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Hawaiian Garlic Shrimp: A Taste of the Islands

Hawaiian Garlic Shrimp is a simple yet unforgettable dish that brings the tropical flavors of the islands right to your kitchen. Known for its rich, buttery garlic sauce and perfectly cooked shrimp, this recipe is a nod to the famous Hawaiian shrimp trucks that have become an iconic part of the island’s culinary culture. If you’ve ever visited Hawaii or seen the shrimp trucks lining the roads, you’ll understand the allure of this dish—it’s bursting with flavor and always served hot and fresh. Whether you’re making it for a weeknight dinner or a weekend treat, Hawaiian Garlic Shrimp promises to transport your taste buds to a sun-kissed beach with every bite.

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Hawaiian Garlic Shrimp: A Taste of the Islands

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🍤🌺 Hawaiian Garlic Shrimp brings the flavor of the islands to your kitchen! 🌊✨ Sweet, tender shrimp cooked in a buttery garlic sauce, packed with island-inspired goodness. 🌴 Perfect for seafood lovers or anyone craving a taste of Hawaii in every bite! 😍🍽️

#HawaiianShrimp #GarlicButterShrimp #TasteOfParadise #IslandFlavors #SeafoodObsession #TropicalDelight #HawaiianEats #GarlicLovers #QuickMeals #DeliciousAndEasy 🍤🌺

  • Total Time: 25 minutes
  • Yield: 5 servings 1x

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 lb shrimp (deveined)
  • 2 tablespoons glutinous rice flour (or all-purpose flour)
  • 1 tablespoon paprika
  • ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1 ½ teaspoons salt
  • 8 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • ½ cup garlic, minced (about 2 heads of garlic)
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
  • 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, minced (for garnish)

Instructions

Step 1: Prepare the Shrimp

Before you begin cooking, make sure your shrimp are properly cleaned and deveined. You can choose to peel the shrimp, leaving the tails on for a more rustic presentation, or leave the shells on for extra flavor. Once the shrimp are cleaned, pat them dry with a paper towel to remove any excess moisture. This step is crucial because it helps the seasoning coat the shrimp evenly, ensuring a crisp, flavorful exterior.

Step 2: Coat the Shrimp

In a mixing bowl, combine the glutinous rice flour (or all-purpose flour), paprika, cayenne pepper, and salt. Toss the shrimp in this mixture until they are evenly coated. The thin layer of flour helps to give the shrimp a light crispy texture when cooked and allows the seasonings to stick to each shrimp. Set the coated shrimp aside and get ready to cook!

Step 3: Cook the Garlic Butter

In a medium skillet, melt the unsalted butter over medium heat. Once the butter is melted, add the minced garlic. Watch carefully as the garlic cooks, stirring frequently. You want the garlic to become fragrant and lightly golden brown, but not burnt. This should take about 2 minutes. When the garlic is cooked to perfection, remove the skillet from the heat and set it aside.

Step 4: Cook the Shrimp

In the same skillet, add olive oil and heat it over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot, add the shrimp in a single layer. It’s important not to overcrowd the skillet, so you may need to cook the shrimp in batches. Let the shrimp cook for about 1-2 minutes on each side until they are golden and crispy. The shrimp should turn pink and opaque when they are fully cooked, and the thickest part of the shrimp should no longer be translucent.

Step 5: Combine and Toss

Once all the shrimp are cooked, pour the garlic butter back into the skillet. Toss the shrimp in the garlic butter until they are well-coated. The shrimp will absorb the buttery, garlicky goodness, making each bite rich and flavorful. At this point, you can taste the shrimp and adjust the seasoning if needed.

Step 6: Serve and Garnish

To finish the dish, drizzle the shrimp with freshly squeezed lemon juice and garnish with minced parsley. The lemon juice adds a bright, tangy note that cuts through the richness of the garlic butter, while the parsley brings a fresh, herbaceous element to the dish. Serve the Hawaiian Garlic Shrimp immediately, and enjoy the warm, savory flavors!

