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Fish, European

Garlic shrimp with white rice

Garlic shrimp with white rice is a dish of shrimp seared in garlic and chili infused oil, served with white rice, for 4 people. It takes 25 minutes, rates as very easy, and costs about €3.90 per person. The key to success is cooking the shrimp quickly and never letting the garlic brown.

In twenty minutes, garlic shrimp just like at tapas bars, seared in chili infused oil, served with white rice.

Garlic shrimp with white rice
Total time
25 min
Difficulty
Very easy
Cost per person
€3.90
Calories per person
540 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
The kids
They generally like it

This dish gets straight to the point, plump shrimp that only need a minute or two to turn pink in olive oil infused with garlic and sweet chili. Fresh parsley and a squeeze of lemon bring the brightness that balances the heat. It carries that same bold, simple flavor you'd find in a sizzling pan at a Spanish tapas bar.

It's the kind of dinner you throw together on a weeknight when the fridge looks empty but there's a bag of shrimp in the freezer. Kids tend to love the plain rice and the flavored oil, which you can make as mild as you like, while adults get to enjoy that tapas bar feeling at home, without any fuss or long cook time.

The ingredients

4 people

Fish counter

  • Raw peeled shrimp 600 g

Fruits and vegetables

  • Garlic 6 cloves
  • Sweet cayenne pepper 1
  • Parsley 1 bunch
  • Lemon 1

Pantry

  • Riceoften in the pantry 300 g
  • Olive oiloften in the pantry 8 tbsp
  • Saltoften in the pantry 2 pinch

Allergens Shellfish

The step by step recipe

  1. Cook the rice in a large pot of boiling salted water. 12 min

    Taste the rice a minute before it's done, it should stay slightly firm.

  2. Slice the garlic thinly, cut the chili into rings, and chop the parsley.

    Remove the chili seeds if you want a milder dish for kids.

  3. Heat the olive oil in a skillet, add the garlic and chili, and let them infuse gently for a minute. 1 min

    The garlic should stay pale, if it browns too much it turns bitter.

  4. Add the salted shrimp and cook for one to two minutes per side until pink. 4 min

    Once they curl into a C shape they're done, an O shape means overcooked.

  5. Drain the rice, serve it with the shrimp, the flavored oil, the parsley, and a squeeze of lemon.

    Squeeze the lemon at the last moment to keep all its flavor.

Our tips to get it right

  • Fully thaw the shrimp and pat them dry before cooking, otherwise they release water and won't get any color.
  • Prep every ingredient before you turn on the heat, the shrimp cook so fast there's no time to slice anything mid recipe.
  • Use a wide skillet so the shrimp cook in a single layer, otherwise they steam instead of searing.

The variations

  • Swap the shrimp for chicken pieces or chunks of white fish for an equally quick version.
  • For a vegetarian version, replace the shrimp with button mushrooms or oyster mushrooms cut into large pieces.
  • For kids, leave the chili out of the skillet entirely and serve the spicy oil on the side for adults.

What to serve it with

  • A crisp lemony green salad
  • Bread for soaking up the oil
  • A glass of dry white wine

Storage

Keep leftovers in the fridge in a sealed container for up to 1 day, cooked shrimp don't keep well for long. Reheat gently in a skillet over low heat to avoid toughening the shrimp, and skip freezing since it makes them rubbery.

Questions about this dish

Can I use frozen shrimp for this recipe?

Yes, that's actually convenient, just thaw them fully and pat them dry with paper towels before cooking. Wet shrimp release water in the pan and won't brown properly.

How do I know when the shrimp are perfectly cooked?

Well cooked shrimp curl into a C shape and turn pink and opaque. If they curl into a tight O shape, they're overcooked and tough, so watch them closely.

Can I prep this dish ahead of time?

You can slice the garlic, cut the chili, and chop the parsley a few hours ahead. Cook the shrimp at the last minute though, since they lose their tenderness when reheated.

What can I use instead of sweet cayenne pepper?

A mild red pepper or even half a spicy bell pepper works well. Adjust the amount to your taste for heat, and remove the seeds for a milder flavor.

How long does it take to make garlic shrimp with white rice?

Count 25 min in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “very easy”.

How many calories are in garlic shrimp with white rice?

About 540 kcal per serving, for a recipe meant for 4 people. Calories are calculated by Kiloach, your weight coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does garlic shrimp with white rice cost?

About €3.90 per serving, or €15.60 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains shellfish. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

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