Fried shrimp is a delicious snack food, but the calories and fat are not quite as appetizing. This spicy oven-fried shrimp recipe is light and crispy with half the calories. The low-fat bleu cheese dip that accompanies this addictive appetizer can also be used as a salad dressing or a topping for a baked potato.

Serves 4

Ingredients:

16 Extra jumbo shrimp, uncooked, peeled and deveined with tails on

In a small bowl mix together the following, then dump on a large plate:
½ cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 tablespoon cayenne pepper (cut back to a teaspoon if you don't like heat)
1 teaspoon of chili powder
½ teaspoon of crushed red pepper

In a medium size bowl, whip together:
¼ cup egg substitute OR 1 large egg
½ cup skim milk
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
1 tablespoon of hot sauce

In a small bowl, mix together the following, then dump on a large plate:
½ cup seasoned breadcrumbs
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon dried parsley

You will also need an additional 3 Tablespoons of hot sauce.

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Line a baking sheet with foil and spray with cooking spray. Line up the three mixtures next to the baking sheet with the flour mixture the farthest away and the breadcrumbs closest to the sheet. One at a time, lightly dredge the shrimp in flour mixture, then egg mixture, then the breadcrumbs. Make sure to knock off all excess mixtures from the shrimp. Place shrimp on baking tray spaced apart evenly. Bake the shrimp for 5 minutes. Remove from the oven and baste each shrimp with hot sauce. Turn oven to broil, and bake for 2 more minutes or until shrimp is translucent.
While the shrimp are in the oven, make the bleu cheese dip.

Ingredients:
1/2 cup low-fat mayonnaise
1/2 cup part skim ricotta
2 tablespoons Greek yogurt
3 tablespoons fat-free buttermilk
1 tablespoon lemon juice  
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
¾ cup bleu cheese crumbles
1 tablespoon fresh parsley

Instructions:
Whisk all the ingredients together except bleu cheese and parsley. If mixture seems thick, add a another tablespoon buttermilk. Add bleu cheese and use the whisk to mash it into the mixture. With some bleu cheese crumbles still visible, whisk in parsley. Chill dressing until you are ready to serve the shrimp. Arrange the shrimp on a platter with celery and carrot sticks, and serve dip on the side.

Chicken can also be used instead of shrimp, but the cooking time will need to be adjusted. The internal temperature of the chicken must reach 165 degrees.