Start thinking about New Orleans and Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday is March 8), and it won’t be long before you’ve got shrimp on your mind.

Preparation of these party-perfect, Crispy Shrimp in Spicy Cajun Sauce is somewhat similar to how you might make Buffalo wings. Raw shrimp are dredged in a seasoned mixture of self-rising flour, cornstarch and beaten egg, which gets wonderfully crispy when deep-fried.

The golden shrimp are served with a sweet-and-spicy sauce made with hot pepper sauce, mayonnaise and honey, all spiked with a Cajun seasoning blend. The results are as irresistible as a basket of hot wings and even better, there are no bothersome bones to get rid of.

CRISPY SHRIMP IN SPICY CAJUN SAUCE —Yield 6 servings

1 cup reduced-fat mayonnaise1/4 cup honey3-4 teaspoons hot sauce, to taste3 teaspoons Cajun seasoning blend, or to taste3 teaspoons salt, dividedPeanut or vegetable oil, for frying4 large eggs1 1/2 cups self-rising flour, such as Wondra1 cup cornstarch1 1/2 teaspoons ground black pepper2 pounds large, raw shrimp, shells and tails removed3 scallions, green parts only, thinly sliced

Procedure:1. For sauce, in large bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, honey, hot sauce, Cajun seasoning and 1 teaspoon salt. Set aside.2. In large cast-iron skillet or other heavy skillet over medium heat, bring 3/4 inch cooking oil to 350 degrees.3. Meanwhile, in shallow bowl, whisk eggs. In second shallow bowl, whisk together flour, cornstarch, remaining salt and black pepper.4. Working in batches, dip shrimp first into beaten eggs, then into flour mixture to coat well.Fry shrimp in hot oil until golden, about 1 minute per side, adjusting heat as necessary to maintain oil temperature at 350 degrees.5. Use slotted spoon to transfer fried shrimp to plate lined with paper towels.6. Serve shrimp with sauce for dipping.

Nutrition data per serving: 434 calories; 179 calories from fat (41 percent of total calories); 20 g fat (4 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 373 mg cholesterol; 27 g carbohydrate; 36 g protein; 0 g fiber; 992 mg sodium.

Photo by The Associated Press