Best Spanish Garlic Shrimp Recipe

Let me show you how to make a delicious appetizer or lunch treat… Lush gambas al ajillo! Or a classic Spanish garlic shrimp recipe. It contains olive oil, garlic and fresh parsley. Fabulous.

Need a gorgeous garlic shrimp recipe?

Then this is the one that you want to try out!

Here is how I got to know this delicacy for the first time.

We lived for a couple of weeks in the beautiful seaside city of Barcelona in this cute little apartment. It was literally 10 steps away from the most popular Spanish fresh produce market: the famous Boqueria market.

La Boqueria, Barcelona

You surely must have heard of the Boqueria before, right!

It must be Spain’s most famous market I guess.

And if you are such an obsessed foodie like me, then you risk going totally nuts every time you walk into that place because it is just fab.

The freshest produce you can ever image! You name it, they most probably sell it. It is heaven for a foodie like me.

So we lived there for some time right around the end of autumn back then so there were heaps and heaps of the most delicious mushrooms and game. Their fish and seafood in the heart of the Boqueria is of superb quality.

A real pleasure to the eye.

Mushrooms

It is like walking around in a dream.

What we also love about the Boqueria market is that you can sit down at numerous bars and eateries on the spot. Chefs use the fresh same ingredients from the market of course.

One of our favorites is a mushroom by the name of niscalo in Spanish, or saffron milk cap.

Chefs prepare them simply a la plancha in olive oil with just a sprinkle of salt.

Yum.

Best Garlic Shrimp Recipe (Spanish Gambas al Ajillo)

Another classic treat there are these garlic shrimp!

Fresh shrimp.

Olive oil.

Garlic and salt.

Sounds about right!

Some chefs usually prepare their garlic shrimp recipe in the oven. Others a la plancha.

I just had to try this myself.

So we bought some gorgeous looking fresh shrimp for just a few bucks once.

Because in the late afternoon prices are much lower so nothing has to be thrown away after closing time. So we took our catch home and decided to keep our shrimp dinner Spanish and simple.

We only used a pinch of pimenton, a splash of olive oil and a good portion of fresh garlic and parsley.

Mediterranean 

This garlic shrimp recipe or ‘gambas al ajillo’ in Spanish proves that shrimp absolutely don’t always need any cream or butter sauces like the ones you sometimes get in a restaurant. Not only that but we were standing knee deep in the mediterranean sea.

So we kept it light just because of this.

By the way, this garlic shrimp recipe is prepared the same way seafood is prepared in Barcelona in the many local bars and eateries in and around the Boqueria market. Fresh, easy, light, healthy and simple as hell.

It is hard to ignore the delicious flavors when you walk past.

Fresh Bread

We served these garlic shrimp steaming hot with slices of crunchy Spanish fresh bread to mop up that fragrant garlic oil in the end. Needless to say that this treat is absolutely delicious.

Try it, because you will love this  one…

Do you love shrimp?

Then you should also check out my shrimp tacos!

Enjoy!

Best Spanish Garlic Shrimp Recipe (Gambas al Ajillo)

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Gambas al Ajillo (Spanish Garlic Shrimp Recipe)

Prep Time

15 mins

Cook Time

15 mins

Total Time

30 mins

 

What an absolute treat!

Course: Appetizer, Lunch, Snack, Starter

Cuisine: Spanish

Servings: 2 people

Calories per serving: 265 kcal

Ingredients

• 12 shrimp fresh or frozen
• 2 medium garlic cloves sliced
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 2 tbsp fresh parsley chopped
• chili powder or pimenton
• salt

Instructions

1. Thaw the shrimp if you're using frozen ones. Then remove the heads and peel them. Remove the black veins if you prefer. Rinse the shrimp well until cleaned and drain them on kitchen paper.

   

2. Pour the olive oil in a large non-stick pan. Place it over medium heat until hot. Add the garlic. Gently fry it for a minute without browning. Season with salt.

   

3. Then add the peeled shrimp.

   

4. Stir and cook the shrimp for 2 minutes until they are pink. Season with a little pinch of pimenton (or chili powder).

   

5. Once the shrimp are nearly cooked, take the hot pan off the heat and stir in the freshly chopped parsley.

   

6. Check the seasoning and add extra pimenton or salt to taste if necessary. Then transfer the shrimp, garlic and olive oil to 2 small ceramic dishes and serve immediately.