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Shrimp is a unique marine product rich in vitamins and minerals. Such a dish is expensive and many consider it a delicacy. The history of shrimp using in food dates back many centuries. Then the ancient chefs served the product only in its raw form.
However, as time passed, more variations of the preparation appeared. Nowadays you can cook this seafood in different ways: fry, cook or grill in foil. Each method has its own technology and reveals the taste of the product in different ways.
Choose a convenient cooking option for you and experiment with the shrimp flavors!
How to choose
To cook a delicious dish, you need to be able to choose the right shrimp. Professional chefs advise you to pay attention to the following tips:
- Good fresh shrimp should have a uniform color without dark spots, and a tucked tail.
- Pay special attention to the head of the shrimp. If it is black, then the shrimp is spoiled. A green head is not considered a sign of spoilage, many seafood have such a feature. And brown spots on the head indicate the presence of caviar.
- Choose fresh or frozen seafood depending on the selected shrimp recipes.
Shrimp: pros and cons
Shrimp meat contains a large amount of protein, iodine, fatty acids and antioxidants that have a beneficial effect on the human body. In addition, shrimp contain a large amount of vitamin A and vitamin C, selenium, copper, iron, phosphorus, sodium and even zinc.
A low amount of fat allows you to include seafood in a low-calorie diet for weight loss (100 grams of shrimp meat contains only 99 calories). Among the positive properties of shrimp, experts distinguish the following:
- improving of internal organs work
- reducing the risk of stroke, heart attack and hypertension
- strengthening the condition of the skin, hair and nails
However, we can also note the negative consequences:
- occurrence of allergic reactions
- increased cholesterol levels in the blood
Experts advise to carefully dose the consumed product amount, as well as buy only fresh shrimp from trusted sellers.
Should I grill shrimp with a shell on?
You can grill shrimp in a peeled form and also in a shell. It all depends on the characteristics of the product and the wishes of gourmets. Such moments help to choose the appropriate cooking method:
- If you buy large-sized shrimp, with the head and shell removed, then you will only have to check for the presence of an intestinal vein and remove it before cooking.
- It is more convenient to cook small shrimps in a shell, so as not to waste time on cleaning.
- Serve tiger and king prawns peeled on skewers. Leave the tail for easier dipping it in the sauce.
How to peel a shrimp before grilling
Before cooking, you need to be able to clean the shrimp properly. Professional chefs advise doing this in the following way:
- Defrost the product naturally at room temperature. To speed up the process, put the shrimp in a colander and keep it under cold water.
- Inspect the product to identify the damaged ones. Evidence that the shrimp is spoiled is mucus on the surface, a specific smell, a dull shell.
- Grasp the head with your fingers near the body, hold it firmly and twist it to the sides until it comes off.
- Clean the shell, starting from the top, moving to the bottom. You can leave the tail or remove it.
- Cut the shrimp in the central part with a well-sharpened knife. Remove the intestines with a toothpick.
- Rinse the cleaned carcass under running water and dry with a paper towel.
Can you marinate shrimp overnight?
Before grilling, professional chefs recommend marinating shrimp. It takes a little time – 20-30 minutes, not counting the time spent on cooking the marinade. This will allow seafood to acquire a unique taste and aroma.
Do not leave the shrimp in the marinade for more than 1 hour, otherwise they will lose most of their useful properties. Many people like to marinate shrimp overnight, but it is better to avoid this.
Also don’t add too much vinegar. The substance will be actively released during grilling and spoil the taste of the dish.
best marinades for grilled shrimp
Marinating is the best way to make shrimp melt in your mouth, juicy and tender. There are many recipes for shrimp marinades. This process makes seafood meat more nutritious and easier to digest in the digestive tract. All you have to do is find the right marinade, and the shrimp will turn out perfect. Among the best marinades , professional chefs distinguish the following:
- Honey-lemon
- Ginger-garlic
- With olive oil and basil
- With soy sauce and ginger
Choose the most suitable marinade and make delicious shrimp on the grill!
How do you cook shrimp on the grill?
To quickly and easily cook king prawns on the grill, prepare the necessary ingredients:
- shrimp (tiger (royal) large) – 12 pcs
- lemon (frozen) – 1/2 pcs
- lime – 1 piece
- ginger (2 cm) – 1 piece
- chili pepper – 1 piece
- garlic – 4 teeth.
- kosher salt – 1 tsp
- olive oil – 50 ml
Step-by-step cooking technology:
- Prepare the marinade. Grate the frozen lemon, garlic, lime, and ginger on a fine grater. Add finely chopped chili pepper, salt, and olive oil.
- Defrost the shrimp, remove the shell and intestinal vein.
- Place the product in the marinade for 1 hour.
- Preheat the grill pan, fry the shrimp on high heat. Turn it over after the redness of the shell.
How do you make a foil packet for the grill?
You can also grill shrimp in aluminum foil packets. This will help prevent the shrimp from burning. For this method of preparation, take two sheets of foil and fold them together to form a pocket.
Place the necessary ingredients in the center. Bring the long sides of the foil to each other and fold to connect them. Roll up each of the short sides, completely sealing the package. Such packet shrimp turns out juicy and tender.
Can you put tin foil directly on the grill?
To place a tin foil directly on the grill grate, first make several punctures in it with a needle or fork. This will help the excess air to escape and the pocket will not swell.
Place the foil with the contents on the grill and bake for about 20-25 minutes with periodic flipping. You can also lubricate the foil with butter to accurately avoid burning.
