How to Grill Shrimp

Shrimp in any form, be it cooked, fried or grilled, is every seafood lover's delight. Nothing tastes better than grilled shrimp. Shrimp is easy to cook and once you know the trick, then there's no stopping. You can dish out your own recipes and have a whale of a time trying them. Add a dash of olive oil with salt and pepper or marinade the shrimp to enhance its taste, it all depends on how you like your shrimp.

Instructions for Grilling Shrimp
People are usually apprehensive while grilling fish or meat, thinking that it may get burnt. Follow these tips on grilling shrimp and you will get perfectly cooked shrimp

• Use any type of grill like a charcoal grill or gas grill to cook your shrimp. Before cooking, remember to preheat the grill.
• If you are using a charcoal grill, ensure that the coals are red hot. While using a gas grill, make sure that it is preheated at 300 C.
• Grill the shrimp for about 5 minutes over medium heat. Cover the grill, if it is a gas grill. Never overcook the shrimp, as the flesh may turn hard and rubbery.
• When the shrimp is cooked, it will turn golden brown. If you want to check whether the shrimp is ready, poke it with a toothpick. If the toothpick pierces the flesh without any effort, then your shrimp is done. Otherwise, let it cook for a couple of minutes more.

When you use a wooden skewer, always soak it in water before keeping it on the grill as a dry skewer can catch fire. If you don't have a barbecue or a charcoal grill at home, you can always use a grilling pan for cooking the shrimp.

How to Cook Shrimp
Shrimp is available in different varieties. The cooking time and method varies according to the size of the shrimp. You can even devein and remove the outer shell before cooking, as per your preference. Follow these steps on how to cook shrimp.

• Remove the outer shell and vein of the shrimp before cooking. (That's optional!)
• Boil water in a pan and add teaspoon of salt and a few drops of lemon juice
• Put off the burner and transfer the shrimp into the pan. Let it stand for about 5-10 minutes or till the shrimp gets cooked.
• Once the shrimp is cooked, the flesh will become opaque. Transfer them to a dry pan till the water drains. Here are a few grilled shrimp recipes that you can make easily at home.

Oregano and Lemon Grilled Shrimp
Grilling is an easy method to cook shrimp in a short time. It also retains the maximum taste of the shrimp. The following is a mouth-watering recipe to cook shrimp:
Ingredients

• 2 pounds large shrimp
• 1 tablespoons lemon juice
• teaspoon pepper powder
• tablespoon fresh parsley, finely chopped
• 5 garlic cloves, minced
• teaspoon oregano
• cup olive oil
• salt to taste

Method
In a large bowl take shrimp, add olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic cloves, pepper, parsley, oregano and salt, and mix them well. Keep this grilled shrimp marinade in the refrigerator for about 2 hours. To enhance the taste, marinate the shrimp without shelling it. After 2 hours, remove the bowl from the fridge and let it thaw. De-shell the shrimp and thread it to the wooden skewer, place it on the preheated grill. Let it cook for about 5 minutes and then flip the sides so that the shrimp is cooked evenly. When the shrimp is cooked the flesh will turn white and opaque. Transfer the shrimp to a serving tray, garnish it with the remaining parsley and serve.

Spicy Ginger-Lime Grilled Shrimp
You can have your own recipes for grilling shrimp. Try this spicy-sour grilled shrimp recipe and entice your taste buds.
Ingredients

• 1 pound large shrimp
• cup fresh lime juice
• 5 garlic cloves, minced
• teaspoon black pepper
• 2 medium-sized onions, diced
• I cucumber
• 2 carrots, peeled and diced
• 2 tablespoons cilantro, finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon minced ginger
• 2 tablespoons lemon marmalade
• crushed red pepper flakes and salt to taste

Method
In a large bowl, add lime juice, ginger, garlic, onions, marmalade, red pepper flakes, cilantro, salt, and pepper and mix well. Add olive oil and blend it with the ingredients. Transfer the cleaned shrimp to the bowl, mix well and let it marinate for about 1 hour. Thread the shrimp to the skewers and place it in a seafood grill basket, cook it on the barbecue for about 3 minutes. On a serving tray place shredded cucumber and carrots, and pour the remaining marinade. Transfer the grilled shrimp to the tray, garnish with cilantro and serve.

If you don't have a grill and are wondering how to grill shrimp, you can use a grill pan instead. But ensure that the shrimp is well grilled to retain its texture and taste. Bon Appetit!