A flavorful cajun dish made with savory shrimp generously coated with a spicy blackened seasoning and pan fried in a hot skillet until lightly charred. Then to highlight them they're drizzled with melted butter for a rich enhanced finish.
Servings: 4
Prep15 minutesminutes
Cook3 minutesminutes
Ready in: 18 minutesminutes
Ingredients
18oz.extra large shrimp (about 24),peeled and deveined*
Place shrimp on a cutting board or large plate. If shrimp are very wet dab up some of the excess moisture with paper towels.
In a mixing bowl whisk together paprika, sugar, black pepper, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, thyme, oregano, onion powder, and salt to taste.
Heat a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat for about 5 minutes.
Meanwhile scoot shrimp very close together but don't overlap them. Sprinkle half of the spice mixture evenly over the shrimp, then turn shrimp and evenly sprinkle opposite side with remaining half of spice mixture.
Pour light olive oil into skillet and using hot pads carefully tilt oil in pan to coat.
Add the shrimp and immediately scoot into a single layer. Let cook about 1 to 1 1/2 minutes until lightly charred then quickly turn shrimp and cook opposite side until shrimp are just cooked through about 1 minute (they should become just opaque throughout).
Immediately transfer to a serving platter so they don't continue to cook.
Pour butter over shrimp. Garnish with parsley if desired. Serve with lemon wedges for spritzing.
Notes
*Shrimp tails can be left on or removed.
*Don't use extra virgin or even regular olive oil. Light olive oil has a high smoke point and is better for cooking at this temperature.
1 lime can be substituted for the lemon and cilantro can be substituted for parsley.