Kick your shrimp dinner up a notch with a fresh lime juice marinade. While lemon juice is typical as a seafood flavoring, lime has a higher acid content and offers a sharper taste. Marinating the shrimp in lime juice eliminates the need for multiple seasoning ingredients, giving your meal a degree of simplicity and you a new taste experience. Cook lime-marinated shrimp on the grill or under the broiler.
Step 1
Cut six limes in quarters and squeeze out about 6 tbsp. of lime juice into a small bowl. Add the olive oil, minced garlic, sea salt and black pepper to the bowl.
Step 2
Mix the marinade ingredients using an electric hand mixer set to low power until the oil emulsifies, or breaks up and combines with the other ingredients.
Step 3
Add 3 lb. of cleaned jumbo or extra large shrimp to a large bowl and pour the lime marinade over the shrimp. Toss to coat the shrimp, then let the shrimp marinate at room temperature for no more than 15 minutes.
Step 4
Set each shrimp on a hot grill grate using tongs to arrange the shrimp directly over the heat source. Grill for about three minutes, then turn the shrimp and grill another two to three minutes or until the center of each shrimp turns opaque.
Step 5
Transfer the shrimp to a serving platter with clean tongs.
Tips and Warnings
- To broil shrimp, arrange your broiler rack so it is 4 to 5 inches from the heat source. Broil the shrimp on a broiler pan for three to five minutes, turning one time as it cooks. For the best taste, purchase fresh or frozen shrimp in the shell, then peel and devein at home. Cook shrimp as soon as possible after you purchase it, as shrimp does not keep well in the refrigerator. Servings per pound will depend on the size of the shrimp, the number of people you are serving and whether shrimp is a main or side dish. As a guide, consider that you will get about 45 shrimp per pound if you purchase medium size shrimp, 23 shrimp per pound if you purchase jumbo shrimp and 28 shrimp per pound if you purchase extra large shrimp.
- If shrimp sits too long in lime marinade, the acid in the juice will start to change protein bonds, squeeze out water, and cause your shrimp to become tough and rubbery. Limit marinating time to no more than 15 minutes.
Things You'll Need
- Kitchen knife
- 6 fresh limes
- 2 mixing bowls
- 1/2 to 3/4 cup olive oil
- 3 to 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp. sea salt
- 1/2 to 1 tsp. black pepper
- Electric hand mixer
- Tongs
- Serving platter
Member Comments