This garlic shrimp dish, made with prawns or shrimp, garlic, chile, olive oil, and butter, is a quick and easy appetizer. Or a passed hors-d'oeuvre. Or a cocktail nibble Or a....
Prep Time20 minutesmins
Total Time20 minutesmins
Course: Appetizers
Cuisine: Italian
Servings: 4servings
Calories: 12
Ingredients
21largeshell-on prawns or shrimp, preferably with heads and tails still intact
Extra-virgin olive oil
1fresh hot red chile such as Fresno or Thai, seeded and finely chopped
1garlic clove, finely chopped
1small knobunsalted butter
Sea salt, if desired
Instructions
Rinse the prawns or shrimp and, if desired, peel and devein them, but leave the heads and tails attached, if you dare. (It's preferable to leave everything intact. The shells impart flavor. And the heads and tails make for a more impressive presentation and make the prawns easier to handle. The heads are also awesome for ripping off and sucking.
Heat a few glugs olive oil in a very large skillet. When the oil is very hot but not smoking, throw in the prawns or shrimp and shake the skillet a few times. After 1 minute, throw in the chile and garlic, stir once or twice, and then remove the skillet from the heat. You just need to cook the shellfish 1 to 2 minutes total, depending on their size. Add the butter and tilt the skillet to swirl it as it melts.
Each serving should be 5 garlic shrimp or prawns, so taste the 1 extra to decide whether the rest need a pinch of salt. Divvy the shellfish among the plates and serve immediately.