How to grill shrimp in foil
To cook shrimps on the grill in a foil bag, prepare the necessary ingredients:
- butter – 60 grams
- fresh parsley – 10 grams
- garlic – 2 slices
- salt – to taste
- ground black pepper – to taste
- lemon – 1 piece
- red pepper flackes – to taste
- Royal shrimps – 450 grams
Step-by-step technology of preparation:
- Mix softened butter, chopped parsley, crushed cloves garlic, salt and pepper.
- Mix the resulting mixture with the juice of 1 lemon, 450 gr. king prawns in a shell and a large pinch of red hot pepper petals.
- Divide the contents into two foil envelopes. Grill over high heat for 8 minutes.
Frozen shrimp in foil recipe
You can also cook frozen shrimp on the grill in foil. The technology will be slightly different here. Prepare the necessary ingredients:
- shrimp – 0.7 kg
- lemon wedges
- olive oil – 60 ml
Step-by-step cooking technology:
- Defrost the shrimp in the refrigerator or at room temperature.
- Wash the lemons. Grate the zest from one fruit, squeeze the juice out of it.
- Pour oil into a container with lemon juice and zest.
- Put the shrimp in the lemon-oil mixture, mix them with your hands.
- Thread the shrimps on skewers, piercing them in two places: in the area of the head and in the tail.
- Place the skewers on the grill grate.
- Cut the second lemon into 4 pieces lengthwise, put it between the skewers.
- Grill the shrimp for 4-5 minutes, turning them over from time to time.
Shrimp scampi on the grill in foil recipe
Scampi shrimp is the Italian name for a large sea shrimp with long, thin claws. Some also call it Norwegian lobster, Dublin shrimp in England or langoustine in France. Prepare the necessary ingredients for frying such a product on the grill in foil:
- large shrimp – 1 kg
- butter (diced) – 100 g
- dry white wine – 2 tbsp
- garlic (crushed) – 4 cloves
- lemon – ½
- cayenne pepper – ½ tsp
- parsley
Step-by-step cooking technology:
- Preheat the grill to medium heat.
- Peel the shrimp from the black thin strip, and also remove the tails.
- Mix the shrimp with wine, garlic, juice and lemon zest, add butter.
- Take two sheets of foil, place on top of each other, put the resulting shrimp mixture in the center.
- Sprinkle cayenne pepper, salt and ground black pepper on top.
- Connect the ends of the foil so that the package is completely sealed. Place everything in the grill and fry until fully cooked (about 10 minutes).
How long to grill shrimp in foil
Grilling shrimp is the best and fastest way to get juicy seafood. The cooking time varies depending on the size and addition of the marinade. When using king prawns, grill them for 6-8 minutes, turning them over constantly.
If you take tiger or ordinary shrimp, it is better to reduce the time to 5-6 minutes. The marinade also speeds up the process by a few minutes.
How long to cook shrimp in foil in oven
You can also cook shrimp in the oven. It takes a little longer, but the result will leave you satisfied. Prepare the necessary ingredients:
- king prawns – 400 g
- garlic – 3 cloves
- lemon – 0.5 pcs
- olive oil – 2 tablespoons
- old bay leaf – to taste
- ears corn – to taste
- herb mixture (Provencal) – 30 grams
Step-by-step technology of preparation:
- Defrost and dry the shrimp.
- Squeeze the lemon juice, and grate the zest on a coarse grater.
- Pass the garlic through a press.
- In a deep bowl, combine olive oil, juice, lemon zest, ears corn, garlic and herbs of Provence.
- Whisk everything until smooth, until the butter is combined with lemon juice.
- Put the shrimp in a bowl. Mix everything thoroughly.
- Marinate in the refrigerator for 1 hour.
- Line the foil sheets with a double layer of parchment. Put the shrimp together with the marinade in one layer.
- Bake the product for about 10-12 minutes at 200°C.
Storing rules
Fresh shrimps have a short shelf life (only 3 days), but you can store frozen seafood for up to 2 months. The maximum shelf life of shrimp in the freezer is 4 months.
However, keep in mind that after two months of such storage, the taste qualities of these crustaceans are significantly reducing. The meat becomes tough and tasteless. It is better to store shrimp in the freezer wrapping them in foil. This will extend their shelf life by 1-2 months.
How to serve
With shrimp, you can cook a lot of different dishes and come up with successful combinations. In salads, it is better to serve seafood with fresh and boiled vegetables, fruits (pineapple, avocado, pomegranate). They are combined with squids, mussels, caviar, and crab sticks.
Also, professional chefs add fresh herbs, crackers, and cheese to the shrimp salad. If you decide to serve them as an independent dish, use a bowl with ice and lemon. The serving size depends on your taste preferences.
Main tips
To preserve the taste and beneficial properties of shrimp, you need to follow the tips:
- Defrost the shrimps before cooking – frozen shrimps boil unevenly, as they lower the water temperature by several degrees.
- Rinse the seafood before cooking – to get rid of the taste of ice, pre-rinse the seafood under running water.
- Cook for a strictly defined time – overcooked shrimp curl into a ring, lose their taste, become stiff and dry.
- Remove the insides – carefully cut the shrimp with a sharp knife or kitchen scissors and remove the intestines.
- Cool immediately after cooking – after cooking, place the shrimp in a container with cold water or ice.
Closing Thoughts
Shrimp is a unique seafood in its qualities. You can serve it as a main dish or as a side dish. Nutrition facts confirm that the use of this product significantly improves the condition of the body.
There are many ways to prepare shrimp: frying, cooking and grilling. The latter method is the fastest and most effective. To make the dish tender, use shrimp foil packets or foil pouch.
Shrimp side dishes will not only be a wonderful treat, but also an excellent resource of vitamins for the body. Don’t be afraid to experiment! Surprise your loved ones and try new dishes with this amazing seafood!