chips.

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  • 07 of 07

    Serve the Prawn Crackers

    Deep-fried prawn crackers (prawn chips, prawn flavored crackers)
    The Spruce / Rhonda Parkinson

    Prawn crackers taste best served warm. If not serving immediately, store in a sealed container and briefly reheat in the oven before serving.

    Peanut sauce is the traditional accompaniment for prawn crackers.

    What to drink with prawn crackers? Beer, of course, or perhaps a Johannesburg Reisling.