Grilling Shrimp
Quick Tips on Preparing and Grilling Shrimp
Shrimp is one of the most popular types of seafood and grilling shrimp is one of the most common ways to cook it. Shrimp is fairly easy to prepare and quite simple to cook, especially on the grill. This is usually best done on a skewer, unless the shrimp are the jumbo kind. It is quick and makes a delicious home-cooked treat.
Grilling shrimp on a skewer is frequently recommended over putting the shrimp directly on the grill because shrimp can be difficult to work with while grilling unless they are pretty big. Skewering the shrimp makes it more stable and easy to turn during cooking. Just be sure to space out the shrimp on the skewer and not bunch them up too tightly.
No matter how the shrimp is going to be cooked, it must be prepped first. That means removing the shell and de-veining the shrimp. The shell can easily be taken off by holding onto the shrimp’s tail and peeling the shell off. Once the shell is removed, it can be de-veined by taking a sharp knife and making a small slice down the outer curve along the back of the shrimp. This cut exposes the vein, which can then be removed using the tip of the knife.
After the shrimp is shelled and de-veined, it is ready for the grill. This is the time to add any marinades, spices or barbecue sauces to further flavor the shrimp. The grocery store has many varieties of prepared marinades and sauces. An easy home recipe is to combine olive oil, lemon juice, garlic and some salt and pepper. Glaze the shrimp with this mixture before putting it on the grill and then a few more times while it cooks. These simple flavors go a long way in enhancing the already delightful grilled shrimp.
It is also a tasty idea to cut up some vegetables to combine with the shrimp skewers. Simply cut your favorite veggies – like onions, peppers, tomatoes, potatoes – into big chunks. Alternate the shrimp and veggies on the skewers, add your marinade or spices and put them on the grill. They will cook up in no time.
Shrimp cooks very quickly no matter how it is being cooked. An average size shrimp only takes about 10 minutes on the grill to be tender and delicious. Larger shrimp may need up to 15 minutes and smaller ones will take only 5 to 7 minutes. The best way to tell if the shrimp is thoroughly cooked is by its color. Raw shrimp is usually a gray or grayish blue color. When shrimp is cooked it turns to a pinkish orange shade. When the shrimp’s color has completely changed and there are no grayish spots left, it is done.
Then just pluck those scrumptious bites off of the grill and pop them into your mouth. You will quickly see while cooking shrimp on the grill is a favorite of many chefs.