Looking for a quick, simple, no chopping required appetizer? Do you like shrimps? Then, look no further than Cajun Shrimps! These easy to make and easier to eat shrimps are perfect for a party as an appetizer or for a weeknight dinner.
My first Cajun encounter..
The first time I had Cajun Shrimps was years ago in Miami, Florida at the famous Bubba Gump Seafood restaurant. Those perfectly spiced shrimps were served in a cast iron skillet with heavily buttered French bread toast for dunking in the flavorful sauce. The taste of those shrimps lingered long enough to send me on a quest to replicate that recipe. I had to find a way to make the Cajun Spice taste like what I remembered the taste to be. I came pretty close, the only difference might have been the quantity of butter added at home versus in the restaurant 🙂
The Cajun Spice
The key to Cajun Shrimps is, you guessed it right, the Cajun Spice. The Cajun spice/ seasoning originated in the Southern United States, mostly in the state of Louisiana. Cajun cuisine using many flavorful ingredients such as onions, celery, bell peppers, garlic, bay leaves. It is no surprise that the cajun spice blend uses all these flavors and much more. Think savory, spicy, smoky! The main ingredients of this spice are onion powder, garlic powder, oregano, thyme. The cayenne pepper, red chili flakes provide the spicy kick and paprika provides the smoky component. The proportions of the individual ingredients may vary, but the recipe below is what works the best for me.
The Shrimps
Shrimps happen to be one of Rakesh’s favorite ingredients! So it is a go to ingredient for us. These shrimps are best served as an appetizer, though you could also serve this as a side dish. I prefer using shrimps that are headless, with shells and tails removed. Those make for easy eating. No chopping, easy to eat shrimp and spice powders handy is what makes this dish so easy to make. Also, there is minimal cleaning required later. Talk about a winner! I usually serve these with buttered toast using a crusty bread but another idea would be to serve this as a topping on toast a la bruschetta. These are sure to please any shrimp loving crowd!
I add both oil and butter to flavor this dish. I like that oil has a higher heating point and the flavor that butter imparts. Butter makes everything better, doesn’t it? 🙂 What is your favorite shrimps appetizer? Do share your ideas in the comments below. Here is my recipe for Cajun Shrimps..
Cajun Shrimp
Ingredients
- 1 lb Medium shrimps deveined, shells and tails removed
- 1 tsp Onion Powder
- 1 tsp Garlic Powder
- 1 tsp Dried Oregano leaves
- 1 tsp Dried Thyme leaves
- 1 tsp Paprika
- 1/4 tsp Red chilli flakes
- 1/4 tsp Cayenne Pepper powder
- 3 tbsp Oil
- 1 tbsp Butter
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Heat oil in a pan. Once heated, add cleaned shrimps and saute for a couple minutes.
- Add all the spice powders one by one. Add a tablespoon of water to ensure the spices don’t burn.
- Mix well and let the shrimps cook over medium heat for 3-4 minutes taking care not to overcook them.
- Add the butter, mix well and remove from the heat once the shrimps are cooked.
- Serve hot with buttered toast!
Video
Notes
- Shrimp cook very fast, ensure that the shrimp don’t get overcooked. This will turn the shrimp chewy.
- Adjust the quantity of red chili flakes to your spice level liking.
- You can substitute the oregano and thyme powders with fresh herbs too.
- I used a combination of oil and butter, you could use either one if you prefer one over the other.