Cajun Blackened Shrimp

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Cajun Blackened Shrimp Recipe: A Spicy Delight

Looking for a quick and flavorful seafood dish? Try this Cajun Blackened Shrimp recipe! This dish features succulent shrimp generously coated with a spicy blackened seasoning, pan-fried in a hot skillet until perfectly charred, and drizzled with melted butter for an extra rich finish. It’s a deliciously spicy, buttery treat that’s sure to impress your family and friends.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • Quick and Easy: Ready in just 18 minutes, perfect for a busy weeknight dinner.
  • Flavorful: A blend of paprika, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, and other spices give these shrimp a bold and zesty flavor.
  • Healthy: Shrimp is a great source of protein and low in calories.
  • Versatile: Serve these shrimp as an appetizer, over a bed of rice, or with a side of vegetables for a complete meal.

Blackened Shrimp Recipe Ingredients

Main Ingredients

  • Extra large or jumbo shrimp: Use raw shrimp, not pre-cooked, to prevent them from becoming overcooked and rubbery. Avoid using anything smaller than extra-large or jumbo shrimp, as they may overcook before achieving a light char.

Seasoning Mix

  • Paprika: Regular sweet paprika is recommended, though smoked paprika can be used for a smokier flavor.
  • Granulated sugar: Helps the shrimp achieve a light char in a short cooking time without making them taste sweet.
  • Salt and black pepper: Season to taste.
  • Cayenne pepper: Adjust to your preference for spiciness. This gives the shrimp their signature heat.
  • Garlic powder and onion powder: Add depth of flavor to the shrimp.
  • Dried oregano and dried thyme: Traditional herbs in blackened seasoning, providing a light herby taste.

Cooking Ingredients

  • Oil: Use a high smoke point oil such as light olive oil (not extra virgin) or vegetable oil.
  • Butter: Salted or unsalted butter works fine. For an extra buttery finish, you can double the amount of butter, especially if serving with pasta or rice.

Garnish and Serving

  • Lemons: Cut half a lemon into wedges for serving. Spritzing the shrimp with lemon brightens up the flavors.
  • Parsley: Optional, but adds a nice pop of fresh green to finish the dish.

This combination of ingredients ensures your Blackened Shrimp is flavorful, perfectly charred, and deliciously spicy.

How to Make Blackened Shrimp

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. Lay Shrimp Out:
    • Place the shrimp on a cutting board or large plate.
    • If the shrimp are very wet, dab up some of the excess moisture with paper towels.
  2. Mix Spices:
    • In a mixing bowl, whisk together the following spices: paprika, granulated sugar, black pepper, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, dried thyme, dried oregano, onion powder, and salt (use just a pinch or two as some batches of shrimp can be quite salty).
  3. Preheat Skillet:
    • Heat a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat for about 5 minutes, or until it is just lightly smoking.
  4. Season Shrimp:
    • While the skillet is heating, arrange the shrimp close together but not overlapping.
    • Sprinkle half of the spice mixture evenly over the shrimp.
    • Turn the shrimp and evenly sprinkle the opposite side with the remaining spice mixture.
  5. Add Oil to Pan:
    • Pour light olive oil into the preheated skillet.
    • Using hot pads, carefully tilt the pan to coat it evenly with the oil.
  6. Cook Shrimp:
    • Add the seasoned shrimp to the skillet and immediately arrange them into a single layer.
    • Let the shrimp cook for about 1 1/2 minutes until they are lightly charred.
    • Turn the shrimp and cook the opposite side for about 1 minute, until they are just cooked through and opaque throughout.
    • Immediately transfer the cooked shrimp to a serving platter to prevent overcooking.
  7. Garnish:
    • Pour melted butter over the shrimp.
    • Garnish with chopped fresh parsley if desired.
    • Serve with lemon wedges for spritzing.
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Enjoy your perfectly charred, flavorful, and spicy Blackened Shrimp!

