Hunan is a province in South Central China. The cuisine from this region is renowned for its hot and spicy flavors. Hunan shrimp is a shrimp-based dish that is usually stir fried with a variety of other ingredients. The dish is typically spicy and can be served over rice, vegetables, or eaten on its own.

Chinese cuisine is an ancient one and has several different styles relating to the regions and provinces of that country. Some of the cooking styles include Cantonese, Szechuan, Fujian and Hunan. Ingredients are varied in Hunan cuisine as are the techniques of cooking. Some of the more popular cooking methods include braising, stewing, frying and smoking.

The ingredients included in Hunan shrimp are many and varied, but there is one staple. To maintain the spicy Hunan style, hot chili peppers are almost always included in the preparation and cooking. For those who prefer a less spicy culinary experience, milder chili peppers can be included. Scooping out a portion of the seeds from the chili pepper is another way to make the final meal a little less spicy. Ginger and soy sauce are two other ingredients that can be found in many Hunan shrimp dishes.

Before stir frying Hunan shrimp, a few other ingredients can be added, including onions, garlic, scallions, and pickled chilis. Peanut oil is very often included as well. The shrimp are usually marinated in soy sauce and ginger for 30 to 40 minutes. Sometimes a fortified wine such as sherry can be added for extra taste. A separate sauce consisting of chicken broth, vinegar, salt and pepper is then mixed together.

A small amount of oil is then poured into a wok and the chili peppers are quickly stir fried for a few minutes. The marinade and shrimp are then added and stir fried before adding the broth mixture. The Hunan shrimp is then allowed to cook until slightly pink in color and served with rice or vegetables.

There are many different shrimp dishes and recipes that are popular across the globe, Hunan shrimp included. Chinese cuisine in general has become a sought after meal in many countries, from America to Europe and Africa. Some other shrimp dishes include curried shrimp, grilled shrimp, shrimp casserole and shrimp creole, which is shrimp with creole sauce and is served over rice.