Description
Zesty Cilantro Lemon Garlic Shrimp arrives at your table as a quick and tangy seafood favorite that sparks conversation. Perfectly seared shrimp dance with bright herbal notes, promising a delightful meal ready in minutes that will have your dinner guests asking for seconds.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 1 lb raw shrimp, peeled and deveined
Aromatics and Seasonings:
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- ¼ teaspoon chili flakes
- Salt and pepper
Liquids and Herbs:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice
- ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
Instructions
- Thaw 1 pound (454 grams) raw shrimp under cold water for 3-4 minutes. Use paper towels to thoroughly dry each shrimp, ensuring a perfect golden sear when cooking.
- Heat a large skillet to 375°F (190°C). Pour 1 tablespoon olive oil and swirl to coat the pan’s surface. Add 2 minced garlic cloves and sauté for exactly 30 seconds until aromatic.
- Arrange shrimp in a single layer across the skillet. Sprinkle ¼ teaspoon salt, 1/8 teaspoon black pepper, and ¼ teaspoon chili flakes over your seafood. Cook 1-2 minutes on first side until bottom edges turn light pink.
- Flip each shrimp and cook opposite side for another 1-2 minutes. Watch carefully to prevent overcooking – shrimp should look just opaque and slightly curled.
- Remove skillet from heat. Immediately scatter 1 tablespoon fresh lemon zest and drizzle 3 tablespoons lemon juice over your shrimp. Toss gently to distribute the bright citrus flavors.
- Garnish with ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro. Stir once more to ensure every shrimp gets coated with herbal, zesty seasoning.
Notes
- Check shrimp freshness by ensuring they smell clean and oceanic, not fishy or ammonia-like.
- Pat shrimp completely dry before seasoning to help achieve a perfect golden sear and prevent steaming.
- For gluten-free diets, replace regular flour with almond or coconut flour when coating the shrimp.
- Adjust spice levels by adding red pepper flakes or reducing garlic according to personal heat preference.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Sautéed
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 110 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 230 mg
- Fat: 4 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 3 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 190 mg