Helpful Tips for Cooking Shrimp

Using Frozen Shrimp

  • Thaw Completely: If using frozen shrimp, ensure they are fully thawed before cooking. This helps them cook evenly and achieve the desired char.

Use a Cast Iron Pan

  • Encourages Browning: A cast iron pan is ideal for this recipe as it retains heat well and helps achieve a good sear on the shrimp.

Preheat the Skillet

  • Critical Step: Allowing the skillet to preheat is essential. Starting with a very hot pan ensures the shrimp sear quickly, locking in flavor and moisture.

Add a Hint of Sugar

  • Caramelization: Adding a small amount of sugar to the seasoning mix helps the shrimp blacken quickly by caramelizing during the short cooking time.

Salt to Taste

  • Check Sodium Levels: Some shrimp can be pre-seasoned with varying amounts of salt. Start with a pinch of salt and adjust at the end to avoid over-salting.

Evenly Season Shrimp

  • Prevent Clumping: Lay the shrimp out and season each side individually instead of tossing them in a bowl. This method ensures the seasoning is evenly distributed.

Don’t Crowd the Pan

  • Max Capacity: For a 12-inch skillet, the maximum amount of shrimp to cook without overcrowding is 18 oz. Crowding the pan prevents proper browning.

Work Quickly

  • Uniform Cooking: Turn the shrimp quickly to ensure they cook evenly on both sides. This helps prevent some from cooking much faster than others.

Careful Not to Overcook

  • Monitor Doneness: Shrimp cook very quickly, especially in a hot skillet. Overcooked shrimp can become rubbery. Watch for the shrimp to turn from grey to pink and white, indicating they are done.

Cajun Blackened Shrimp

This flavorful Cajun dish features succulent shrimp coated with a spicy blackened seasoning, pan-fried in a hot skillet until perfectly charred, and finished with a drizzle of melted butter.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time5 minutes
Total Time20 minutes
Course: Breakfast, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Canada
Keyword: Cajun Blackened Shrimp
Servings: 4
Calories: 662kcal

Ingredients

  • 18 oz. extra-large shrimp about 24, peeled and deveined
  • 1 1/2 tsp paprika
  • 1 1/2 tsp granulated sugar
  • 1/2 tsp ground black pepper or to taste
  • 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper or to taste (this is spicy)
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp dried thyme
  • 1/2 tsp dried oregano
  • 1/4 tsp onion powder
  • Salt to taste
  • 1 1/2 Tbsp light olive oil or vegetable oil
  • 2 Tbsp butter melted
  • 1/2 lemon cut into wedges, for serving
  • 1 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley optional, for garnish
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Instructions

  • Prepare the Shrimp: Place the shrimp on a cutting board or large plate. Pat them dry with paper towels if they are very wet.
  • Mix the Seasoning: In a bowl, whisk together the paprika, sugar, black pepper, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, thyme, oregano, onion powder, and salt.
  • Heat the Skillet: Heat a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat for about 5 minutes.
  • Season the Shrimp: Arrange the shrimp closely together on a plate without overlapping. Sprinkle half of the seasoning mix evenly over the shrimp, then turn them over and sprinkle the remaining seasoning on the other side.
  • Cook the Shrimp: Pour the light olive oil into the heated skillet, tilting the pan to coat it evenly. Add the shrimp in a single layer. Cook for about 1 to 1 1/2 minutes until lightly charred, then turn the shrimp and cook the other side for about 1 minute until they are just opaque throughout.
  • Finish and Serve: Transfer the shrimp immediately to a serving platter to prevent overcooking. Drizzle with melted butter. Garnish with parsley if desired, and serve with lemon wedges for spritzing.

Notes

  • Shrimp Tails: The tails can be left on or removed according to your preference.
  • Oil Choice: Avoid using extra virgin or regular olive oil; light olive oil has a higher smoke point suitable for this cooking temperature.
  • Substitutions: Lime can be used instead of lemon, and cilantro can replace parsley for garnish.
Enjoy your Cajun Blackened Shrimp!
This recipe is quick, easy, and perfect for a spicy seafood delight.

 

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