Tequila Lime Shrimp

I love shrimp, but never really did anything exciting with them...just your typical seasoning and throwing it in a pasta. I've heard of tequila lime shrimp but never tried it, so I decided to give it a try as an appetizer. Spoiler alert...these were good! I ate the whole appetizer myself in just a few minutes. Luckily no one else in my family eats seafood! The shrimp had a nice citrusy flavor from the lime and a good amount of heat from the cayenne pepper. I didn't necessarily taste any tequila in this dish, I think I'd have to taste the same dish side by side with one made without tequila to maybe notice the difference. Also, I only marinated these for 15 minutes so perhaps a longer marinade time of an hour or two and less time on the grill (because the acid from the lime juice would cook the shrimp) would have helped. Regardless, these were delicious and a must try!

​Summary

Serving Size: 2 people

​Prep time: 15 minutes

Rest time: 15 minutes

Cook time: 15 minutes

Total time: 45 minutes

EQUIPMENT:

• Skewers. To grill the shrimp. You can also use a grill pan.

• Cast Iron Sauce Pan. This is for making and heating the basting sauce. If you don't have one, you can make this part on your stove top.

• Basting Brush. For basting the shrimp with the tequila sauce during the grill.

​MARINADE Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup tequila (añejo)

• 3 limes

• 3 garlic cloves minced

• 2 tbsp. olive oil

• 1/4 cup chopped cilantro

• 1/2 tbsp. ancho chili powder

• 1/2 tbsp. smoked paprika

• 1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper (optional)

BASTING Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup tequila (añejo)

• 4 tbsp. unsalted butter

• 3 garlic cloves minced

• 1/4 cup chopped cilantro

• 1/2 tbsp. ancho chili powder

• 1/2 tbsp. smoked paprika

• 1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper (optional)

PROTEIN Ingredients:

• 1/2 pound shrimp (peeled & deveined, leave the tails on)

MARINADE Instructions:

1. In a medium-size bowl, add all the marinade ingredients and then whisk together.

2. Add the peeled & deveined shrimp. Using your hand, work the shrimp into the marinade until they are thoroughly coated. Then ensure the shrimp is evenly spaced and covered in marinade.

3. Let the shrimp rest in the refrigerator for 15 minutes, while you work on the basting sauce.

BASTING Instructions:

Note: This recipe makes a lot of the tequila basting sauce. You could cut the tequila in half and still be fine.

1. Add a cast iron sauce pot to the grill and then add the tequila.

2. Once the tequila comes to a boil, add the butter.

3. Once the butter is melted, give it a stir and then add in the garlic and spices and give it another stir.

4. Once the tequila sauce comes back to a boil, stir in the cilantro and then set the sauce pot aside.

COOK Instructions:

1. Skewer the shrimp and then put them on the grill.

2. Cook them about 3 minutes and then flip them.

3. After the flip, baste them with the tequila marinade and cook for another 3 minutes or until the shrimp is pink and white and not translucent anywhere.

4. Once done, take the shrimp off the grill and remove them from the skewers and place them on a plate.

Dig in!