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Overhead focus. A Cazuela dish filled with Gambas Al Ajillo.
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Gambas Al Ajillo Recipe (Spanish Garlic Shrimp)

Delicious Spanish garlic shrimp that are fast and easy to make.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Total Time20 minutes
Course: Appetizer, Main Course, Snack
Cuisine: Spanish
Diet: Diabetic, Gluten Free, Low Lactose
Servings: 2 servings
Calories: 472kcal

Equipment

  • 1 small skillet (or 2 small Cazuelas)

Ingredients

  • 1 cup raw shrimp (peeled and deveined (tails on if you prefer that)
  • 3 large garlic cloves (sliced thin)
  • 1 small dried red chili (or a ¼ tsp. red pepper flakes)
  • 6 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
  • ½ tsp. smoked paprika
  • ½ tsp. salt
  • 4 tbsp. lemon juice
  • 2 tbsp. fresh parsley (finely chopped)

Instructions

Prep The Shrimp

  • Pat the shrimp dry with paper towels. Sprinkle on a light layer of salt and set it aside while you slice the garlic and prep the chili.
    Sprinkling raw shrimp lightly with salt.

Infuse The Oil

  • Add olive oil, sliced garlic, and chili to a medium skillet or small cazuela. Set it over low to low-medium heat and cook gently until the garlic smells fragrant and just turns pale golden at the edges. Do not let the garlic brown. It will taste bitter.
    Two Cazuelas filled partway with oil, sliced garlic cloves, and shopped red chilis.

Add Paprika And Shrimp

  • Sprinkle in smoked paprika and stir briefly to distribute the spice evenly. Increase the heat to medium and add shrimp in a single layer so they cook evenly in the oil.
    Adding smoked paprika to the oil, garlic, and chili peppers.

Cook The Shrimp

  • Cook the first side until the shrimp begin to turn pink and curl. Flip and cook just until opaque and cooked through, being careful not to overcook. (Basically, cook them to your liking.)
    Flipping the shrimp to cook evenly.

Make It Saucey

  • Stir in lemon juice to taste. I like a lot of lemon, so I used about 2 tablespoons per Cazuela. You can add the lemon juice with your heart and the spirit of your Spanish ancestors. I promise, it will be yummy.
    Adding lemon juice to the shrimp.

Finish With Parsley

  • Add chopped parsley and taste the sauce. Add a pinch more salt if needed and serve right away. You can transfer the shrimp and oil to a shallow dish, or serve it directly from the pan or Cazuela. Remember, the oil is meant for dipping. But you can also spoon it over veggies or rice for extra flavor.
    Gambas Al Ajillo topped with fresh parsley.

Notes

Please note that the nutrition data given here is a ballpark figure. Exact data is not possible.

Nutrition

Serving: 0.5the recipe | Calories: 472kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 43g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 31g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 149mg | Sodium: 1256mg | Potassium: 218mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 813IU | Vitamin C: 18mg | Calcium: 81mg | Iron: 1mg