Shrimp Skewers · Grilled Garlic Lemon
Grilled Garlic Lemon Shrimp Skewers
Big shrimp tossed with garlic, lemon zest, paprika and olive oil, threaded onto skewers and grilled for just a few minutes a side. Serve them over rice, in tacos or straight off the stick.
- Prep
- 15 min
- Cook
- 6 min
- Total
- 36 min
- Serves
- 4
- Level
- Easy
Ingredients
- 1 ½ lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined, tails on
- 3 tbsp olive oil, plus more for the grates
Swaps for olive oil
Instead of olive oil
- Avocado oil or another neutral oil: The same amount. No olive flavor; avocado oil handles higher heat.
- Butter: The same amount. Richer and nutty when browned.
- A neutral oil + more seasoning: The same amount. Dressings lose the fruity, peppery note; a little extra lemon, garlic or mustard makes up for it.
- 3 cloves garlic, grated
Swaps for garlic
Instead of garlic
- Garlic powder: ⅛ tsp for each clove. Mellower and sweeter, with no bite.
- Jarred minced garlic: ½ tsp for each clove. Milder and slightly sour from the preserving liquid.
- 1 tsp lemon zest
Swaps for lemon zest
Instead of citrus zest
- Another citrus zest: The same amount. A different citrus aroma; any of them brightens a dish.
- Dried citrus peel: 1 tsp dried for each 1 tbsp fresh zest. Milder and a little bitter.
- Lemon or orange extract: About ¼ tsp extract for each 1 tsp zest, to taste. Strong citrus flavor, no texture.
- 1 tsp paprika
Swaps for paprika
Instead of paprika
- Smoked paprika: The same amount. Adds a smoky flavor; lovely in most savory dishes.
- Chili powder: The same amount. Adds cumin, garlic and a little heat.
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes
Swaps for red pepper flakes
Instead of red pepper flakes
- Cayenne: About half as much. Even heat throughout, no flakes.
- Hot sauce or chili crisp: To taste. Hot sauce adds vinegar; chili crisp adds crunch and oil.
- A fresh hot chile: Half a jalapeño or serrano for each ½ tsp. Fresh, green heat.
- ¾ tsp kosher salt
Swaps for kosher salt
Instead of salt
- Table salt or fine sea salt: About half as much as Diamond Crystal kosher, about ¾ as much as Morton kosher. The same saltiness when measured this way.
- Salt by weight: 1 tsp is about 6 grams of table salt, 5 grams of Morton kosher, 3 grams of Diamond Crystal kosher. The most reliable way to swap, especially in baking and brines.
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 1 lemon, cut into wedges
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
Swaps for fresh parsley
Instead of parsley
- Dried parsley: 1 tsp dried for each 1 tbsp chopped fresh (a third as much). Very mild; it adds color more than flavor.
- Cilantro: The same amount. Stronger and citrusy; suits Mexican and Asian dishes.
- Celery leaves or chervil: The same amount. Celery leaves are peppery and grassy; chervil is mild with a hint of anise.
Missing something? Tap Swaps next to an ingredient, or see all substitutions.
Cook to 145°F inside (check with a thermometer).
Steps
- If you use wooden skewers, soak them in water so they don't burn on the grill.⏱ Soak skewers: 15 min
- Pat the shrimp dry and toss them in a bowl with the oil, garlic, lemon zest, paprika, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper. Let them sit while the grill heats, no longer than 30 minutes.
- Heat a grill or grill pan to medium-high, about 400°F to 450°F, and brush the grates with oil.425°F⏱ Heat grill: 10 min
- Thread the shrimp onto the skewers through the thick end and the tail so they lie flat, leaving a little space between them.
- ⏱ Grill side 1: 2 minuntil the bottoms turn pink with light char marks.
Grill (how to grill)
Grill Cook food on a rack over an open fire or burner so it picks up char and smoky flavor. 1. Heat the grill with the lid closed for 10 to 15 minutes, then scrub the grate clean and oil it.2. Set up two zones: one side hot (direct heat), one side with no fire under it (indirect).3. Sear the food over the hot side until it has grill marks.4. Move thick pieces to the cooler side, close the lid and finish cooking.5. Check meat with a thermometer. Done when: Marks are dark brown, not black, and the inside is at its safe temperature. Safety: Grill outdoors only, away from the house. Keep a spray bottle out of it: for flare-ups, move food to the cool side and close the lid. Use a clean plate for cooked food.How to grill over direct and indirect heat: mistakes to avoid - Flip and grill until the shrimp are opaque all the way through and reach 145°F (63°C); they curl into a loose C shape when done.⏱ Grill side 2: 2 min
- Move to a platter, squeeze lemon over the top and sprinkle with parsley.
Tap an underlined word for how to do it, or see all techniques.
Tips
- Lemon juice turns raw shrimp mushy if it sits too long, so the marinade uses zest; squeeze the juice on after grilling.
- Shrimp go from juicy to rubbery fast. A tight O shape means overcooked; pull them at a loose C.
Storage
Refrigerate up to 3 days. Eat cold in salads or warm briefly in a skillet.
How long leftovers keep, and freezing and reheating: leftovers and storage. In season: lemons (December to April).
Quick answers
Answered from this recipe's own storage, make-ahead and swap notes.
Estimated nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 240 1,000 kJ
- Protein
- 35 g
- Carbohydrates
- 3 g
- Fiber
- <1 g
- Sugars
- 0 g
- Fat
- 11 g
- Saturated fat
- 1.5 g
- Sodium
- 530 mg
Whole recipe, 4 servings: about 980 calories.
Estimate from USDA FoodData Central; not medical or dietary advice. Based on 10 of 10 ingredients.
How we estimate
We add up USDA FoodData Central values for each measured ingredient as written and divide by the recipe's 4 servings, so changing the servings or units here doesn't change a serving. Brands, swaps, trimming and cooking all change the real numbers.
Goes well with
Picked by our pairing rules: the same kind of kitchen, room in the oven and on the stove, ready in time, and a balance of starch, vegetables and richness.
- Side Classic Crispy Potato Latkes 55 min The oven and stove are free while the grill does the main. Make it ahead: it keeps. Brings the starch the shrimp skewers don't have.
- Side Tangy Vinegar Coleslaw 1 hr 10 min No cooking: make it while the main cooks. Make it ahead: it keeps. Brings the vegetables the shrimp skewers don't have.
- Dessert Fudgy Double Chocolate Cookies 1 hr 30 min Something rich after a light main. Make it ahead, so it's ready when dinner is.
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Gear for this recipe
- See price on Amazon: Charcoal or gas grill (opens Amazon)
- See price on Amazon: Flat metal skewers (opens Amazon)
- See price on Amazon: Locking tongs (opens Amazon)
- See price on Amazon: Nesting mixing bowls (opens Amazon)
- See price on Amazon: Instant-read thermometer (opens Amazon)
- See price on Amazon: Cast iron grill pan (opens Amazon)
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Cleanup score 4/5 (easy cleanup): 2 things to wash, grill grates, mixing bowl.
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