Garlic Grilled Shrimp with Mediterranean Salad Recipe

Introduction

Garlic Grilled Shrimp paired with a fresh Mediterranean salad makes for a light, vibrant meal perfect for warm weather. This dish combines smoky, buttery shrimp with the tangy flavors of lemon, olives, and avocado in a colorful salad.

Ingredients

• 16 oz Open Nature raw shrimp (shelled with tails on, defrosted, washed and dry)
• 6 tbsp unsalted butter (melted)
• ½ tsp smoked paprika
• 1 ½ tsp kosher salt
• 1 medium lemon (zested and juiced)
• 4 cloves garlic (grated)
• 4 tbsp cilantro (finely chopped)
• 1 large avocado (cubed)
• 10 oz cherry tomatoes (quartered)
• ¼ cup cilantro (finely chopped)
• 1 small lemon (juiced)
• ½ red onion (minced)
• ½ cup kalamata olives (halved)
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• Salt (to taste)

Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat your grill to 500ºF. Meanwhile, rinse the thawed shrimp under cold water and pat dry with paper towels.
2. Step 2: Soak wooden skewers in water for at least 10 minutes to prevent burning during grilling.
3. Step 3: Melt butter and mix in lemon zest and juice, grated garlic, smoked paprika, and kosher salt to create the sauce.
4. Step 4: Place shrimp in a bowl and toss with half of the sauce until fully coated. Reserve the remaining sauce for serving. Thread 5 shrimp onto each skewer.
5. Step 5: Reduce the grill heat to medium and turn off the middle burners. Grill the shrimp over direct heat for 1-2 minutes per side, or 2-3 minutes total using indirect heat, until shrimp are opaque and cooked through.
6. Step 6: After cooking, stir chopped cilantro into the reserved sauce and drizzle it over the hot shrimp skewers.
7. Step 7: While the shrimp is thawing, prepare the Mediterranean salad by combining avocado, cherry tomatoes, red onion, kalamata olives, and cilantro in a bowl.
8. Step 8: Drizzle the salad with olive oil and lemon juice, toss to combine, and season lightly with salt, keeping in mind the olives add saltiness.
9. Step 9: Serve the grilled shrimp alongside the Mediterranean salad and enjoy your fresh, flavorful meal.

Tips & Variations

• For an extra smoky flavor, try adding a pinch of cayenne pepper to the garlic butter sauce.
• Substitute cilantro with fresh parsley if you prefer a milder herb taste.
• Use metal skewers if you want to avoid soaking time and ensure even grilling.
• Add cucumber or feta cheese to the salad for additional texture and flavor.

Storage

Store leftover shrimp and salad separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat shrimp gently in a skillet or microwave for a short time to avoid overcooking. The salad is best enjoyed fresh and may lose its texture if stored too long.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use frozen shrimp straight from the freezer?

It’s best to thaw shrimp fully before grilling to ensure even cooking and prevent excess moisture on the grill.

What grill alternatives work for this recipe?

If you don’t have a grill, you can cook the shrimp under a broiler or in a grill pan on the stovetop for similar results.

Garlic Grilled Shrimp with Mediterranean Salad Recipe

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★★★★★

4.5 from 85 reviews

• Author: Jack
• Total Time: 23 minutes
• Yield: 4 servings 1x
• Diet: Low Fat

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Description

This Garlic Grilled Shrimp with Mediterranean Salad recipe features succulent shrimp coated in a flavorful buttery garlic sauce and perfectly grilled, paired with a fresh, vibrant Mediterranean salad of avocado, cherry tomatoes, red onion, olives, and cilantro. It’s a light and delicious dish ideal for summer grilling and healthy eating.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Shrimp and Marinade

• 16 oz Open Nature raw shrimp (shelled with tails on, defrosted, washed and dry)
• 6 tbsp unsalted butter (melted)
• ½ tsp smoked paprika
• 1 ½ tsp kosher salt
• 1 medium lemon (zested and juiced)
• 4 cloves garlic (grated)
• 4 tbsp cilantro (finely chopped)

Mediterranean Salad

• 1 large avocado (cubed)
• 10 oz cherry tomatoes (quartered)
• ¼ cup cilantro (finely chopped)
• 1 small lemon (juiced)
• ½ red onion (minced)
• ½ cup kalamata olives (halved)
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• Salt (to taste)

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Instructions

1. Preheat the Grill: Preheat your grill to 500ºF to get it hot and ready for cooking the shrimp.
2. Prepare the Shrimp: Thaw the shrimp fully, rinse under cold water, then pat dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture.
3. Soak Skewers: Soak your wooden skewers in water for at least 10 minutes to prevent burning on the grill.
4. Make the Garlic Butter Sauce: Melt the unsalted butter and mix in lemon zest and juice, grated garlic, kosher salt, and smoked paprika to create a fragrant garlic butter marinade.
5. Marinate the Shrimp: Place the shrimp in a bowl, toss with half of the garlic butter sauce until evenly coated. Reserve the remaining half of the sauce for serving. Thread 5 shrimp onto each skewer.
6. Grill the Shrimp: Reduce grill heat to medium and turn off the middle burners to create both direct and indirect heat zones. Grill shrimp directly for 1-2 minutes per side or via indirect heat for 2-3 minutes total, ensuring they are cooked through but still tender.
7. Finish with Cilantro Butter: After grilling, add chopped cilantro to the reserved garlic butter sauce and drizzle it over the hot shrimp skewers for enhanced flavor.
8. Prepare the Mediterranean Salad: While the shrimp is thawing, combine avocado, cherry tomatoes, minced red onion, halved kalamata olives, and chopped cilantro in a large bowl. Drizzle with olive oil and lemon juice, tossing gently to mix. Season lightly with salt, keeping in mind the olives add saltiness.
9. Serve and Enjoy: Plate the grilled shrimp skewers alongside the fresh Mediterranean salad and enjoy a flavorful, light meal perfect for warm weather.

Notes

• Soaking skewers is important to prevent burning while grilling.
• Reserve half of the garlic butter sauce for serving to drizzle over shrimp after cooking for maximum flavor.
• Adjust salt in salad carefully because kalamata olives are naturally salty.
• Ensure shrimp is fully thawed and dry before marinating for best coating and grilling results.
• Can substitute fresh cilantro with parsley if preferred.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 8 minutes
• Category: Main Course
• Method: Grilling
• Cuisine: Mediterranean

Keywords: grilled shrimp, garlic shrimp, Mediterranean salad, summer recipe, healthy grilling, avocado salad, seafood skewers