Shrimp in Garlic Sauce

This is so good! When you put shrimp & garlic together you have perfection! I never could find black soy sauce, so I've always used the regular kind. I got this off of the Food Network. This great served with a side of Jasmine rice. You can also serve this with some Asian noodles. Sambal Oelek chili paste is very spicy; you should taste it before you add it to your recipe. Be advised that it can be very hurtful to a small child. Where it calls for the use of a wok 2 different times, I just put some oil in a medium in a medium size skillet, and fry the shrimp in that, saving the wok for making the sauce.

• Ready In: 45 mins
• Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 1  lb large shrimp, peeled (21 to 25 per pound)
• 1  egg white, lightly stirred
• 1⁄4 cup cornstarch
• 1 -2  tablespoon water, may need an additional Tbsp
• 2  cups  vegetable oil, plus
• 1  tablespoon  vegetable oil

• Sauce

• 1⁄4 cup chicken broth
• 1⁄4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1⁄4 cup ketchup
• 3  tablespoons black soy sauce
• 2  tablespoons dry sherry
• 8  garlic cloves, crushed and minced
• 2  tablespoons fresh ginger, finely minced
• 5  tablespoons sugar
• 1  teaspoon  sambal oelek chili paste (or to your taste)
• 1⁄2 cup  sliced fresh water chestnut (optional)
• 1  tablespoon cornstarch, mixed with
• 3  tablespoons cold water
• 1⁄2 cup  sliced on the diagonal into 1/2-inch pieces scallion

Directions

1. Using a cleaver or knife, slice the shrimp from the back, leaving a small donut-hole in the center, essentially butter-flying the shrimp. Be careful not to cut all the way through the shrimp. Rinse away any veins under cold water. Drain well.
2. Place the shrimp in a bowl and add the egg white, the cornstatch and 1 to 2 tablespoons of water. Mix well. The consistency should be silky and the color milky.
3. In a large wok, heat 2 cups of the oil to 280°F or place 1 shrimp in the oil and when bubbles rise from it like Champagne bubbles in a glass,then add the rest of the shrimp. Turn the shrimp gently in the poaching oil. When they are white and fluffy, remove them with a stainless steel strainer or brass metal strainer. Place the cooked shrimp in a colander to drain.
4. In a small saucepan,mix the chicken broth, vinegar, ketchup, soy sauce, sherry, garlic ginger, sugar, and chili paste. Stir well. Bring the garlic sauce to a boil, lower the heat to a simmer.
5. In a clean wok, heat the remaining 1 tablespoons of oil to smoking. Add the sliced water chestnuts and stir-fry for 30 seconds. Add the garlic sauce, stir, and bring to a boil, stirring until thickened. Add the shrimp. Toss and stir a couple of times, until well coated. Stir in one half of the scallions. Top the dish with the other half of the scallions. Serve with Jasmine rice or Asian noodles.