Notes

  • Pat shrimp dry before coating to avoid clumping.
  • Cook garlic until golden, but not burnt.
  • Don’t overcrowd the pan when cooking shrimp; cook in batches if needed.
  • Finish with fresh lemon juice for brightness.
  • Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
  • Author: Rosa
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes

In this recipe, large succulent shrimp are coated in a flavorful spice mixture, sautéed until golden and crisp, and then tossed in a rich, buttery garlic sauce that will make your mouth water. The addition of fresh parsley and a squeeze of lemon juice at the end brings a delightful brightness to the dish, making it an absolute crowd-pleaser. Hawaiian Garlic Shrimp is a perfect example of how simple ingredients, when combined with the right techniques, can create a dish that’s both comforting and exciting.

Ingredients: What You’ll Need

To make this delectable Hawaiian Garlic Shrimp, you’ll need a few essential ingredients. These ingredients are easy to find and come together beautifully to create the rich flavors that this dish is known for. Let’s take a closer look at each one.

Shrimp

The star of this dish is, of course, the shrimp. You’ll want to choose large shrimp, preferably fresh or frozen, and devein them. The size of the shrimp is important here because you want them to hold up to the garlic butter sauce without becoming overwhelmed by it. The larger shrimp also absorb the seasoning mixture beautifully and cook to perfection in just a few minutes.

Glutinous Rice Flour

In this recipe, we use glutinous rice flour, also known as sweet rice flour, to coat the shrimp. This gives the shrimp a light, crispy texture once cooked. If you can’t find glutinous rice flour, you can substitute it with regular all-purpose flour, though the result may not be as crisp. The coating helps the seasoning adhere to the shrimp, ensuring that every bite is packed with flavor.

Paprika

Paprika adds a sweet, slightly smoky flavor to the dish. It’s a wonderful complement to the shrimp, balancing the richness of the garlic butter sauce. The vibrant red color of paprika also adds visual appeal to the dish.

Cayenne Pepper

For a bit of heat, cayenne pepper is used in the seasoning mix. It doesn’t overwhelm the dish but provides a subtle kick that enhances the overall flavor profile. If you’re sensitive to spice, feel free to adjust the amount of cayenne pepper according to your preference.

Salt

Salt is a key ingredient for enhancing the flavors of the shrimp and the garlic butter sauce. It helps to bring out the natural sweetness of the shrimp and ensures that every element of the dish is well-seasoned.

Unsalted Butter

Butter is a must when making Hawaiian Garlic Shrimp. It’s the base of the garlic butter sauce, adding richness and depth to the dish. Unsalted butter is preferred because it allows you to control the amount of salt in the recipe.

Garlic

Garlic is the heart and soul of this dish. You’ll need a generous amount—around two heads of garlic, minced finely. As the garlic cooks in the butter, it becomes fragrant and lightly golden, infusing the butter with a robust flavor that’s both savory and slightly sweet.

Olive Oil

Olive oil is used for cooking the shrimp, providing a neutral base that lets the flavors of the shrimp shine through. It also helps achieve a crispy exterior without overpowering the garlic butter sauce.

Lemon Juice

Freshly squeezed lemon juice is the finishing touch. The acidity of the lemon juice cuts through the richness of the garlic butter, providing a refreshing contrast that balances the flavors perfectly. It also adds a vibrant, zesty brightness to the dish.

Fresh Parsley

Fresh parsley is used as a garnish to add a pop of color and a touch of freshness. It pairs beautifully with the garlic butter shrimp, offering a crisp, herbal contrast to the savory richness of the dish.

Step-by-Step Instructions: How to Make Hawaiian Garlic Shrimp

Now that we’ve broken down the ingredients, let’s walk through the steps of making this mouthwatering dish. Hawaiian Garlic Shrimp is surprisingly easy to prepare, but the result is a dish that feels special and indulgent. Let’s get started!

Step 1: Prepare the Shrimp

Before you begin cooking, make sure your shrimp are properly cleaned and deveined. You can choose to peel the shrimp, leaving the tails on for a more rustic presentation, or leave the shells on for extra flavor. Once the shrimp are cleaned, pat them dry with a paper towel to remove any excess moisture. This step is crucial because it helps the seasoning coat the shrimp evenly, ensuring a crisp, flavorful exterior.

