This is the perfect summer shrimp recipe that is light, with bright flavors, lemony and garlicy shrimp that cooks in minutes on the grill. In the summer, I grill a lot of food on skewers (with sweet shrimp being my favorite). You may want to check out my Chicken Teriyaki Skewers the next time you’re in the mood for grilled chicken, or skewer up some mushrooms and make my Asian Style Mushroom Skewers that make the perfect side dish, as well as my Fried Rice.
Easy Grilled Shrimp Marinade
A quick mix of fresh flavors like lemon zest, fresh lemon juice, garlic, olive oil, salt and pepper makes for a tasty marinade. Note: The most important thing when marinating shrimp in acid liquid like lemon too long is, it can break it down the shrimp meat, so I only recommend a maximum of 1 hour marinating time.
Tips for Buying Shrimp
This also goes for prawns too. It is best to buy shell-on shrimp that have not been peeled or deveined. They tend to have better flavor than those that have been shelled. Avoid any shellfish that smells fishy or like ammonia (this means that they are not fresh) and should smell fresh like the ocean.
Tips for Buying Frozen Shrimp
There are some excellent frozen shrimp or prawn options available. To ensure optimal shrimp quality, I prefer buying frozen shrimp with the shell intact. In my experience, shelled frozen shrimp retain a better texture after thawing.Unshelled frozen shrimp can become watery and less firm. When making shrimp skewers, large shrimp work best as they hold up better to being skewered than small shrimp or even jumbo shrimp. I also like to remove the tails from the raw shrimp so they don’t burn and this makes them easier to eat. Shrimp are sold by count and this is based on their size. For instance with this recipe, I used 21-25 count. This means there are 21 to 25 in 1 pound of shrimp. The lower the number, the larger the shrimp.
Shrimp Dipping Sauce
The lemon ginger sauce is the perfect accompaniment for dipping shrimp. This easy sauce has a sour cream base (you can make it dairy-free or vegan by using your favorite non-dairy sour cream) and utilizes more fresh lemon and fresh ginger, which we know taste so good together along with a touch of honey for slight sweetness. Add some chopped fresh herbs of your choice if you like. Dill would be perfect.
Grilled Shrimp Flavor
Grilling shrimp (or prawns for my U.K friends) is one of the best cooking methods for highlighting the natural sweetness of this simple shellfish. Skewering the shrimp keeps them from fall through rather than trying to balance the shrimp on the grill grate.
Grilling Shrimp
They take just minutes too cook on a hot grill. You’ll know they are ready to turn as soon as the shrimp turn pink, then only need a couple of minutes on the second side.
Metal Skewers vs Wooden Skewers
For easy grilling, I like to thread the shrimp onto skewers. You can use metal or wooden skewers, but it is best to soak wooden skewers in water so they don’t burn.
Leftover Grilled Shrimp
Should you have any leftover, they keep well in an airtight container for up to 2 days. If you’ve made this Grilled Shrimp with Ginger Lemon Dipping Sauce, leave a comment below. I love to hear from my readers.
