Shrimp Cakes

These quick and easy shrimp cakes are juicy, tender, and delicious. Made simple with a food processor and your choice of three cooking methods (on the stove, in the air fryer, or in the oven), they are perfect for a quick lunch or dinner on busy weeknights when you need to throw something together fast.

Enjoy them on their own, pair them with a simple side salad, or make a shrimp cake sandwich. No matter how you serve them, they taste amazing. This recipe makes 6 large shrimp patties but you can play around with the sizes to make more mini cakes or even make double batch because they are that good!

Why You’ll Love Shrimp Cakes

• They’re ready in just 25 minutes. A quick meal is always great. With little prep work and easy clean-up, you’ll love fast it is to make these shrimp cakes. Simply combine all the ingredients. Form patties. Then, throw your shrimp cakes onto a hot pan, air fryer, or oven, and you’re done!
• The best texture and flavor. These shrimp cakes are thick, juicy and tender on the inside with a fluffy and pillowy texture. Plus, they are well-seasoned and loaded with flavor in every bite.
• Fish cakes made with shrimp. Shrimp is the perfect ingredient to put in these fish cakes because they cook quickly and deliver perfectly tender shrimp bits. If you’re a big shrimp fan, you’ll also love Baked Coconut Shrimp and Shrimp Egg Rolls.
• The homemade lemon aioli. You can serve these shrimp fritters with your favorite dipping sauce, but if you are looking for something that compliments it so well, you must try the homemade lemon aoili. It adds just the right amount of citrus that pairs so well with seafood like shrimp.

Ingredient Notes

To make these delicious Shrimp Cakes, you will need the following ingredients (full measurements in the recipe card below):

• shrimp - to prepare the shrimp, cut through the shell along the back with kitchen scissors. Remove the shells and tails, and rinse to remove the veins. Pat dry each shrimp completely with a paper towel.
• breadcrumbs
• carrots
• egg - helps to hold the shrimp cakes together and gives them their fluffiness texture.
• seasoning - ginger, garlic powder, fresh parsley, paprika, salt, and pepper.
• for the lemon aioli - mayonnaise, freshly squeezed lemon juice, and garlic.

You will also need a mixing bowl, food processor (if using), and depending on your cooking method, either a large skillet, air fryer, or quarter sheet baking pan.

How to Make the Best Shrimp Cakes

First prepare by the shrimp patties by combining shrimp, breadcrumbs, carrot, parsley, ginger, egg, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper into a large mixing bowl. Stir well until evenly combined.

Transfer the mixture into a food processor. Pulse mix on and off for 1 minute until coarsely chopped. You can also chop the shrimp by hand into ¼-inch pieces instead and stir everything together.

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Take 1 cup of the shrimp mixture at a time and firmly shape into a large patty. You should make about 6 large patties. Set aside for 5-10 minutes.

Three Ways to Cook Shrimp Cakes

1. To pan fry: Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat for 1 minute. Add the shrimp cakes and cook until nicely browned, about 4-5 minutes on each side. Remove from the skillet and let rest for 5 minutes.
   • You can reduce the amount of oil in the cakes by letting them rest on a clean paper towel. After they appear dry, transfer them to a clean plate.
2. To air fry: Place shrimp cakes in a single layer in the air fryer basket and lightly spray with cooking oil to coat evenly. Air fry at 350F for 13-15 minutes until golden brown and fully cooked through.
3. To bake in the oven: Preheat oven to 350F. Place shrimp cakes on a quarter sheet baking pan and bake for 15-17 minutes until golden brown, flipping the patties halfway during cooking to brown evenly.

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How to Serve

Serve these Shrimp Cakes with your favorite dipping sauce. I like to serve it with a simple lemon aioli. It's easy to make by simply whisking together mayonnaise, lemon juice, and minced garlic in a small mixing bowl. Some other dipping sauces that you can serve these with are:

• Sweet and Sour Sauce
• Creamy Cilantro Lime Dressing
• Tahini Sauce
• Homemade Teriyaki Sauce
• Tzatziki Sauce
• Buffalo Sauce

More Shrimp Recipes

• 30 Best Shrimp Recipes
• Garlic Shrimp Stir Fry
• Grilled Shrimp Salad
• Shrimp Scampi with Zucchini Noodles
• Baked Coconut Shrimp
• Shrimp Egg Rolls

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