Spanish Garlic Shrimp (Gambas al Ajillo)

Name: Spanish Garlic Shrimp (Gambas al Ajillo)
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 1 pound of shrimp
Ingredients: 4 cloves garlic; 1 pound frozen large shrimp (21-25 count) - thawed, peeled, and deveined; kosher salt to taste; 1 teaspoon hot smoked paprika; ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil; 2 tablespoons dry sherry; 1 tablespoon chopped Italian flat-leaf parsley

Rating: 4.63 stars

72 Ratings
41 Reviews
17 Photos

Every Spanish restaurant serves this dish of shrimp cloaked in garlic-infused olive oil with smoky hints of paprika and a touch of sweetness from sherry. Make sure you have all your ingredients together before you head to the stove since, start to finish, this cooks in mere minutes. It's great for a tapas party, since you can prep everything ahead of time. Just spoon the shrimp and sauce over toasted bread and sprinkle more cayenne and parsley on top to enjoy.

By Chef John

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Recipe Summary

prep:

15 mins

cook:

5 mins

total:

20 mins

Servings:

Yield:

1 pound of shrimp

Nutrition Info

Ingredients

Original recipe yields 4 servings

The ingredient list now reflects the servings specified

4 cloves garlic
1 pound frozen large shrimp (21-25 count) - thawed, peeled, and deveined
kosher salt to taste
1 teaspoon hot smoked paprika (Optional)
¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons dry sherry
1 tablespoon chopped Italian flat-leaf parsley

Directions

Step 1
Slice garlic thinly. Season shrimp with kosher salt and paprika. Mix to coat.

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Step 2
Heat garlic and oil in a skillet over medium heat. Cook until garlic starts to turn golden, about 2 minutes. Add shrimp and increase heat to high. Toss and turn shrimp with tongs until starting to curl but still undercooked, about 2 minutes. Pour in sherry. Cook, stirring continuously, until sauce comes up to a boil and shrimp is cooked through, about 1 minute more. Remove from heat. Stir in parsley with a spoon.

Chef's Notes:

Unless you live in a few choice locations, it's rare to find true fresh shrimp at the market. All they do is thaw some frozen, and put it in the case, where it sits until you buy it, which is why it really makes a lot more sense to purchase frozen. To thaw, run cold water into the bowl of frozen shrimp and let it sit for about 10 minutes before draining. Repeat once more.

Feel free to substitute sherry with white wine plus a pinch of sugar.

This video shows how to properly devein shrimp.

Nutrition Facts

Per Serving:

227 calories; protein 18.8g; carbohydrates 2.5g; fat 15.1g; cholesterol 172.6mg; sodium 344.3mg. Full Nutrition

Reviews (41)

Most helpful positive review

Foodie4life

07/08/2018

This was excellent. Take the time to thinly slice the garlic instead of dice it as it makes a difference (especially if you soak up the sauce with a nice crusty bread, which you definitely should!). Next time, I will make sure I have a better paprika - the regular stuff is fine, but a smoky hot paprika would have been better. I tried to make up the difference with a bit of chipotle tabasco, which was not out of place but could've been better. This is a very simple recipe which I'll definitely make again. Read More

Helpful

(10)

Most helpful critical review

Ence

01/13/2020

I don't gave sherry. Replaced it with wine vinegar and made the recipe a bit sour. Will try again with sherry. Read More

Helpful

(1)

72 Ratings

5 star values: 53
4 star values: 13
3 star values: 4
2 star values: 2
1 star values: 0

Reviews: Most Helpful

Most Helpful Most Positive Least Positive Newest

Foodie4life

07/08/2018

Helpful

(10)

Casablancaise

01/11/2019

Good shrimp dish. Like most shrimp recipes, this one was quick to make. Kind of reminded me of shrimp scampi.. I can't have any alcohol in my food so for sherry I substituted 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar + pinch of sugar. I served over some buttered pasta. Read More

Helpful

(6)

Rob

09/07/2018

Awesome and simple. Read More

Helpful

(4)

Captain Hook

02/01/2020

Great recipe, I've been looking for this right recipe for awhile now! This is the one. Thank you! The smoked paprika knocks it out of the park! Read More

Helpful

(3)

RachaelB

01/28/2020

I lived in southern Spain for 4 years and this brought back great memories. Just as I remembered it! I added one more clove of garlic, though. Spanish Gambas al Ajillo is VERY garlicky. Read More

Helpful

(3)

tcasa

Allstar

11/14/2019

Simple yet satisfying! Quick easy to make, definitely serve with garlic bread to soak up the sauce. This made a great weeknight dinner for us served with bread & a salad. Read More

Helpful

(2)

nancy

08/31/2018

I did make this and it was easy and yummy. Read More

Helpful

(2)

Ence

01/13/2020

I don't gave sherry. Replaced it with wine vinegar and made the recipe a bit sour. Will try again with sherry. Read More

Helpful

(1)

lutzflcat

Allstar

11/05/2018

11.5.18 I watched the video followed the recipe to the letter and although the shrimp were cooked perfectly I m still baffled why I didn t have that sauce to top the shrimp. I d added a crostini to the bottom of the bowl but just didn t have enough sauce to drizzle over the shrimp to moisten the bread. I know I could double the oil and sherry but then I'd be adding a ton of calories and fat as well. Regardless still delicious and quick-and-easy. Read More

More Reviews

Reviews for Photos of Spanish Garlic Shrimp (Gambas al Ajillo)

1 of 41

All Reviews

Awesome and simple.

Great recipe, I've been looking for this right recipe for awhile now! This is the one. Thank you! The smoked paprika knocks it out of the park!

I lived in southern Spain for 4 years and this brought back great memories. Just as I remembered it! I added one more clove of garlic, though. Spanish Gambas al Ajillo is VERY garlicky.

Simple yet satisfying! Quick easy to make, definitely serve with garlic bread to soak up the sauce. This made a great weeknight dinner for us served with bread & a salad.