Description
Mexican coastal charm meets grilled margarita shrimp skewers with zesty lime and tequila marinade. Packed with robust flavors, these succulent shrimp promise a quick, delightful meal you can savor with friends.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (454 g) raw extra jumbo shrimp (16–20 per lb), peeled and deveined
- ⅓ cup (79 ml) olive oil
- 2 large garlic cloves, roughly chopped
- 2 tsps brown sugar
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp minced jalapeno
- 2 tsps tequila (optional)
- Thin slices of fresh lime (for skewers)
- Chopped cilantro
- Wedges of fresh lime (for serving)
Instructions
- Skewer Preparation: Immerse wooden skewers in water for 30 minutes to prevent charring during grilling.
- Shrimp Marinade: Blend olive oil, garlic, jalapeno, brown sugar, smoked paprika, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, salt, and black pepper into a smooth, vibrant mixture using an immersion blender or food processor.
- Seasoning Process: Thoroughly coat shrimp with the prepared marinade, ensuring complete coverage. Optionally, incorporate tequila for enhanced flavor complexity.
- Marination: Refrigerate seasoned shrimp for 2-3 hours, gently redistributing marinade midway to guarantee uniform seasoning.
- Grill Setup: Preheat grill to medium-high temperature, cleaning and oiling grates to prevent sticking.
- Skewering: Thread marinated shrimp onto pre-soaked skewers, strategically inserting lime slices between each shrimp for visual appeal and citrus infusion.
- Grilling: Cook skewers for 3-4 minutes per side, watching carefully to achieve perfect charring without overcooking.
- Serving: Transfer grilled skewers to a platter, garnish generously with chopped cilantro, and accompany with lime wedges for additional citrus zest.
Notes
- Soak Skewers Smartly: Prevent burning by submerging wooden skewers in water for at least 30 minutes before grilling.
- Marinate Magic: Let shrimp soak in the flavorful marinade for 2-3 hours, mixing halfway to ensure maximum taste penetration.
- Grill with Precision: Cook shrimp quickly over medium-high heat, watching carefully to avoid overcooking – 3-4 minutes per side is perfect.
- Citrus Boost: Add fresh lime slices between shrimp and squeeze extra wedges before serving to elevate the bright, zesty flavor profile.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 350 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 8 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 190 mg