Description
Mediterranean-inspired Spicy Lemon Garlic Shrimp sizzles with zesty flavors that dance across palates. Quick and elegant, this dish promises restaurant-quality excitement in mere minutes for hungry diners craving bold, fresh seafood.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 1 lb (454 grams) large shrimp, peeled and deveined
Spices and Seasonings:
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon sesame seeds (optional)
Cooking and Flavor Enhancers:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (or butter)
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon honey (or brown sugar)
- Juice of 1 lemon (plus extra wedges for serving)
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce (optional)
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley (for garnish)
Instructions
- Thoroughly blot shrimp with paper towels to remove excess moisture, ensuring crisp searing. Generously season with salt, cracked black pepper, smoky paprika, and fiery red pepper flakes, massaging spices into each morsel.
- Ignite a large skillet over medium-high temperature, introducing olive oil or butter. Once shimmering, introduce minced garlic, swirling continuously for approximately 30 seconds until fragrant and golden.
- Carefully arrange seasoned shrimp in a single, uncrowded layer across the skillet. Allow each side to caramelize for 2-3 minutes, transforming from translucent to vibrant pink, maintaining delicate texture.
- Reduce flame to low, incorporating umami-rich soy sauce, sweet honey, and bright lemon juice. Gently tumble shrimp within the glistening sauce, permitting flavors to meld for an additional 1-2 minutes.
- Extinguish heat, adorning the dish with verdant chopped parsley and nutty sesame seeds. Plate immediately alongside complementary starches like fluffy rice, tender pasta, or charred vegetables.
Notes
- Ensure shrimp are completely dry before seasoning to achieve a perfect sear and prevent steaming.
- Adjust spice levels by increasing or decreasing red pepper flakes for personal heat preference.
- Use high-quality, fresh shrimp for the best flavor and texture, preferably wild-caught or sustainably sourced.
- This dish works wonderfully as a low-carb option when served over cauliflower rice or zucchini noodles for keto dieters.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 220 mg