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5.0 from 12 votes

Grilled Shrimp Scampi

Lightly-charred shells gave way to luscious, marinated shrimp skewers, served with warm, scallion-studded Lemon-Garlic Butter for dipping in this grilled version of one of my family’s favorite seafood dishes. Serve Grilled Shrimp Scampi as a heavy hors d'oeuvre or a main course.

Prep Time
1 hr 10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
1 hr 20 mins
Servings: 4 to 6 servings
Calories: 555 kcal
Course: Main Course , Appetizer
Cuisine: Italian-American Fussion

Ingredients

Marinated Shrimp
  • 1-1/2 pounds raw shrimp , shell on (U15 or 16/20 count)
  • 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice (about 1 large lemon)
  • 1 tablespoon finely-chopped garlic (about 2 cloves)
  • 2 tablespoons finely-chopped shallots
  • 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh parsley
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly-ground black pepper
Dipping Sauce
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1-1/2 teaspoons finely-chopped garlic (about 1 large clove)
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
  • 1/2 to 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice (to taste)
  • 1 tablespoon thinly-sliced scallions
  • 1 tablespoon finely-chopped fresh parsley
  • 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)

Instructions

Prep the Shrimp
    Cup of Yum
  1. Devein shrimp: Using a paring knife or a pair of kitchen shears, carefully make a shallow cut along the back of the shrimp (the curved side), in the middle, from the tip to where the tails begin. Use the tip of your knife or shears to remove the dark vein. Leave shells on the shrimp, loosening them just slightly so that the marinade can seep between the shells and meat.
Marinate the Shrimp
  1. In a medium bowl, whisk together extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, shallots, parsley, salt, and pepper. Add shrimp and toss to coat. Cover with plastic wrap and marinate, refrigerated, 45 minutes. Remove from the refrigerator 15 minutes before grilling, and let stand at room temperature (approximately 70 degrees F), for a total marinating time of an hour.
Grill the Shrimp
  1. When you remove the shrimp from the refrigerator, preheat grill over medium-high heat and lightly oil the grates.
  2. Remove shrimp from marinade, shaking off excess, and thread onto stainless steel grilling skewers.* Discard marinade. Grill shrimp 2-4 minutes per side, until shells are pink and meat is white and opaque. Do not overcook.
Make the Dipping Sauce and Serve
  1. In a small saucepan, melt together butter and extra virgin olive oil. Remove from heat, stir in garlic, stirring until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add salt, lemon juice and zest, scallions, parsley, and red pepper flakes, if using. Keep warm until ready to serve.
  2. Carefully remove shrimp from skewers to a serving platter. Serve, allowing guests to remove shells and dip shrimp into the lemon-garlic butter, alongside slices of crusty bread. Alternatively, you can remove the shells for your guests after grilling and serve, drizzled with the lemon-garlic butter, over a bed of rice or pasta.

Notes

  • *I prefer using stainless steel grilling skewers for their ease of use. If using bamboo skewers, soak them in water for at least 30 minutes before threading the shrimp and grilling so the wood doesn't ignite or burn.

Nutrition Information

Serving 0.25recipe Calories 555kcal (28%) Carbohydrates 3g (1%) Protein 35g (70%) Fat 44g (68%) Saturated Fat 15g (75%) Trans Fat 1g Cholesterol 474mg (158%) Sodium 2056mg (86%) Potassium 207mg (6%) Fiber 1g (4%) Sugar 1g (2%) Vitamin A 748IU (15%) Vitamin C 18mg (20%) Calcium 266mg (27%) Iron 4mg (22%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 4to 6 servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 555

% Daily Value*

Serving 0.25recipe
Calories 555kcal 28%
Carbohydrates 3g 1%
Protein 35g 70%
Fat 44g 68%
Saturated Fat 15g 75%
Trans Fat 1g 50%
Cholesterol 474mg 158%
Sodium 2056mg 86%
Potassium 207mg 4%
Fiber 1g 4%
Sugar 1g 2%
Vitamin A 748IU 15%
Vitamin C 18mg 20%
Calcium 266mg 27%
Iron 4mg 22%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.