Author: Maryam Ayres
Time for reading: ~4
minutes
Last Updated:
August 08, 2022
Learn how to cook "How to cook the perfect shrimp on the grill". Delicious recipe.
Grill season is here! Whatever we're talking about, we're sure your neighborhood smells like barbecue in the evening! And yes, there is nothing wrong with that.
But it's time to break the stereotypes a bit and add a spoonful of exoticism to the traditional meat grill.
Kebabs, meatballs, steaks and vegetables are really classics, but how about some shrimp? Yes, and seafood can be included in your menu, and their preparation is super easy and fast. The biggest mistake you can make with them is to overdo them, so trust us - they really happen very quickly! Here are the basic steps you need to follow to prepare the perfect grilled shrimp .
Peeled shrimps are sold in different sizes, so it is best to choose larger ones so that their preparation is as easy as possible and their taste is preserved. If you plan to eat only shrimp, the amount, if cleaned, should be about 500 grams per person, and the shell about a kilogram.
Even if you buy frozen shrimp, they should have been frozen fresh. Good shrimp have a transparent, shiny flesh, and the smell is the best indicator.
If they are fresh, they have a slight smell of the sea. Any strong odor, especially of ammonia (or rotten eggs) indicates that the shrimp are old and should be discarded. In addition, you should not consume shrimp with the smell of chlorine and gasoline, as this is an indicator that they are caught in contaminated areas.
Sometimes shrimp can smell slightly of iodine, which is not dangerous to health and is due to plankton consumed by shrimp. The good thing is that you can easily get rid of the smell of iodine, here's how:
You have the choice of how to prepare them - one way is to clean them completely (both from the shell and the vein that is in them) or to leave them with the shells and clean them during consumption, which also it is not difficult. The second option will prevent them from drying out during baking, but the first is more suitable if you want to marinate them. Either way, it's all a matter of taste. Choose your way and move on. Or you can clean them only from the shell and the vein by cutting them on the back and removing it, but still leave the tails for a more interesting look.
Bet on the classics and the simple flavors - add olive oil, season with butter or barbecue sauce. Shrimp can be spread with this marinade during baking, but you have to be very fast.
You can add different spices and herbs - red pepper and spicy pepper together with garlic are great with butter. And the marinade with lemon juice, coriander, basil and garlic are really very fragrant. Whatever you do, marinate them and leave them for 30 minutes.
Of course, you can scatter them on the grill, but it will be much harder for you to turn them, and there is a risk that the shrimp will fall between the bars of the grill. So stab them on a skewer.
To do this, wet the skewers (this will prevent the wood from burning).
You can string the shrimp directly through the tail and body, this way you will be sure that they will not fall out of the skewer and that they will turn very easily.
Another option is to string them over the back only, but this is suitable for larger shrimp.
The last secret is to heat the grill to the maximum, the goal is to roast the shrimp as quickly as possible. The lower temperature carries the risk of overcooking, which will make them tough and tasteless. Instead, wait for the grill to heat up and then place them. You can test by putting your hand away from the grill, and if you can hold it for 4-5 seconds, then it's time to put the shrimp on it.
Arrange them and cook until they change color. Baking should continue for about 1 minute on each side. In general, shrimp should not be on the grill for more than 2 minutes.
Remember we told you they cook very quickly? Well, it turns out that marinating takes the most time, if I don't count the cleaning, which is a matter of personal choice.