Favorite Super Spicy Lemon Shrimp
skillet seared - these spicy lemon shrimp are fantastic!!
It's been a little longer than I had anticipated since I last updated the blog... but I have been busy celebrating my birthday :) Happy to be back on track and updating now - looking forward to posting more frequently.
I claim most of July to celebrate my birthday because I think we can all agree - one day a year just isn't enough for anyone! We dined out at our favorite crab house - Mike's in Annapolis, MD and had a relaxing lunch at Vola's Dockside Grill on the water in Alexandria, VA. But of course I wanted to celebrate with a surf and turf cookout at my parent's - Caipirinia's, Spicy Lemon Shrimp, Beef and Veggie Kabobs, Watermelon Salad, and Hibiscus Lemon Cupcakes - with my two favorite folks - now that is a great night!! and a wonderful birthday :)
This recipe is adapted from the Cooks Illustrated's Charcoal Grilled Shrimp with Garlic Paste. This has less salt, garlic, and olive oil and skips the lemon juice instead kicking up the flavor with lemon zest and additional sweet paprika. These are great grilled, but being in an apartment - these are also very tasty skillet seared.
To Make Favorite Super Spicy Lemon Shrimp
- 12-16 shrimp (tail on) I use defrosted frozen shrimp
- 1/2 clove garlic, minced (about 1/4 teaspoon)
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1/4 teaspoon cayanne
- 1 1/4 teaspoons sweet paprika
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
Favorite Super Spicy Lemon Shrimp - if using frozen shrimp, defrost by running under warm water, drain, and pat shrimp dry. Make spicy lemon paste - in a medium bowl combine garlic, lemon zest, and salt, mix to combine, add in cayenne, sweet paprika, and olive oil - stir into a thick spicy paste. Once combined, add in the shrimp tossing with your fingers to coat each shrimp in the spicy lemon paste. Let rest for a moment while you warm a large skillet over medium heat. Add shrimp and cook on medium heat for 2 minutes, flip shrimp and cook an additional 2-3 minutes until cooked through (make sure shrimp are cooked but not overdone - best if they reach 145 degrees). These are also great grilled. Enjoy!
