Hey there! I’m super excited to share my favorite jerk shrimp recipe that’ll transport your taste buds straight to the Caribbean. As someone who’s cooked this dish countless times, I can tell ya it’s ridiculously easy to make and absolutely bursting with sweet, spicy, and smoky flavors Let’s dive right in!
What You’ll Need
For the Shrimp:
- 1 pound medium or jumbo shrimp (peeled and deveined)
- Tails on (I prefer keeping them for extra flavor)
For the Jerk Marinade:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce (low sodium)
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon ketchup
- Fresh garlic (minced)
Homemade Jerk Seasoning Mix:
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon chipotle chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon allspice
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- Pinch of cinnamon and nutmeg
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Prep the Shrimp
First things first, let’s get our shrimp ready:
- If using frozen shrimp, thaw completely
- Pat dry with paper towels
- Remove shells (if needed) but keep tails on
- Devein if necessary
2. Make the Marinade
In a bowl mix together
- Combine all marinade ingredients
- Add jerk seasoning mix
- Whisk everything until well combined
3. Marinate the Shrimp
- Place shrimp in a large bowl or zip-lock bag
- Pour marinade over shrimp
- Gently toss to coat evenly
- Marinate for 15-30 minutes (no longer than 60 minutes!)
Cooking Methods
Stovetop Method (My Fave!)
- Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in large skillet over medium-high heat
- Add shrimp and marinade
- Cook 2-3 minutes per side
- Remove when shrimp are pink and opaque
Grilling Method
- Preheat grill to medium-high
- Thread shrimp onto skewers
- Grill 2-3 minutes per side
- Watch carefully to avoid overcooking!
Oven Method
- Preheat oven to 400°F
- Line baking sheet with foil
- Arrange shrimp in single layer
- Bake 6-8 minutes until done
Pro Tips from My Kitchen
- Don’t overcrowd the pan! Cook in batches if needed
- Pat shrimp super dry before marinating
- Keep an eye on cooking time – overcooked shrimp = rubber bands
- Adjust spice levels to your taste
- Fresh lime squeeze before serving = game changer!
Serving Ideas
Here’s how I love serving my jerk shrimp
- Over coconut rice
- In tacos with mango salsa
- On salads
- With grilled pineapple
- In quesadillas
- Over creamy pasta
- As appetizer skewers
Storage Tips
- Keep leftovers in airtight container
- Store in fridge up to 3 days
- Reheat gently to avoid tough texture
- Not recommended for freezing after cooking
Common Questions I Get
Q: Can I use pre-cooked shrimp?
A: Nah, stick with raw shrimp for best results!
Q: Is this really spicy?
A: You can totally control the heat by adjusting the seasonings
Q: What size shrimp works best?
A: Medium (31-40 count) or jumbo both work great
This jerk shrimp recipe has become my go-to for both weeknight dinners and entertaining. It’s quick, easy, and never fails to impress! Give it a try and lemme know how it turns out in your kitchen.
Remember, cooking should be fun and don’t stress too much about getting everything perfect – that’s what makes it feel homemade! Happy cooking!
#cooking #seafood #Caribbean #easyrecipes #dinner
What Exactly Is Jamaican Jerk?
In a culinary context, jerk refers to a Jamaican method of cooking consisting of rubbing a jerk spice mixture into meat, and letting it marinate. Then the food is grilled over coals in a pit to perfection.
Jamaican jerk is the ideal combination of numerous seasonings and spices. It provides a complex mix of fiery, earthy, and sweet flavors.
The seasoning can be used as a dry rub for meats or as a spice blend for your favorite dishes such as braised meats, poultry, fish, rice, pasta, and tofu. It also works with various methods including smoking, grilling, baking, and frying.
This mostly authentic spice blend is simple to prepare. Most of the ingredients are easy to find pantry staples that you can get at your local grocery store. They includes:
- Aromatics – onion and garlic powder.
- Spices – nutmeg, allspice, smoked paprika, and cinnamon.
- Heat – cayenne pepper, red chili flakes, or, if desired, a combination of the two.
- Sugar – just a touch of brown sugar for a well-rounded flavor.
- Seasoning – salt and black pepper.
- Herbs – parsley and thyme.
Many jerk seasonings sold in stores contain powdered habanero, which is particularly spicy for many people. If you make your own Jamaican jerk spice, you can adjust the level of heat by reducing the amount of pepper added.
What You’ll Need for Jerk Shrimp
Were excited to bring you one of the easiest yet tastiest recipes from our shrimp collection. You can make this jerk shrimp at any time as long as you have some raw shrimp, fresh fruits, and other simple seasonings.
This recipe is quite versatile since you can go with raw, frozen, tails on or tails off shrimp. However, we don’t suggest using precooked shrimp since the process of cooking and freezing often makes the seafood overcooked, and it won’t absorb the spices in the same way.
Raw shrimp, on the other hand, are fresh and easy to prepare. They are always our preference.
To prepare our Jamaican jerk seasoning, we used some traditional components and a bit of creativity. Our blend includes onion powder, garlic powder, black pepper, thyme, paprika, cayenne pepper, allspice, and Cajun seasoning.
If you do not enjoy spicy foods, omit cayenne peppers. The dish will be less spicy, but the other flavors will remain.
Once stored in an airtight container, this jerk seasoning can last for one to two years, or until one of the ingredients in the seasoning mix expires. Obviously, check it each time you use it and observe the hue. If the color begins to fade, you should discard the spice.
The freshly cubed mango is mixed with red bell pepper and red onion, then tossed with fresh cilantro. The dressing is bright and refreshing due to an abundance of lime juice, salt, olive oil, and black pepper.
This fresh and fruity mango salad can be prepared while the shrimp are in the oven. And it’s perfect for this and any other summer roasted seafood dishes.
