Shrimp with Chorizo

Barcelona is one of those destinations that take over my dreams—I can only imagine the magic in the air as residents revel into the twilight hours sipping wine and eating tapas. So. Many. Tapas. While I’m nowhere near being able to travel there anytime soon, making this shrimp with chorizo is the next best thing.

With a few minor executional tweaks (predominantly revolving around cook times), this would be the perfect shrimp dish. My chorizo needed a little bit longer to brown and render out, my shrimp needed another few moments to become opaque, and perhaps I needed to squeeze two lemons instead of one to get brighter notes of citrus throughout the sauce. I could’ve also ditched the parsley; it added nothing except subtle tastes of green in a few bites.

Nevertheless, the final product was wildly satisfying. There was plenty of heat, just enough citrus to make my tastebuds sing, and tons of hearty protein to keep me feeling full and energized. No wonder everyone in Barcelona can keep going at all hours of the night! I served it with roughly mashed butternut squash. I thought its sweetness would be a nice complement to the bright, heat-filled shrimp (and I was right).

This recipe preparation for shrimp with chorizo is easy and quick to make. I removed most of the fat released from cooking the chorizo and left just a film on the bottom of the pan. I wanted more sauce, though, than the recipe made so I drizzled the oil I removed from the chorizo and a splash of dry sherry into the pan with the chorizo and lemon juice after I cooked the shrimp. I served it on top of creamy grits and a side of pan-fried green beans plus some homemade ciabatta bread for dinner. I can see making this another time as a hearty appetizer. The zesty flavor from the chorizo really shines with lemon and zips up the flavor of the shrimp.

If you’re looking for a quick and tasty meal, this shrimp with chorizo is it. I loved the combination of the shrimp, sliced garlic, and chorizo. The mix of textures was wonderful—the freshness of the shrimp, the crisp chorizo, the garlic slices. And don’t forget the grilled lemons to squeeze on top. (They make a nice presentation as well.) This took about 1/2 hour from start to finish. It was great as a main but I could also see it as an appetizer with one or two shrimp and two slices of chorizo on a plate. Or a bowl of this for people to munch on (with toothpicks). As a main, serve a crisp green salad with a lemon vinaigrette to complement this dish.

I cooked this dish for my dinner and had it the next day for lunch at work and let me tell you something, it tasted better the next day. You can use this recipe as an appetizer or as a main dish. The spiciness of the chile pepper flakes plus the chorizo added an extra layer of flavor to the shrimp. I put it over toasted whole wheat bread and it paired perfectly with the juices and chopped parsley. It was delicious. The next day for my lunch, I ate the shrimp with chorizo over a bed of pasta with an arugula and sweet lettuce salad and it was over the top.

My finished shrimp with chorizo didn’t look like the photo because my dish had very little liquid. My chorizo, oddly, didn’t release any oil, even though it was butcher-made, raw, and pork. It definitely would have benefited from some oil and perhaps another squeeze of lemon. That said, the flavors were wonderful: fresh shrimp, crisp chorizo, garlic, chiles, and the bright parsley. So tasty when served with a crusty pain d’epi.

You’ll genuinely enjoy the flavors of this shrimp with chorizo—it’s smoky, salty, and citrusy, all blending together very well. The chorizo adds great flavor to the dish and with the shrimp and garlic it is like “a marriage made in heaven.” I would serve this as a complete meal with brown, yellow, or white rice, and a side vegetable such as string beans, roasted red peppers, sautéed zucchini, or any other vegetable of your choice. Roasted potatoes could be served in lieu of the rice. Alone, with just the crusty bread, you would have a perfect tapa or starter course.

This shrimp with chorizo was so good. It came together pretty quickly for how great it turns out. The flavors are layered and savory, and the lemon adds a unique little jolt at the end. I think it would make a fun shrimp tapa to throw together for a night with friends (and good drinks). And I definitely wiped up my plate with my crusty sourdough toast!

This shrimp with chorizo was an easy-to-put-together dish that’s super impressive. If you’re looking for a quick, stunning nosh with afternoon drinks, look no further. I live in the Basque capital, so I usually have all these ingredients on hand. This will be on repeat all summer at my house!