Spanish Garlic Shrimp (Gambas al Ajillo)

4.6
(89)
66 Reviews
20 Photos

Gambas al ajillo are on every Spanish restaurant menu — for good reason! It's a dish of shrimp cloaked in garlic-infused olive oil with smoky hints of paprika and a touch of sweetness from sherry. Make sure you have all your ingredients together before you head to the stove since, start to finish, this cooks in mere minutes. It's great for a tapas party since you can prep everything ahead of time. Just spoon the shrimp and sauce over toasted bread and sprinkle more cayenne and parsley on top to enjoy.

By
John Mitzewich
Chef John
John Mitzewich
John Mitzewich — aka Chef John — has produced more than 1,500 cooking videos for Allrecipes. He's the actor, director, and screenwriter whose hands and voice confidently walk you through techniques.
Allrecipes' editorial guidelines
Updated on May 22, 2024
20
A plate of Spanish garlic shrimp served with sliced toasted bread
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20
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20
Prep Time:
15 mins
Cook Time:
5 mins
Total Time:
20 mins
Servings:
4
Jump to Nutrition Facts

Ingredients

  • 1 pound frozen large shrimp (21-25 count) - thawed, peeled, and deveined

  • 1 teaspoon hot smoked paprika (Optional)

  • kosher salt to taste

  • 4 cloves garlic

  • ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil

  • 2 tablespoons dry sherry

  • 1 tablespoon chopped Italian flat-leaf parsley

Directions

  1. Gather all ingredients.

    Ingredients to make Spanish garlic shrimp

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  2. Place shrimp in a large bowl and season with paprika and kosher salt; mix well to coat.

    A large bowl of shrimp seasoned with paprika and salt

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  3. Slice garlic into thin slices. Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat; add garlic and cook until golden, about 2 minutes.

    A large skillet with sliced garlic cooking in olive oil

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  4. Add shrimp and increase heat to high. Toss and turn shrimp with tongs until starting to curl but still undercooked, about 2 minutes.

    A large skillet with shrimp and sliced garlic

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  5. Pour in sherry. Cook, stirring continuously, until sauce comes up to a boil and shrimp is cooked through, about 1 minute more.

    A large skillet with shrimp and garlic cooking in sherry

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  6. Remove from heat. Stir in parsley.

    A plate of Spanish garlic shrimp served with sliced toasted bread

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

Chef's Notes

Unless you live in a few choice locations, it's rare to find true fresh shrimp at the market. All they do is thaw some frozen shrimp and put it in the case, where it sits until you buy it, which is why it really makes a lot more sense to purchase frozen. To thaw, run cold water into the bowl of frozen shrimp and let it sit for about 10 minutes before draining. Repeat once more.

Feel free to substitute white wine plus a pinch of sugar for the sherry.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

227 Calories
15g Fat
3g Carbs
19g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 4
Calories 227
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 15g 19%
Saturated Fat 2g 11%
Cholesterol 173mg 58%
Sodium 344mg 15%
Total Carbohydrate 3g 1%
Dietary Fiber 0g 1%
Total Sugars 0g
Protein 19g 38%
Vitamin C 5mg 5%
Calcium 43mg 3%
Iron 3mg 17%
Potassium 196mg 4%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.

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