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Close-up of a plate featuring garlic shrimp on white rice, garnished with sliced green onions, with creamy macaroni and cheese served alongside.

Hawaii-Style Garlic Shrimp (30 Minutes)

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  • Author: Jess Larson
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: serves 2-4 1x
  • Category: Main Dishes; Seafood Recipes
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: Hawaii and Local-Style; American
  • Diet: Gluten Free

Description

Juicy jumbo shrimp, crispy garlic chips, and a rich browned butter sauce—my Hawaiian family’s recipe is North Shore Garlic Shrimp at its best.

Inspired by O’ahu’s iconic food trucks, this easy at-home version comes together in 30 minutes using fresh or frozen shrimp.

Just marinate, sear, toss in rich, garlicky browned butter, and serve over warm rice to soak up every drop. So ’ono! 🌺🤙🏼

Ingredients

Scale

for the garlic shrimp:

  • 1 pound jumbo shrimp (16-20 count), peeled and deveined with tails left on
  • 3-4 tablespoons olive oil, divided
  • 6 cloves garlic, finely chopped
  • ¼-½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • kosher salt and ground black pepper, to season
  • 1 tablespoon rice flour (can sub all-purpose flour)

for the crispy garlic brown butter:

  • ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
  • 8 cloves garlic, half finely chopped and half very thinly sliced

Instructions

  1. Marinate the shrimp: Rinse the shrimp and pat very dry with paper towels. Add to a medium bowl with 2 tablespoons of the olive oil, chopped garlic, cayenne pepper (if using), 1 teaspoon kosher salt and ground black pepper as desired. Toss well to coat. Set aside or cover and refrigerate overnight.A glass bowl filled with raw shrimp seasoned with spices sits on a distressed blue wooden surface, with a small pitcher of olive oil, a jar of paprika, and a dish of black pepper nearby.
  2. Prepare the crispy garlic brown butter: Add the butter to a large skillet over medium heat. Once melted, stir in the chopped and sliced garlic. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 3-5 minutes. When the butter begins to foam, reduce the heat to medium-low and continue cooking until the garlic turns golden brown. Remove from the heat and transfer to a bowl.A white skillet with browned butter and sliced garlic sizzling in it, sitting on a distressed turquoise wooden surface.
  3. Cook the shrimp: Wipe the skillet clean and return it to medium heat. Add 1 tablespoon olive oil. While the oil heats, sprinkle the rice flour over the marinated shrimp and gently toss to coat. Once the oil is hot and shimmering, add the shrimp in a single layer, working in batches to avoid overcrowding. Cook 1 ½ – 2 minutes per side, until golden and just cooked through. Transfer to a plate and repeat with remaining shrimp, adding more oil as needed between batches.Cooked, seasoned shrimp in a white skillet with handles, sitting on a distressed turquoise wooden surface. The shrimp are arranged in a single layer with a light coating of seasoning.
  4. Toss it all together: Return all the cooked shrimp (and any juicy goodness on the plate!) to the skillet with the prepared crispy garlic brown butter. Toss to combine well, cooking 30-60 seconds longer to let everything meld together.Shrimp sautéing in a white pan with melted butter and seasonings, placed on a distressed blue wooden surface.
  5. Serve immediately: Spoon the shrimp and garlic butter over warm Calrose rice and serve with a few lemon wedges for a little brightness. For a plate lunch-style meal, add a few scoops of Mom’s Hawaiian Mac Salad—so ‘ono! Enjoy!A plate of shrimp in sauce served over white rice, with a side of macaroni salad and lemon wedges, garnished with fresh herbs, on a rustic blue wooden table. Forks, rice, and part of a skillet are visible nearby.

Equipment

Notes

  • Storage and reheating: While best enjoyed fresh and warm, leftover garlic shrimp will keep, stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, for up to 2 days. For best results, reheat on the stovetop over medium-low heat until warmed through—the microwave also works, but may make the shrimp a little rubbery and tough.

Find it online: https://playswellwithbutter.com/garlic-shrimp/