Shrimp Skewers

Shrimp skewers are a delicious and fairly simple dish to prepare. They can be served as an appetizer or as a main course, often accompanied by salad or other light sides. Here is the recipe with an Italian twist:

Ingredients

• 500 g of shrimp, fresh or frozen
• 2 cloves of garlic
• Fresh parsley to taste
• Juice of 1 lemon
• Extra virgin olive oil to taste
• Salt to taste
• Pepper to taste
• Toothpicks or wooden skewers

Preparation

1. If you are using frozen shrimp, make sure to thaw them completely before proceeding. Clean the shrimp by removing the shell and legs, leaving the tail if you wish for a better presentation. Also, remove the intestinal thread by making a small incision along the back.
2. Prepare a marinade by mixing in a bowl lemon juice, extra virgin olive oil, chopped garlic, chopped fresh parsley, salt, and pepper.
3. Dip the shrimp in the marinade and let them rest for about 20-30 minutes in the refrigerator.
4. While the shrimp are marinating, if you are using wooden skewers, soak them in water to prevent them from burning during cooking.
5. Prepare the grill or a grill pan over medium-high heat.
6. Thread the shrimp onto the skewers, you might put about 3-4 shrimp on each skewer depending on the size.
7. Cook the shrimp skewers on the hot grill, turning once, until the shrimp turn pink and opaque, for about 2-3 minutes per side.
8. Once cooked, serve them immediately, perhaps with an additional sprinkle of fresh parsley and a squirt of lemon juice.

Curiosity

In many coastal regions of Italy, shrimp skewers are a real tradition, especially during summer festivals and beach barbecues. The skewers can also be enriched with vegetables such as zucchini, peppers, or onions alternated with the shrimp for an even more colorful and tasty variant.