Butterfly Shrimp with Bacon is a retro recipe that has graced Chinese restaurant menus going back to the 60s, before I was born.
Similar to early Chinese American dishes like Egg Foo Young, Chop Suey, and Chicken Chow Mein, this recipe barely resembles anything you can find in China, but that doesn’t mean it’s not delicious!
What is Chinese Butterfly Shrimp with Bacon?
Butterfly Shrimp with Bacon is made by layering bacon on a large butterflied shrimp, dipping it in egg, searing in a wok, and serving on a bed of savory ketchup-y onions. Serve this dish with some steamed rice, and you will wonder why you went so long without bacon wrapped butterfly shrimp in your life!
The first time I saw this dish prepared was by my father in a restaurant kitchen.
He would butterfly all the shrimp, arrange them nicely on aluminum foil—six per order—and place slices of bacon on top of each shrimp.
The shrimp then got wrapped flat on the foil, and were stored away in the freezer, ready for whenever a customer placed an order. It was one of my first lessons in restaurant preparation (I also pre-made tons of egg rolls back in the day!)
Shrimp wrapped in bacon was probably not invented by a Chinese chef, but it’s a delicious dish that quickly spread to Chinese restaurant menus.
How Do You Butterfly Shrimp?
Don’t let butterflying shrimp scare you away from this recipe! Luckily, I got a first-hand lesson from my father. After that, I got plenty of practice prepping shrimp in the back room for busy summer weekends. Here are some guidelines and tips for success:
- Buy large shrimp. We use size 15 or larger (15 shrimp per pound). You can also use 16/20 shrimp, which are more readily available and cheaper.
- Shrimp should be headless with the shells on. But make sure the shrimp are not deveined, because a successful butterflied shrimp should have the back of the shrimp intact. You’ll also keep the tails in place for the final dish.
- Tiger shrimp, commonly sold in supermarkets, are often de-veined with the backs cut. Don’t use de-veined shrimp, or you will have a very tough time.
- Use a sharp chef’s knife or paring knife.
Butterfly Shrimp Recipe Instructions
First, butterfly the shrimp:
Peel the shrimp, only leaving the small segment of shell that connects to the tail.
Place the shrimp on its side with its underbelly facing you. Holding the shrimp with one hand, use the tip of your knife to split the tail shell.
Next, use a steady, yet light pressure to push the knife into the shrimp, splitting it evenly down the middle until it just reaches the outer membrane.
No sudden or quick cutting motions, and if you’re a beginner, you can use a cut-proof glove. At this point, you should be able to spread the shrimp out flat on the cutting board. Press the shrimp lightly into the board to flatten it out further if needed, especially on the tail shell.
Next, carefully remove the vein from the middle of the shrimp that runs along the backside. There may also be a vein along the edges of the shrimp from the underside of the shrimp as well. You can use your knife to gently scrape these veins away if you see them. There you have it! A perfectly butterflied shrimp!
Next, assemble the shrimp
Next, rinse the shrimp clean under running water. Pat the shrimp dry with a kitchen towel and return to the cutting board, backside down.
Season the shrimp with a light sprinkle of salt. Cut the slices of bacon to match the length of the shrimp. Gently press them onto the shrimp.
Mix 1 tablespoon soy sauce, 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce, 2 teaspoons tomato ketchup, ¼ teaspoon white pepper, and ½ teaspoon sesame oil in a small bowl. Set aside.
Heat your wok over medium high heat; don’t let the wok get to the point where it’s smoking. Spread 2 tablespoons of oil around the wok to coat it thoroughly. Dip the shrimp into the beaten egg. Let the excess egg drip off, and place the shrimp in the wok, bacon-side down.
Work quickly to place all of the shrimp. Turn up the heat as needed to make sure the egg and bacon cook through.
Cook the bacon-side of the shrimp for 60-90 seconds or until the bacon is golden brown. Carefully use your wok spatula to turn the shrimp and cook for another 30-60 seconds, flipping them in the same order you placed them.
Transfer the shrimp to a plate.
Heat the wok over medium heat and add 1 tablespoon of oil. Retain all of the flavor in the wok from frying the shrimp. Add the minced garlic and onions, and turn the heat up to high.
Stir-fry the onions for 30 seconds, and add the Shaoxing wine.
After another 30 seconds, add the sauce mixture, and stir to coat the onions. Add the scallions.
Cook until the onions are done to your liking. I like them only just cooked through, but you can cook them until they’re totally soft. Plate the onions, and arrange the shrimp on top. Garnish with chopped scallions and serve!
Butterfly Shrimp with Bacon
Ingredients
- 8 large shrimp (shell on, heads removed; size 15 or larger; 9 ounces or 255g total)
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 3 slices bacon (about 70g)
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce (optional)
- 2 teaspoons tomato ketchup
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground white pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil
- 3 tablespoons vegetable oil (or canola oil, divided)
- 1 egg (beaten)
- 1 clove garlic (minced)
- 2 medium yellow onions (sliced, about 350g)
- 1 tablespoon Shaoxing wine
- 2 scallions (cut at an angle into 1-inch pieces, plus more chopped scallions for garnish)
Instructions
Butterfly the Shrimp
- Peel the shrimp, only leaving the small segment of shell that connects to the tail. Place the shrimp on its side with its underbelly facing you. Holding the shrimp with one hand, use the tip of your knife to split the tail shell.
