The Creamy Garlic Shrimp Recipe is a dish that balances simplicity and sophistication. The dish draws its charm from pairing its two key ingredients – shrimp and garlic. Shrimps, known for their natural sweet, and delicate flavor, pair nicely with garlic which has a slightly spicy taste when cooked. The aromatic quality of the garlic blends nicely with the shrimp’s juices creating a flavorful coating that enriches every bite.
While tasty dishes often take longer cooking time, this garlic and shrimp dish defies that rule completely!
Shrimps get cooked in just a few minutes, practically from the moment it hits the sizzling skillet with oil. Garlic, when minced, releases a tangy aroma which infuses the dish with instant flavor. The simplicity of the cooking process of this dish makes it the perfect treat for anyone looking to enjoy a delicious meal with ease. Without delaying any further, let’s discover how to make a quick and creamy garlic shrimp dinner in 15 minutes- perfect for busy evenings or weeknight cravings.
How To Prepare The Ingredients For Shrimp and Garlic Dinner?
Before diving into the recipe, I would like to share some essential preparation tips that will make creating your easy creamy garlic butter shrimp dish a breeze. These tips are meant to simplify the cooking process, so preparing dinner feels less like a chore and more like a rewarding experience!
Shrimp
- Selecting Fresh/Frozen Shrimps
You can choose between fresh or frozen shrimp for cooking this recipe. Fresh shrimp should have a firm texture and smell mildly of the ocean. For frozen shrimps, you need to thaw them overnight in the refrigerator or place them under running water before cooking.
- Peeling
To peel shrimp, start by grasping the shell where the legs are attached. Carefully peel back the shell. You can leave the tail intact if you want.
- Deveining
To devein shrimp, gently make a shallow cut along the back using a small knife. Remove the dark vein by lifting it out with the tip of the knife or a toothpick.
- Rinsing
After the peeling and deveining process is done, rinse the shrimp under running cold water and pat them dry with a soft cloth or paper towel before starting to cook.
Garlic
- Choosing Garlic
To experience a distant and aromatic flavor in your dish, try to choose plump garlic bulbs with tight skin and firm texture. Don’t pick bulbs that have soft spots or sprouts.
- Peeling
To peel garlic, take a cutting board and place a clove on top of it. Carefully press down on the garlic clove with the flat side of the knife to loosen the skin. Peel off the skin and trim the edges if necessary.
- Mincing
To mince garlic, start by slicing the cloves thinly. Using a sharp knife, finely chop them to achieve a minced texture. You can use a garlic press for this purpose as well.
Make-Ahead and Storage Tips for Creamy Garlic Shrimp Recipe
If you want to save up some time, consider partially cooking the shrimp beforehand. Just saute the shrimp in garlic and butter until they are almost cooked. Later, when you are ready to cook the dish, reheat the shrimp and add the other ingredients.
If you have prepared the dish in large quantities and can’t finish it in a day, you can store it to eat later.
- For refrigeration, take an airtight container and put the leftover food in it. Make sure the dish has cooled off completely before storing it this way.
- Freezing is another way of preventing food waste that can’t be consumed immediately. However, keep in mind that freezing will cause the texture of the shrimps to be slightly changed once thawed.
Avoid adding the heavy cream while preparing the dish if you plan to freeze it. Later, when you are ready to serve the food, heat it gently in a skillet over low to medium heat. Once the shrimp and other ingredients are heated through, reduce the heat to low and add the heavy cream gradually. Stir constantly to avoid curdling. Allow the dish to simmer before serving it on the dinner table.
- When done right, Reheating your garlic and shrimp dinner will feel as fresh and flavorful as if it were just cooked!
Warm the dish in a large skillet over low heat, stirring occasionally so that it heats up evenly. Add a splash of chicken stock to dull any dryness caused by the freezer. You can also add some fresh herbs or a squeeze of lemon to revive the dish entirely.
Recipe Card
Quick And Creamy Garlic Shrimp Recipe (Dinner In 15 Minutes)
Ingredients
- 500 grams Raw Shrimp (Deveined.)
- ½ tsp / 3 g Salt.
- 1 tsp / 2 g Black Pepper (1/2 tsp for seasoning and 1/2 tsp for cooking)
- 1 tbsp / 15 ml Cooking Oil.
- 2 tbsp / 28 g Butter.
- 6-8 Garlic Cloves (Minced.)
- 1 cup / 238 ml Chicken Stock.
- 1 cup / 238 ml Heavy Cream.
- Salt (To Taste.)
- ¼ tsp / ½ g Oregano.
- ½ cup / 50 g Parmesan Cheese.
- 1 tbsp / 4 g Parsley (Chopped.)
Instructions
Prepare The Shrimp
- In a mixing bowl, add 500 grams of deveined raw shrimp and season with salt and pepper.
- Then toss the shrimp with a spatula until they are evenly seasoned and coated.
Cook The Shrimp
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add 1 tbsp of cooking oil to it.
- Using tongs, carefully transfer the shrimp to the pan, leaving space between each piece.
- Fry for 1-2 minutes on each side until they turn pink without overcooking the shrimp.
- Remove the shrimp from the pan and set aside on a plate.
Prepare The Garlic-Cream Mixture
- In the same pan, add 2 tbsp of butter and let it melt.
- Add 6-8 cloves of minced garlic and sauté for 30 seconds.
- Pour 1 cup of chicken stock and bring it to a simmer. Let it simmer until reduced by half, stirring occasionally.
Add Cream and Seasoning
- Pour 1 cup of heavy cream into the mix and sprinkle salt (to taste), black pepper, and oregano.
- Mix thoroughly to blend the flavors.
Thicken The Creamy Mixture
- Add ½ cup of grated Parmesan cheese to the mixture, stirring continuously until the cheese melts completely and the sauce reaches your desired thickness.
Combine Shrimp and Sauce
- Add the cooked shrimp back to the pan and mix it well with the sauce.
- Cook for an additional 1-2 minutes, allowing the shrimp to absorb the flavors of the rich creamy garlic sauce.
Finish and Serve
- Toss 1 tbsp of chopped parsley into the dish. Mix well to combine.
- Take it off the heat, serve it, and enjoy the delicious dinner!
Video
Notes
Whether served with rice, pasta, or savored solo, this garlic shrimp dish is sure to delight you with its mouthwatering flavors. The combination of tender shrimp, aromatic garlic, and creamy sauce creates a seamless blend of flavor that’s rich and satisfying. With minimal preparation and cooking time, this recipe guarantees a delicious dining experience without the hassle.
Recipe FAQs
Yes, you can substitute butter with olive oil in this recipe. Extra virgin olive oil can be a healthy alternative in this case. As a general rule of thumb, you can substitute 1 cup of butter with ¾ cup of olive oil.
Shrimp cooks pretty quickly and goes from perfectly cooked to overcooked in minutes. Overcooking the shrimp makes them rubbery, so make sure you cook them just right. The easiest way to tell if they are cooked is when the shrimps turn pink and opaque.
Instead of heavy cream, you can use Greek yogurt to make the dish creamy. Add the yogurt towards the end of the cooking to avoid curdling. Alternatively, you can also use coconut cream, cashew milk, evaporated milk, or cream cheese in this recipe.
You can use healthier fats, like olive oil or coconut oil instead of butter in this recipe. You can also add vegetables like bell peppers, zucchini, spinach, or cherry tomatoes to the dish. Reduce the amount of salt used in the recipe and balance the flavor with spices, herbs, and lemon juice. Accompany the dish with a bowl of fresh salad dressed with a light vinaigrette to add more fiber to your meal.
