This easy & delicious Bang-Bang Shrimp lettuce cups party recipe is exactly what any New Year’s Eve bash needs. It is also perfect for your inexpensive birthday ideas for adults
The combination of sweet and heat is always a hit with my family and friends!
Plus, it’s great for those guests who are trying to eat healthier!
Shrimp and New Year’s Eve parties go together like cookies and Christmas.
I’m not exactly sure how it became a traditional New Year’s food. I’ve heard some say that it’s lucky to eat it as you ring in a new year, that it symbolizes a wish for a long life. FYI, lobsters, on the other hand are NOT lucky because they move backward.
Apparently, you shouldn’t eat anything that moves or scratches backward (chicken is also out for this reason). If you want to learn more about these superstitions, this is a pretty good resource.
Whether or not the superstitions are true, there are plenty of other good reasons for our Bang-Bang Shrimp Lettuce Cups at your New Year’s Eve party!
The combination of sweet and spicy hits all the right spots on your palate, and the options for garnishes are pretty diverse. Your guests can eat it the way it is or add tasty toppers like sesame seeds or scallions.
Read on to see how to make it, then print out the recipe card to keep handy as you prepare your New Year’s Eve party dishes!
Bang-Bang Shrimp Lettuce Cups
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Ingredients
- 1 lb. of frozen Shrimp Popper or Popcorn Shrimp
- 1 head of Iceberg Lettuce, quartered, washed and leaved carefully separated
- ¼ cup of Thai Sweet Chili Sauce
- ¼ cup of Mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons of Sriracha
- 2 tablespoons of Honey
- Optional garnishes: sesame seeds, julienned carrots, chopped scallions, chopped cilantro, crushed peanuts
Instructions
- Cook the shrimp poppers as per the packet instructions. Usually it is baked in a 450 F oven for 10 to 12 minutes, flipping once.
- While the shrimp cooks, whisk together the Thai chili sauce, mayonnaise, honey and sriracha in a larger bowl until well combined.
- Toss the cooked shrimp poppers in the prepared sauce. Mix well, making sure every shrimp poppers is well coated with the sauce.
- Spoon the shrimp poppers into the lettuce cups and garnish with sesame seeds/ julienned carrots/ chopped scallions/ chopped cilantro/ crushed peanuts.
- Serve straight away with lime wedges. Tastes good warm, cold and at room temperature.
This recipe serves 4.
Print this recipe for later
Bang-Bang Shrimp Lettuce Cups
- 1 lb. of frozen Shrimp Popper or Popcorn Shrimp
- 1 head of Iceberg Lettuce (quartered, washed and leaved carefully separated)
- ¼ cup of Thai Sweet Chili Sauce
- ¼ cup of Mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons of Sriracha
- 2 tablespoons of Honey
- Optional garnishes: sesame seeds (julienned carrots, chopped scallions, chopped cilantro, crushed peanuts)
- Cook the shrimp poppers as per the packet instructions. Usually it is baked in a 450 F oven for [timer minutes=10]10 to 12 minutes[/timer], flipping once.
- While the shrimp cooks, whisk together the Thai chili sauce, mayonnaise, honey and sriracha in a larger bowl until well combined.
- Toss the cooked shrimp poppers in the prepared sauce. Mix well, making sure every shrimp poppers is well coated with the sauce.
- Spoon the shrimp poppers into the lettuce cups and garnish with sesame seeds/ julienned carrots/ chopped scallions/ chopped cilantro/ crushed peanuts.
- Serve straight away with lime wedges. Tastes good warm, cold and at room temperature.
This Bang-Bang Shrimp Lettuce cups recipe is low-carb. If you’re looking for a Whole 30-approved or gluten-free option, use small cooked shrimp instead of the shrimp poppers. In addition to the optional garnishes, I suggest putting out cups or bottles of extra sriracha, sweet chili sauce, and honey in case guests want to increase the sweet or the heat. Not sure how to tell when your shrimp is done cooking? Here’s an easy way to figure it out: C= cooked! Your shrimp will curl up into a “C” shape when they’re done. On the other hand, if they’re making an “O,” they’re overcooked.
When you’re shopping for your shrimp, you’ll notice that there are a few different types: white, pink, and brown. White shrimp is great for this recipe if you want the flavors of the sauces and other ingredients to play a starring role, since it’s a milder tasting shrimp. It’s a bit saltier than the others, though, so keep that in mind. On the other hand, brown shrimp has a deeper and richer flavor profile. It’s ideal for fried dishes, gumbo, and other recipes where you really want the flavor of the shrimp to come through. Pink shrimp is what you usually see in shrimp cocktails. It’s the safe choice if you’re just not sure which one to go with.
Got leftover shrimp? Here are a few other delicious recipes to make, both for your New Year’s Eve party and for your own lunch or dinner.
- Shrimp Wrap Lunch recipe
- Cajun Crawfish & Shrimp Macaroni & Cheese
- Sweet Chilli Shrimp and Scallops Hot Dog Recipe
- Grilled Avocado with Shrimp Salad Recipe
- Mini Shrimp Quiche
Do you have any favorite shrimp recipes that you make for New Year’s Eve? What toppings would you put on our Bang-Bang Shrimp recipe? Share below!
I first tried lettuce cups in South Korea and now can not get enough of them, I want to try the bang bang shrimp as it looks delicious
I am a huge fan of sweet chili sauce and I bet it tastes great with honey. My sister loves shrimp so I am going to share this recipe with her.
This looks delicious. I’ve never heard of bang bang shrimp before. My husband is the shrimp guy in the family I’m sure he’d love this!
We always order the Bang Bang Shrimp appetizer at one of our fave chain restaurants. I cannot wait to try this recipe and make it at home. Thanks for sharing!
I’ve heard that about King’s cake and black eyed pea soup. But bang bang shrimp sounds wonderful for any occasion!
I love Bang Bang Shrimp! In fact, I am about to make a Bang Bang Chicken Pasta…LOL!
I had no idea that lobsters were considered bad luck to eat on the new year. This shrimp sounds tasty AND lucky!
I’ve never had Bang Bang shrimp before but this recipe looks simple! I love that you added lettuce this looks like a great meal to try my husband would love it.
We get this every time we go to bonesfish. It is sooo yummy! I need to try your recipe
I bet my brother would enjoy this. We had Bang Bang Shrimp a few years ago at a local restaurant and he loved it.
These shrimp lettuce cups look really delicious and I bet they would be a hit on New Year’s Eve! Going to have to try to make them up for our at home celebration!
We’re really trying to eat a lot healthy especially during the holidays. This looks not only really tasty but healthy too. We’re trying it!
Oh I’m liking this a lot. The guys tend to like when I make shrimp dishes and the lettuce cups are pretty fun.
I LOVE Bang-Bang Shrimp! It makes for such a great appetizer. I’ll definitely have to cook these Bang-Bang Shrimp lettuce cups for my family holiday party this Sunday.
Didn’t know about that shrimp superstition. Now BB will be sure to have LOTS of shrimp on New Year’s!! BB2U
My kids would just love this. They adore their shrimp. I’d just have to replace shrimp with another meat for mine. I’ve never liked seafood, but I’m a fan of lettuce wraps.
This dish sounds perfect for any occasion. My family and friends will love this new dish we haven’t tried. Putting it in lettuce wraps is perfect.
I always get the Bang Bang Shrimp when I eat at Bonefish Grill. It’s one of my favorite appetizers and I’m looking forward to making it at home with your recipe. Looks delicious!