Air Fryer Thai Shrimp

Thai-style shrimp is all about quick cooking and bold seasoning: the prawns should stay juicy while the sauce brings salt, acidity, sweetness and heat into sharp focus. Here, fish sauce, lime juice, garlic and palm sugar form a punchy glaze that catches lightly in the air fryer at 200°C (390°F), coating the shrimp without weighing them down. Served over jasmine rice with fresh coriander, spring onion and chilli, it has the clean, fragrant finish people expect from Thai-inspired everyday cooking. Fast enough for a weeknight, it still feels bright and complete on the plate.
Cuisine style Thai-style quick dinner
Spice level Mild
Flavor profile Salty • Tangy • Lightly sweet • Mild heat
Techniques Air-frying • Boiling rice
Key equipment Air fryer • Saucepan
Time commitment Under 15 minutes

Why this recipe works

  • Fast cooking: Shrimp cook quickly in the air fryer, making this a practical dinner when time is short.
  • Sharp, savoury balance: Lime juice cuts through the fish sauce and palm sugar, giving the glaze a clean salty-sour finish.
  • Easy to adjust: Extra lime, chilli or fresh herbs can be added at the end to sharpen, warm or freshen the dish.

Get the most out of this recipe

Adjust the heat

  • For less heat: Remove the chilli seeds or use only a small amount as a garnish.
  • For more heat: Add extra sliced chilli just before serving so the heat stays bright and fresh.

Texture tips

  • Keep the shrimp tender: Pull the shrimp from the air fryer as soon as they are opaque and just firm, as they will continue to cook briefly after removal.
  • Use the basket juices: Scrape any cooking juices from the air fryer basket over the shrimp to keep the rice moist and flavourful.

Ingredient notes

  • Fish sauce matters: Fish sauce provides most of the savoury depth, so use one with a clean aroma rather than an overly harsh finish.
  • Soften hard palm sugar: Crush very firm palm sugar before mixing so it dissolves evenly into the lime juice.
  • Finish with lime: Taste after cooking and add a little more lime if the glaze needs a sharper edge.

Make-ahead tips

  • Store rice and shrimp apart: Keep leftovers in separate sealed containers so the rice reheats well and the shrimp does not become tough.
  • Reheat gently: Warm the rice with a splash of water; the shrimp is best eaten cold or only gently reheated.

Equipment you'll need

Ingredients
Instructions
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  1. Rinse the jasmine rice, then add it to a saucepan with the water. Bring to the boil, cover, and cook on the lowest heat for 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and rest, covered, for 5 minutes while you cook the shrimp.
  2. Preheat the air fryer to 200°C (390°F) for 3 minutes. In a mixing bowl, combine the garlic, palm sugar, fish sauce and the juice of the lime, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Add the shrimp and toss to coat.
  3. Air-fry the shrimp in a single layer for 4 to 6 minutes, shaking halfway, until just firm and opaque. Tip into a bowl and scrape over any juices from the basket. Taste and add an extra squeeze of lime if you like it sharper.
  4. Thinly slice the spring onion and red chilli, and roughly chop the fresh coriander. Fluff the rice, then serve with the shrimp and scatter over the spring onion, chilli and coriander. Serve any remaining lime alongside.

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Recipe notes

Tips

  • Do not overcook the shrimp; pull them as soon as they are opaque and just firm, as they will carry on cooking for a minute after you remove them.
  • If the palm sugar is very hard, crush it before mixing so it dissolves quickly in the lime juice.
  • Food safety: shrimp should be fully opaque and piping hot before serving.

Substitutions

  • Replace Fresh coriander with Fresh basil for a sweeter, more aromatic herb finish.
  • Replace Palm sugar with Caster sugar for a cleaner, lighter sweetness.

Storage

  • Refrigerate up to 2 days
  • Refrigerate leftover shrimp and rice separately in sealed containers. Reheat the rice with a splash of water; the shrimp is best eaten cold or gently rewarmed, as overheating makes it tough.

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Air Fryer Thai Shrimp
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Recipe overview

  • Servings: 2 servings
  • Total time: 12min (10min active)
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Cuisine: Thai
  • Allergens:
    Crustaceans Fish
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