Step 2: Coat the Shrimp

In a mixing bowl, combine the glutinous rice flour (or all-purpose flour), paprika, cayenne pepper, and salt. Toss the shrimp in this mixture until they are evenly coated. The thin layer of flour helps to give the shrimp a light crispy texture when cooked and allows the seasonings to stick to each shrimp. Set the coated shrimp aside and get ready to cook!

Step 3: Cook the Garlic Butter

In a medium skillet, melt the unsalted butter over medium heat. Once the butter is melted, add the minced garlic. Watch carefully as the garlic cooks, stirring frequently. You want the garlic to become fragrant and lightly golden brown, but not burnt. This should take about 2 minutes. When the garlic is cooked to perfection, remove the skillet from the heat and set it aside.

Step 4: Cook the Shrimp

In the same skillet, add olive oil and heat it over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot, add the shrimp in a single layer. It’s important not to overcrowd the skillet, so you may need to cook the shrimp in batches. Let the shrimp cook for about 1-2 minutes on each side until they are golden and crispy. The shrimp should turn pink and opaque when they are fully cooked, and the thickest part of the shrimp should no longer be translucent.

Step 5: Combine and Toss

Once all the shrimp are cooked, pour the garlic butter back into the skillet. Toss the shrimp in the garlic butter until they are well-coated. The shrimp will absorb the buttery, garlicky goodness, making each bite rich and flavorful. At this point, you can taste the shrimp and adjust the seasoning if needed.

Step 6: Serve and Garnish

To finish the dish, drizzle the shrimp with freshly squeezed lemon juice and garnish with minced parsley. The lemon juice adds a bright, tangy note that cuts through the richness of the garlic butter, while the parsley brings a fresh, herbaceous element to the dish. Serve the Hawaiian Garlic Shrimp immediately, and enjoy the warm, savory flavors!

Tips and Variations: Making It Your Own

While this recipe is already packed with flavor, there are plenty of ways to customize it to your liking. Here are a few tips and variations to consider when making Hawaiian Garlic Shrimp.

Ingredient Substitutions

  • Glutinous Rice Flour: If you don’t have glutinous rice flour, all-purpose flour will work just fine. However, the texture may not be as crispy. You could also experiment with cornstarch for a similar effect.
  • Paprika: If you want a smokier flavor, try using smoked paprika instead of regular paprika. This will add an extra layer of depth to the dish.
  • Butter: If you want a lighter option, you can substitute the butter with olive oil, though the result will be less rich. Coconut oil could also be an interesting alternative for a slightly tropical twist.
  • Garlic: If you don’t have fresh garlic, you can use garlic powder, but fresh garlic is always preferred for this recipe due to its bold flavor.

Variations

  • Spicy Garlic Shrimp: If you love spice, add extra cayenne pepper or some chopped fresh chilies to the garlic butter sauce for an extra kick.
  • Pineapple: For an even more Hawaiian-inspired dish, you can add some chopped fresh pineapple to the garlic butter mixture. The sweetness of the pineapple complements the savory shrimp beautifully.
  • Vegetarian Version: If you’re looking for a vegetarian option, you could substitute the shrimp with firm tofu or a vegetable medley. The garlic butter sauce will work wonderfully with these substitutions.

Serving Suggestions

Hawaiian Garlic Shrimp is often served with steamed white rice or fried rice, allowing the rich garlic butter sauce to soak into the rice. You could also serve it alongside a fresh green salad for a lighter option. For a more complete meal, try pairing the shrimp with grilled vegetables or even a tangy pineapple salsa to add some contrast to the rich, buttery shrimp.

Conclusion: A Flavorful Escape to the Islands

Whether you’re familiar with Hawaiian shrimp trucks or you’re trying this dish for the first time, Hawaiian Garlic Shrimp offers a delicious and easy way to bring a taste of the islands to your home. The combination of tender shrimp, crispy seasoning, and aromatic garlic butter creates a dish that is truly irresistible. Whether served as an appetizer, a main course, or a special treat for family and friends, this dish will quickly become a favorite in your culinary repertoire. So why not give it a try? With just a few simple ingredients and easy-to-follow steps, you can create a dish that’s full of flavor and will transport you straight to the beautiful Hawaiian shores.

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