How Many Calories are in Calabash Shrimp?

December 22, 2025 •

4 min read

While plain shrimp offers a low-calorie protein source, the preparation method for calabash shrimp adds significant calories, with restaurant versions sometimes containing over 1300 calories per platter. Understanding how many calories are in calabash shrimp requires looking beyond the seafood itself and considering the cooking process, breading, and accompanying sides.

Quick Summary

A serving of calabash shrimp varies significantly in calories based on preparation and portion size. Restaurant platters can contain over 1,300 calories due to frying and large servings.

Key Points

Calories vary widely: The calorie count depends heavily on portion size and preparation method, ranging from a few hundred for a small portion to over 1300 for a restaurant platter.
Frying adds significant calories: While plain shrimp is lean and low in calories, the deep-frying process and breading are the primary sources of extra fat and energy.
Restaurant platters include high-calorie sides: Many restaurant platters come with high-calorie sides like hush puppies and fries, drastically increasing the total calorie count.
Homemade versions offer more control: Cooking calabash shrimp at home allows you to manage ingredients and oil usage, resulting in a potentially lower-calorie meal.
Healthier alternatives exist: To enjoy shrimp with fewer calories, consider grilling, baking, or air-frying instead of deep-frying.

The Calorie Breakdown of Calabash Shrimp

Calabash shrimp is a Southern delicacy known for its light, crispy coating and flash-frying method. The simple act of deep-frying transforms low-calorie, high-protein shrimp into a calorie-dense meal. Uncooked shrimp is naturally lean, with a 3.5-ounce serving (about 100 grams) containing only around 99 calories. However, when prepared Calabash-style, several factors contribute to a significant increase in the final calorie count.

Key factors influencing calorie content:

The Batter: A typical Calabash batter uses self-rising flour, evaporated milk, and eggs. These ingredients all add calories, with the flour and milk contributing carbohydrates and fat.
The Frying Oil: The shrimp are flash-fried in hot oil, usually canola or vegetable oil. The shrimp absorb a portion of this oil, which is very high in calories. The type and amount of oil used can dramatically alter the nutritional profile.
Portion Size: Calabash seafood is traditionally served in generous portions. A handful of shrimp will have a very different calorie count than a full restaurant platter. Small, "popcorn"-style shrimp are common, meaning many pieces can be consumed in one sitting.
Sides and Sauces: The meal is rarely just shrimp. Calabash platters often come with caloric sides like french fries, coleslaw, and hush puppies, along with tartar or cocktail sauce. A side of hush puppies alone can add hundreds of calories.

The Restaurant Calorie Trap

When ordering at a restaurant, the calorie count can be surprisingly high. The focus is on a satisfyingly large meal, not portion control. For example, a calabash popcorn shrimp platter from a place like Fatz Cafe contains a staggering 1,318 calories. The total includes a large portion of fried shrimp plus sides, resulting in a meal that exceeds half of the average person's daily calorie needs. Another example from a different restaurant shows a 6.0 oz portion of calabash shrimp, without sides, having 340 calories. This is still significantly higher than plain shrimp due to the frying process. This illustrates why it's crucial to be aware of what is included in a full platter versus a smaller, a-la-carte serving.

A Closer Look at Homemade vs. Restaurant

Making calabash shrimp at home gives you full control over the ingredients and cooking process, which can lead to a lower-calorie result. A home cook can use less oil, choose a different batter, or use an air fryer. However, even a traditional homemade recipe, when deep-fried, will have a higher calorie count than unbreaded shrimp. A recipe from Spicedblog lists a serving at 559 kcal, still significantly lower than the large restaurant platters.


Preparation Method	Estimated Calories (per serving)	Key Factors Affecting Calories
Plain/Steamed Shrimp	~99 kcal (per 3.5 oz)	No added oil or breading. Calories come almost entirely from the shrimp protein.
Homemade Calabash Shrimp	~559 kcal (per recipe serving)	Lighter, flash-fried breading. Calories from oil, flour, and eggs. Controlled portion size.
Restaurant Calabash Platter	>1300 kcal (per platter)	Large portion size, heavy breading, large amount of frying oil, and high-calorie sides like hush puppies and fries.

Healthier Alternatives to Enjoy Shrimp

For those who enjoy the flavor of shrimp but want to reduce calorie intake, several healthier cooking methods can be used. These options minimize or eliminate the need for calorie-heavy frying oil.

Grilling: This method delivers a smoky flavor with very little added fat. A quick brush of olive oil or a simple spice rub is all that is needed. Grilled shrimp per 3 oz is around 85–95 calories.
Baking or Roasting: Baking shrimp with vegetables and seasonings is another low-calorie approach. You can get a satisfying result without the added fats from frying.
Air Frying: An air fryer can provide a crispy texture similar to deep-frying but with a fraction of the oil. It's an excellent way to achieve a "fried" taste with fewer calories.
Steaming or Boiling: For the lowest possible calorie count, steaming or boiling the shrimp preserves its natural flavor and keeps the calorie content to a minimum, similar to plain shrimp.

Conclusion

Ultimately, how many calories are in calabash shrimp is not a fixed number but a variable influenced by preparation and portion size. While a homemade recipe can be more moderate, large restaurant platters can be exceptionally high in calories due to the frying technique and inclusion of starchy sides. For those aiming for a healthier option, substituting the deep-frying process with grilling, air frying, or steaming is the best approach. Enjoying this Southern classic can be a special treat, but being mindful of preparation and quantity is key for managing your nutritional goals.

Try a delicious homemade version with this Calabash Shrimp Recipe

Frequently Asked Questions

Plain, cooked shrimp contains about 99 calories per 3.5-ounce serving. In contrast, calabash shrimp, which is breaded and deep-fried, has a much higher calorie count due to the added batter and absorbed oil, often starting around 340-559 calories or more per serving.

Restaurant platters are typically high in calories because they feature very large portions of shrimp and are served with calorie-dense side dishes like hush puppies and french fries. For instance, a Fatz Cafe platter contained over 1,300 calories.

Yes, you can make a healthier version at home. Opt for a lighter breading and use alternative cooking methods like air frying, which uses significantly less oil. You can also pair it with healthier, non-fried sides.

The traditional Calabash batter is a light, thin coating often made with self-rising flour, eggs, and evaporated milk. It is designed to be crispy without being overly heavy.

No, the calorie count for fried shrimp can vary widely based on the breading thickness, the amount of oil absorbed, and the portion size. A heavy, beer-battered shrimp will have more calories than a lightly breaded, flash-fried calabash-style one.

To reduce calories, you can switch from evaporated milk to a lower-fat dairy alternative, use an air fryer instead of a deep fryer, or choose a lighter breading option. Using a cooking spray instead of submerging the shrimp in oil can also help.

Yes, while all cooking oils contain calories, the amount of oil absorbed by the shrimp is the main factor. The temperature of the oil is also important; hotter oil leads to less absorption. For example, canola or vegetable oil is often used.