HOT AND SPICY SHRIMP

This flavorful Hot and Spicy Shrimp recipe is incredibly easy to make and perfect for a weeknight dinner! With just the right amount of spices and a total cooking time of 30 minutes or less – these juicy shrimp are sure to become a new favorite in your meal rotation!

Looking for more 30min meals? Try my Shrimp And Chicken Fried Rice, this Easy Kerala Vegetable Stew or my Pan Seared Fish With Cherry Tomatoes recipe!

Just ONE PAN and less 30 MINUTES of cooking time
to make this mouthwatering, succulent shrimp! Who’s in?

My Story

I’m a huge fan of seafood and this Indian-style spicy garlic shrimp recipe is one of my go-to healthy recipes! Authentic to South Indian cuisine, it’s a delicious shrimp recipe that always comes to mind, when I buy or have leftover shrimp!
Traditionally known as Kerala Prawn Roast or Kerala Shrimp Roast, it’s no doubt one of our family favorite recipes!
The sauce, infused with aromatics and lightly spiced caramelized onions and tomatoes, adds incredible flavor to the dish! It’s delicious and easy to make, making it the perfect way to use up fresh shrimp.
Over time, my family began calling it Hot and Spicy Shrimp, and somehow, the name has stuck! We usually have this as a main dish, with simple sides like green beans, crusty bread, indian flat bread or brown rice. We love enjoying this with a flavorful yogurt like raita aswell!

What You’ll Love About This Recipe

Recipe Ingredients

What you’ll need, to make this easy Spiced Shrimp recipe:

Ingredient Notes:

Coconut Oil: adds a great depth of flavor and has a high smoke point, making it ideal for sautéing;

Onion: sautéing onions as the base for this dish adds a rich, savory sweetness that complements and balances the spice;

Minced Ginger & Garlic: for ease I use store bought minced ginger & garlic from a jar, which works great. You can also use crushed fresh ginger/garlic in a mortar and pestle;

Tomato: the tomato adds a subtle tang and along with the sautéed onions, forms the basis of the rich, delicious sauce that coats the shrimp beautifully;

Curry Leaves: this herb adds a unique depth of earthy/zesty flavor to this stew, it is a must for this recipe and shouldn’t be substituted with any other herb! The taste is hard to describe, but if it’s not there, you’ll know it’s missing! Use fresh curry leaves, which can be found at your local Indian grocer – or ask an Indian friend! Chances are, they could be growing it in their garden!;

Spices: you’d don’t need to add a lot, a small amount of spices is all you need to add great flavor to this dish;

Shrimp: nowadays, exceptional frozen shrimp varieties are available, however, for best results, I recommend using fresh shrimp for this recipe;

Vinegar: a little goes a long way as vinegar adds a slight tang, balances heat and cuts through the richness for a more complex flavor;

Chilli: finishing with a couple of chillies split veritically in the centre, adds a nice flavor, heat and

How To Make HOT AND SPICY SHRIMP: Step-By-Step

Here are some quick visual instructions. The full instructions with the exact ingredients are printable in the recipe card below!

Step 1: In a large skillet or non-stick pan, sauté the onions in coconut oil until they are lightly golden, about 2 minutes;

Step 2: Add minced ginger and garlic and sauté a further minute;

Step 3: Add chopped tomato and sauté for 3-4 minutes or until softened;

Step 4: Then add spices and cook 2-3 minutes, this will eliminate the raw smell and taste of the spices;

Step 5: Add torn fresh curry leaves and shrimp, mix together;

Step 6: Add vinegar, mix together;

Step 7: Add a little bit of water and mix together, then spread the shrimp in a single layer and using a medium heat, cook 2-3 minutes on each side

Step 8: Add fresh green chilli, that has been split in the centre vertically, toss and it’s ready to serve!

Recipe Tips & Tricks

TIP 1 – USE FRESH RAW SHRIMP: Opt for fresh or properly thawed shrimp for the best flavor and texture. Fresh shrimp should have a clean, briny smell and firm texture;

TIP 2 – MONITOR COOKING TIME: Shrimp cook quickly, usually in 2-3 minutes per side. Overcooking can make them tough and rubbery, so keep an eye on them to ensure they’re perfectly cooked;

TIP 3 – CURRY LEAVES:  Tear up your fresh curry leaves before you use them to get the most flavor out of them!

TIP 4 – SERVE IMMEDIATELY: Serve the shrimp right after cooking to enjoy them at their juiciest and most flavorful!

PAIRING TIP
Consider serving with cooling sides like a simple salad, rice, or a yogurt-based dip to complement the heat and add balance to the meal.

WATCH How To Make Hot and Spicy Shrimp!

Storage & Reheating

Reheating: It’s best to reheat shrimp in a small pot or pan on the stovetop. If using the microwave, reheat in very short intervals of 5-10 seconds, as steam can rapidly build up in shrimp, causing them to explode.

Storage: If you happen to have any leftovers for next time – store this Hot and Spicy Shrimp in an airtight container, in the refrigerator for upto 3 days. I like to use glass pyrex/decor storage containers to avoid plastic storage options where possible.

Freezing: This hot and spicy shrimp is not suitable for freezing. Once thawed and then reheated, it leaves the shrimp with an unpleasant rubbery texture.

Additions & Substitutions

Additions:

• Citrus: add a squeeze of lime or lemon juice to brighten the flavors;
• Chopped Nuts: top with toasted peanuts or cashews for a crunchy texture;
• Red Pepper Flakes: sprinkle in some red pepper flakes for extra heat.

Substitions:

• Oil: coconut oil adds great flavor, but you can use any oil, such as canola oil, vegetable oil or olive oil;
• Kashmiri Chilli Powder: Kashmiri chilli powder is mild and adds great flavor. If you don’t have it, you can use cayenne or paprika instead, but avoid using regular chilli powder as it will be very hot.
• Ginger and Garlic: For this recipe, I use minced ginger and garlic from a jar, which works great! You can also use fresh ginger and garlic, garlic powder and even ginger powder.

Your Questions Answered

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I hope you enjoyed this easy Shrimp Recipe ! If you gave it a try, please be sure to leave a comment and rating! I’d love to hear your thoughts! Happy Cooking!