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.

New, no ratings yet0 reviewsby Simmerbee Kitchen

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.

    More for olive oil

  • 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.

    More for garlic

  • 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.

    More for citrus zest

  • 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.

    More for paprika

  • 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.

    More for red pepper flakes

  • 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.

    More for salt

  • 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.

    More for parsley

Missing something? Tap Swaps next to an ingredient, or see all substitutions.

Cook to 145°F inside (check with a thermometer).

Steps

  1. If you use wooden skewers, soak them in water so they don't burn on the grill.
    ⏱ Soak skewers: 15 min
  2. 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.
  3. 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
  4. Thread the shrimp onto the skewers through the thick end and the tail so they lie flat, leaving a little space between them.
  5. 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
    until the bottoms turn pink with light char marks.
    ⏱ Grill side 1: 2 min
  6. 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
  7. 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.

Quick answers

What can I swap?
  • Instead of olive oil: Avocado oil or another neutral oil, the same amount.
  • Instead of garlic: Garlic powder, ⅛ tsp for each clove.

Answered from this recipe's own storage, make-ahead and swap notes.

Estimated nutrition per serving

Calories
240
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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Cleanup score 4/5 (easy cleanup): 2 things to wash, grill grates, mixing bowl.

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