Description
Bright, zesty, and smoky grilled shrimp skewers marinated in lemon juice, butter, and coarse black pepper. This quick and easy appetizer is perfect for summer parties and comes together in just 20 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 pounds jumbo or extra-large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons lemon zest
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 1 tablespoon freshly cracked coarse black pepper
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
- Flaky sea salt, to taste
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley or cilantro, chopped
Instructions
- Thaw frozen shrimp in cold water if necessary, then pat them completely dry with paper towels.
- In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together olive oil, melted butter, lemon juice, lemon zest, minced garlic, black pepper, cayenne, and a pinch of salt until emulsified.
- Toss the shrimp in the marinade, ensuring they are fully coated. Refrigerate for 15-20 minutes (do not exceed 30 minutes).
- Thread 3-4 shrimp onto each skewer, arranging them in a zig-zag pattern to prevent spinning.
- Preheat grill to medium-high heat (400-450°F / 200-230°C).
- Place skewers on the grill and do not move for 2 minutes to allow for charring.
- Flip skewers and grill for another 1-2 minutes until shrimp are pink, opaque, and curled into a ‘C’ shape.
- Optional: Brush with reserved marinade while grilling for extra gloss.
- Remove from grill, sprinkle with flaky sea salt and fresh parsley, and serve immediately.
Notes
Do not overcook shrimp; they should curl into a ‘C’ shape, not a tight ‘O’. If using wooden skewers, soak them in water for at least 30 minutes before use. Reserve some marinade before adding raw shrimp if you wish to baste, but do not use the marinade that touched raw shrimp as a dipping sauce unless boiled first. Shrimp are best eaten fresh but can be stored in the fridge for up to 2 days.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4 skewers per servin
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 1
- Sodium: 320
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 6
- Carbohydrates: 4
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 28
Keywords: lemon pepper shrimp, grilled shrimp skewers, summer appetizer, quick seafood recipe, party food, gluten-free