- Next, use a steady, yet light pressure to push the knife into the shrimp, splitting it evenly down the middle until it just reaches the outer membrane. No sudden or quick cutting motions, and if you’re a beginner, you can use a cut-proof glove. At this point, you should be able to spread the shrimp out flat on the cutting board. Press the shrimp lightly into the board to flatten it out further if needed, especially on the tail shell.
- Next, carefully remove the vein from the middle of the shrimp that runs along the backside. There may also be a vein along the edges of the shrimp from the underside of the shrimp as well. You can use your knife to gently scrape these veins away if you see them. There you have it! A perfectly butterflied shrimp!
Assemble the Shrimp
- Next, rinse the shrimp clean under running water. Pat the shrimp dry with a kitchen towel and return to the cutting board, backside down. Season the shrimp with a light sprinkle of salt. Cut the slices of bacon to match the length of the shrimp. Gently press them onto the shrimp.
- Mix 1 tablespoon soy sauce, 1 teaspoon worcestershire sauce, 2 teaspoons tomato ketchup, ¼ teaspoon white pepper, and ½ teaspoon sesame oil in a small bowl. Set aside.
- Heat your wok over medium high heat; don’t let the wok get to the point where it’s smoking. Spread 2 tablespoons of oil around the wok to coat it thoroughly. Dip the shrimp into the beaten egg. Let the excess egg drip off, and place the shrimp in the wok, bacon-side down. Work quickly to place all of the shrimp. Turn up the heat as needed to make sure the egg and bacon cook through.
- Cook the bacon-side of the shrimp for 60-90 seconds or until the bacon is golden brown. Carefully use your wok spatula to turn the shrimp and cook for another 30-60 seconds, flipping them in the same order you placed them. Transfer the shrimp to a plate.
- Heat the wok over medium heat and add 1 tablespoon of oil. Retain all of the flavor in the wok from frying the shrimp. Add the minced garlic and onions, and turn the heat up to high. Stir-fry the onions for 30 seconds, and add the Shaoxing wine. After another 30 seconds, add the sauce mixture, and stir until the onions are coated. Add the scallions.
- Stir-fry until the onions are done to your liking. I like them only just cooked through, but you can cook them until they’re totally soft. Plate the onions, and arrange the shrimp on top. Garnish with chopped scallions and serve!
Nutrition
Apple says
Hi first thank you for the recipes they look delicious but i have a question you see in new york theirs this bbq sauce you can ask the Chinese takeout place to add to your french fries and chicken wing its bright red but supper delicious do you mind telling me what it it ive tried to look for it but no luck i love getting this bright bbq with hot sauce in my french fries and chicken wing 🙂
Bill says
Hi Apple, it sounds like to me that the sauce you describe may have been specific to a restaurant or maybe a particular area. I can’t be sure what it is you’re describing.
Apple says
I think they call it mumbo sauce in Washington dc but since im from new york our is not brown its like a bright red and thank you for the quivk response 🙂
Bill says
Hi Apple, never heard of mumbo sauce, but from your description, it sounds like it may be a sauce similar to what we make for sweet and sour pork or sweet and sour fish!
Ruthann Osborne says
OMG !! WOW !! WOW!! THIS IS IT !! We made this last night exactly as the recipe was written and it was PERFECT, just like I remembered from years ago. As always the instructions were easy to follow . I would suggest double the sauce mixture as it is delicious ! Thank you, thank you for another wonderful recipe and an awesome website. Love the travel blogs too!!
Bill says
Woohoo Ruthann, love to hear such a quick and successful cooking and eating experience at home!
Jeff Goldner says
Smile on my face. One of mom’s favorites – I liked it too!
As always, thanks and best to your family.
Bill says
Thanks Jeff, I know you have seen this dish made to order in the restaurant!
Jodi Fortner says
Dear Bill & Family —
OMG! OMG! HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ME! Thank you, so much!
I’m 68. I’ve been looking for this recipe since I was in my early twenties. Every time I asked about it in a Chinese restaurant they looked at me like I was crazy: shrimp, bacon, ketchup, onions? Yay! I’m so excited! 😊
Plus, you are the only one ever to mention removing that vein along the underbelly, which I always take out. My poor shrimp always end up in halves because I didn’t know about deveining from the underside.
I love Chinese food, I never tire of it. You have the most informative, helpful and thorough website available — I tell everyone about it. I have learned so much from it, before the internet and sites like yours it was difficult to understand different cuisines and ingredients. I just wish I were younger and had the energy to cook (and clean up) more often!
Much love to you and your family. Thank you for all your hard work.
Bill says
Hi Jodi, thank you so much for the kind comment and really hope you enjoy this dish at home!
Kim says
This an interesting dish but tasty. I have not seen it before. This could be a Christmas special. Thank you for the share.
Bill says
Hi Kim, I’m sure that you would enjoy this butterfly shrimp with bacon for the holidays!
Leslie Tong Gache says
I grew up in my family’s restaurant and this was a popular order with the customers. I remember I was put out by the ketchup based sauce but now I have to try this recipe. It looks amazing and I’m longing for a bit of nostalgia.
Bill says
Hi Leslie, I also used to think dishes with ketchup based sauces weren’t good, but this was one of the dishes that changed my mind.
Donna Frost says
This looks like the recipe we used to get at a tiny Chinese restaurant back in the 70s. The restaurant has long since closed. Others opened but we’ve never seen this recipe again. I have something similar in a tiny Chinese cookbook I got back around that time. I look forward to making your recipe.
Bill says
Hi Donna, since you’ve enjoyed this restaurant dish before, I’m sure you will like this recipe!