How to Grill Shrimp Easy, Fast and Delicious

Even if they don't enjoy other seafood, there's rarely anyone who can say that they don't like the delicious taste of well-prepared shrimp. However, even though shrimp may be one of the most popular orders on the menu, not that many people feel like they can take up the challenge of preparing shrimp in their own homes. But, thanks to the following advice and recipes, we assure you that you'll be able to master the art of grilling shrimp regardless of your cooking experience and expertise level.

Always Use Fresh Shrimp

In order to make the most out of your shrimp meal prep, it's crucial that your main ingredients are fresh. In that respect, make it a point to visit a fish market or grocery store as early in the day as possible and get yourself the freshest batch of shrimp available. Meals prepared at home may never manage to reach the deliciousness of restaurant-made shrimp as long as we use frozen shrimp that has to be microwaved first or boiled in water. This practice only takes away a lot of the shrimp's rich flavor and it's no wonder that the final result won't be as satisfying. We should always strive to prepare the shrimp the very day we got our ingredients; otherwise, it can go bad rather quickly.

What to Do About the Shell?

Exploring the different ways to cook the shrimp allows us to experiment with removing the shell or keeping it on. However, when the question is how to grill shrimp at home, the best way to go is to remove the shell; still, the shell around the shrimp's tail should remain intact. It's not 100% necessary to remove the shell from the shrimp prior to grilling, but peeling it is always going to result in a richer taste if there's a marinade involved. The tasty liquids will soak the shrimp a lot better when there's no shell in the way.

Prepare the Shrimp for Grilling

The next step may be a bit more challenging but all it takes is just a little bit of practice and a small sharp knife to do the job properly. Essentially, we have to devein the peeled shrimp. With the said knife, we have to grab the back vein and then pull it from the shrimp while keeping it under cold water. Jumbo and colossal shrimps are the most commonly used in cooking and their vein is rather visible, so this step shouldn't pose too big of a problem to overcome.

Spice Up the Flavor of the Shrimp

We have already mentioned that it would be best to remove the shell from the shrimp for the marinade to penetrate the meat better. Once the shrimp is deveined, it's time to soak it in the marinade of your choice. The easiest way to make the marinade is to mix olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper, and brush the shrimp with this mixture.

Place the Shrimp on a Skewer

To set the stage for shrimp grilling, it's necessary to thread the shrimp on a skewer. Make sure that you stick to the center of the shrimp so that it can grill equally. It doesn't really matter what type of skewers you have, wooden or metal, as both options perform the same.

Proceed to Grill the Shrimp

Once all the prep work is done, all that's left to do is to grill the shrimp. The ideal temperature to grill shrimp is around 350-450°F. For around 5-7 minutes, we have to turn the shrimp over the direct heat – half on one side and a half on the other. The clear sign that the shrimp is done grilling is when the outside turns pink and the inside becomes white. There's no need to push the grilling any further as prolonged exposure to heat for no reason could only make the shrimp meat tough.

Best Grilled Shrimp Recipes to Make at Home

• Grilled Vietnamese Shrimp Noodle Bowl

To start off this recipe, cook, drain and rinse rice vermicelli noodles in cold water. In another medium bowl, mix half a cup of lukewarm water and sugar until the sugar dissolves, and then toss in lime juice, vinegar, fish sauce, and chiles. Use another bowl to mix the lettuce, cucumber, and herbs. Soak the shrimp in the mix of cornstarch, brown sugar, salt and pepper, and grill as previously explained. It's also possible to pan-sear them with a dash of olive oil. Grill/fry some onions and garlic, too, and mix with the shrimp. Serve the shrimp with the salad, noodles, a handful of peanuts, and sauce!

• Rum and Brown Sugar–Glazed Shrimp

Use a small saucepot to mix rum, sugar, and lime juice. Simmer the mixture for a while and then proceed to add mixed cornstarch and water. Keep simmering and whisking the glaze until done. Proceed to prepare the shrimp for grilling as explained. Thread the shrimp together with pieces of pineapple and mango on the skewer. Add salt and pepper according to taste and then brush with the previously made glaze. Once the shrimp is grilled, eat it straight from the skewers or serve with a green salad.

• Grilled Shrimp with Lime Powder

Chop up parsley and garlic and then add them to a pan with some olive oil and lemon juice. Stir and fry for a while. Slowly add salt and pepper until you're happy with the taste. Meanwhile, turn on the grill. Use a large bowl to prepare the marinade. Mix lime powder, a dash of pepper, 1 tsp of salt, and grapeseed oil, and then soak the shrimp in the mixture. Once the shrimp is grilled, serve it together with rice and previously made parsley sauce.

• Grilled Shrimp Pad Thai

To make a sauce for this recipe, mix and stir tamarind puree or paste, palm sugar, and fish sauce in one bowl and set aside. Proceed to grill the shrimp as previously explained. Pan-sear garlic and shallot for a minute, and then add 2 large eggs. Proceed to stir without trying to make scrambled eggs. After the eggs are cooked, proceed to add noodles and half a cup of the sauce. Cook until soft and then gradually add tofu and turnip. Mix everything together and add chives, bean sprouts, and peanuts. Serve everything with shrimp and garnish with ground chilies. Before you find the courage to try grilling shrimp at home, we at Stiltsville Fish Bar welcome you to try out our shrimp specialties together with other seafood delights on the menu. We are certain that our expert chefs will change your mind about seafood and make it your favorite treat when you want to taste something truly amazing. We pride ourselves on delivering top-notch meals and refreshing drinks to our customers together with providing them with an idyllic atmosphere and a relaxed environment that match the taste. Located in the heart of Miami's Sunset Harbor, our customers can enjoy outdoor hammock chairs and indoor dining tables without having to sacrifice the view of the harbor and sunset. Pay us a visit to experience the ideal mix of seafood and sunny setting for yourself. You can also check out our restaurant's menu online if you want to learn more about our offers.