Spanish Shrimp Recipes

SPANISH GARLIC SHRIMP (GAMBAS AL AJILLO)

Steps:

• Slice garlic thinly. Season shrimp with kosher salt and paprika. Mix to coat.
• Heat garlic and oil in a skillet over medium heat. Cook until garlic starts to turn golden, about 2 minutes. Add shrimp and increase heat to high. Toss and turn shrimp with tongs until starting to curl but still undercooked, about 2 minutes. Pour in sherry. Cook, stirring continuously, until sauce comes up to a boil and shrimp is cooked through, about 1 minute more. Remove from heat. Stir in parsley with a spoon.

GAMBAS AL AJILLO (SPANISH GARLIC SHRIMP RECIPE)

Steps:

• Pat the shrimp dry and season with kosher salt. Set aside for now.
• Heat the extra virgin olive oil over medium heat until shimmering but not smoking. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes. Cook over medium heat up to 60 seconds or until the garlic gains some color (be careful not to burn it).
• Add the shrimp and paprika. Cook briefly, tossing regularly, and watching that the flesh turns opaque with a pearly pink color (about 3 minutes or so; this will depend on the size of the shrimp). Remove the pan from the heat.
• Stir in sherry, lemon juice and parsley.
• Transfer the shrimp and sauce to a serving bowl. Serve with your favorite crusty bread.

SPANISH SHRIMP

Steps:

• Preheat the grill over high heat.
• In a medium bowl, combine the olive oil, garlic, shallots, cumin, paprika, about 1/2 tsp kosher salt, and 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper.
• Add the shrimp and stir to coat the shrimp thoroughly.
• Cover and refrigerate for about 30 minutes.
• Using a small grate grill rack, grill the shrimp for about 1-2 minutes per side or until pink and just cooked through.
• (If you don't have a small grill rack you can also thread the shrimp on skewers to prevent them from falling through your rack.) Remove from the grill and garnish with cilantro and parsley.
• Squeeze lemon juice over the top of the shrimp and serve.

SPANISH SHRIMP AND RICE

Steps:

• Heat the vegetable oil in a large, deep skillet over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic and turmeric and cook until the onion is slightly softened, about 3 minutes. Add the tomato, carrot and bell pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 5 minutes. Sprinkle with 3/4 teaspoon salt, and pepper to taste. Add the shrimp and cook, stirring occasionally, until they begin to turn pink, about 1 minute. Add the rice, 2 cups water and 1/2 tablespoon parsley; bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium low, cover and simmer until the rice is tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from the heat and sprinkle in the peas and the remaining 1/2 tablespoon parsley. Cover and let stand 5 minutes. Fluff the rice mixture with a fork and incorporate the peas and parsley. Season with salt and pepper. Serve with hot sauce.
• Photograph by Christopher Testani

SPANISH GRILLED SHRIMP

Steps:

• For the rice:
• In a large saucepan, sweat garlic, shallot and pepper in oil until softened. Add adobo sauce, tomato paste, rice, wine and broth, give a quick stir. Add saffron. Bring to a boil, cover and reduce heat to low. Cook 15 to 20 minutes, until rice is cooked. Fold in peas.
• For the Shrimp Marinade:
• Blend in garlic, chipotle peppers, the lime juice, olive oil and cilantro in a food processor or blender. Pour over shrimp. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and marinate for 20 minutes.
• Preheat grill over a medium-high.
• Take shrimp out of marinade and cook on grill for about 1 to 1 1/2 minutes or until done. Fill phyllo shells with rice mixture, top with grilled shrimp. Garnish with chives.
• For the Dipping Sauce:
• Combine all ingredients in a large bowl. Mix thoroughly and enjoy

LAST-MINUTE SORT-OF SPANISH SHRIMP

Steps:

• Put the olive oil in a skillet just big enough to hold the shrimp in one layer and turn the heat to low. Add the garlic and adjust the heat so that it barely sizzles; when it colors nicely, add the saffron, chipotle and cumin, and stir for a minute or so. (All of the seasonings can be adjusted to taste.)
• Add the shrimp and season well. Raise the heat a bit and cook, turning once or twice, until firm, 5 minutes or less depending on their size. Garnish and serve.

SPANISH GARLIC SHRIMP

Steps:

• In a large, heavy skillet set over moderately high heat, heat the oil until it is hot.
• Add the garlic and cook, stirring, until it is pale golden.
• Add the red pepper flakes and the shrimp and cook the mixture, stirring, for 1 minute, or until the shrimp are pink and just firm to the touch.
• Sprinkle the shrimp with paprika and cook the mixture, stirring, for 30 seconds.
• Add the sherry, boil the mixture for 30 seconds, and sprinkle with parsley.
• Season the mixture with lemon juice, salt and pepper to taste, and transfer it to a serving bowl.
• Serve at room temperature.

SPANISH SHRIMP

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, combine shrimp, oil, garlic, salt, and red pepper flakes; toss gently. Cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 30 minutes or up to 2 hours.
• Preheat grill to high. Grill shrimp until opaque and firm to the touch, about 3 minutes. Serve immediately with lemon wedges.

SPANISH RICE AND SHRIMP

Steps:

• Bring water to a boil in a saucepan. Add rice mix and 1 tablespoon olive oil. Boil for 1 minute; cover and reduce heat. Simmer until water is absorbed, about 25 minutes.
• Heat remaining olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and saute until just soft, about 2 minutes. Add shrimp, green bell pepper, red bell pepper, and seafood seasoning. Cook, stirring occasionally, until shrimp are bright pink, about 5 minutes.
• Mound rice on each plate; top with a portion of the pepper-shrimp mixture and a generous sprinkling of parsley.

SPANISH-STYLE SHRIMP WITH GARLIC

Steps:

• Sprinkle the shrimp with salt, toss and let sit for 15 minutes.
• Heat the oil over medium heat in a heavy nonstick frying pan, and add the garlic, bay leaf and chile. Cook, stirring, until the garlic begins to color, about one minute. Turn the heat up to medium-high, and add the shrimp. Cook, stirring, until the shrimp turn pink and are cooked through, two to three minutes. Remove from the heat, sprinkle with the parsley and serve.