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Garlicky Roasted Shrimp with Cilantro and Lime

By Andrew Janjigian

Published on November 27, 2012

Time

1 hour

Yield

Serves 4 to 6

Garlicky Roasted Shrimp with Cilantro and Lime

Ingredients

¼ cup salt 2 pounds shell-on jumbo shrimp (16 to 20 per pound)½ cup vegetable oil 6 garlic cloves, minced2 teaspoons coriander seeds, lightly crushed2 teaspoons grated lime zest, plus lime wedges for serving1 teaspoon annatto powder ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes ¼ cup minced fresh cilantro

Before You Begin

Don’t be tempted to use smaller shrimp with this cooking technique as they will be overseasoned and prone to overcook. Annatto powder, also called achiote, can be found with the Latin American foods at your supermarket. An equal amount of paprika can be substituted.

Instructions

  1. Dissolve salt in 1 quart cold water in large container. Using kitchen shears or sharp paring knife, cut through shell of shrimp and devein but do not remove shell. Using paring knife, continue to cut shrimp ½ inch deep, taking care not to cut in half completely. Submerge shrimp in brine, cover, and refrigerate for 15 minutes.
  2. Adjust oven rack 4 inches from broiler element and heat broiler. Combine oil, garlic, coriander seeds, lime zest, annatto, and pepper flakes in large bowl. Remove shrimp from brine and pat dry with paper towels. Add shrimp and cilantro to oil mixture; toss well, making sure oil mixture gets into interior of shrimp. Arrange shrimp in single layer on wire rack set in rimmed baking sheet.
  3. Broil shrimp until opaque and shells are beginning to brown, 2 to 4 minutes, rotating sheet halfway through broiling. Flip shrimp and continue to broil until second side is opaque and shells are beginning to brown, 2 to 4 minutes longer, rotating sheet halfway through broiling. Transfer shrimp to serving platter and serve immediately, passing lime wedges separately.
Garlicky Roasted Shrimp with Cilantro and Lime

Garlicky Roasted Shrimp with Cilantro and Lime

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Time

1 hour

Yield

Serves 4 to 6

Ingredients

¼ cup salt
2 pounds shell-on jumbo shrimp (16 to 20 per pound)
½ cup vegetable oil
6 garlic cloves, minced
2 teaspoons coriander seeds, lightly crushed
2 teaspoons grated lime zest, plus lime wedges for serving
1 teaspoon annatto powder
½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
¼ cup minced fresh cilantro

Test Kitchen Techniques

Ingredients

¼ cup salt
2 pounds shell-on jumbo shrimp (16 to 20 per pound)
½ cup vegetable oil
6 garlic cloves, minced
2 teaspoons coriander seeds, lightly crushed
2 teaspoons grated lime zest, plus lime wedges for serving
1 teaspoon annatto powder
½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
¼ cup minced fresh cilantro

Test Kitchen Techniques

Ingredients

¼ cup salt
2 pounds shell-on jumbo shrimp (16 to 20 per pound)
½ cup vegetable oil
6 garlic cloves, minced
2 teaspoons coriander seeds, lightly crushed
2 teaspoons grated lime zest, plus lime wedges for serving
1 teaspoon annatto powder
½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
¼ cup minced fresh cilantro

Test Kitchen Techniques

Why This Recipe Works

To keep our roasted shrimp plump and moist, we brined them briefly. To further protect them as they cooked and to produce a more roasted flavor, we left their shells on. The shells browned quickly in the heat of the oven and transferred flavor to the shrimp itself. To get tons of flavor onto the shrimp, we tossed them in a potent mixture of aromatic spices and herbs.

Before You Begin

Don’t be tempted to use smaller shrimp with this cooking technique as they will be overseasoned and prone to overcook. Annatto powder, also called achiote, can be found with the Latin American foods at your supermarket. An equal amount of paprika can be substituted.

Instructions

  1. Dissolve salt in 1 quart cold water in large container. Using kitchen shears or sharp paring knife, cut through shell of shrimp and devein but do not remove shell. Using paring knife, continue to cut shrimp ½ inch deep, taking care not to cut in half completely. Submerge shrimp in brine, cover, and refrigerate for 15 minutes.
  2. Adjust oven rack 4 inches from broiler element and heat broiler. Combine oil, garlic, coriander seeds, lime zest, annatto, and pepper flakes in large bowl. Remove shrimp from brine and pat dry with paper towels. Add shrimp and cilantro to oil mixture; toss well, making sure oil mixture gets into interior of shrimp. Arrange shrimp in single layer on wire rack set in rimmed baking sheet.
  3. Broil shrimp until opaque and shells are beginning to brown, 2 to 4 minutes, rotating sheet halfway through broiling. Flip shrimp and continue to broil until second side is opaque and shells are beginning to brown, 2 to 4 minutes longer, rotating sheet halfway through broiling. Transfer shrimp to serving platter and serve immediately, passing lime wedges separately.

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