One of Spain´s most famous tapas dishes is Gambas al Ajillo. Which is basically garlic shrimp. However, every region makes them different. In this post, I will show you how to make The Famous Spanish Garlic Shrimp from Madrid.
This garlic shrimp recipe is very simple, yet it has the most incredible flavors. Folks, it does not get better than this. Easy to make, just a couple ingredients and done in 20 minutes.
What makes Spanish garlic shrimp some of the best in the world, is the amount of garlic that is used. We are talking an obscene amount of garlic, swimming in a beautiful pool of sauce, next to some perfectly cooked shrimp.
TIPS & TRICKS to Make this Recipe: I used raw frozen shrimp that I thawed out. But you can use fresh shrimp as well. Either way, make sure to pat them completely dry with paper towels. This removes any excess water, so the shrimp can absorb all the flavors in the pan.
Key Ingredients & Cookware I used in this Recipe:
MY SWISS DIAMON FRYING PANS
EXTRA VIRGIN SPANISH OLIVE OIL
SPANISH SEA SALT
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Watch the Video Below on How to Make The Famous Spanish Garlic Shrimp | Gambas al Ajillo from Madrid
The Famous Spanish Garlic Shrimp | Gambas al Ajillo from Madrid
Ingredients
- 15 raw jumbo shrimp peeled & deveined
- 8 cloves garlic
- 4 small dried cayenne peppers
- 1/3 cup white wine 85 ml
- 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil 88 ml
- handful freshly chopped parsley
- sea salt & black pepper
- 1 baguette to serve optional
Instructions
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Peel and thinly slice 8 cloves of garlic, pat down 15 raw jumbo shrimp (peeled & deveined) with paper towels, season the shrimp with sea salt & black pepper, reserve 4 small dried cayenne peppers and measure out 1/3 cup white wine
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Heat a large fry pan with a medium heat and add in 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil, after 2 minutes season the olive oil with sea salt and add in the sliced garlic & cayenne peppers, mix with the olive oil, after 2 minutes and the garlics are developing a light golden fried color, add the shrimp into the pan, making sure they´re all in a single layer
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After 1 1/2 to 2 minutes flip the shrimp to cook the other side, then add in the 1/3 cup of white wine and raise the heat to a medium-high heat
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After a total cooking time of about 4 minutes on the shrimp (2 minutes per side), they should be perfectly cooked, remove the pan from the heat, transfer everything into a serving dish and sprinkle with freshly chopped parsley, serve next to a crusty baguette to mop up all the sauce, enjoy!
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joseph
15 . Aug . 2024Shrimp been cooking Shrimps for 60 pus years. associate of James Beard 1970s , shrimp should no be cooked by the clock , and equal amounts of butter and olive oil Spanish of course a more rich fruity flavor , Now Shrimps , doesn’t matter what size I prefer 16 20s , when shrimps ar detained. there is a center Lin in the cut. watching the is tthe KEY , heat olive oil butter ,med heat add tom of garlic. stir around when aroma hits your nose raise heat to med high not smoking hot add shrimps. do not move around watch center line as it approaches opaque flip and watch as it turns opaque remove from heat they will continue to cook from residual heat. tip do not let garlic turn brown not not. want a great change before garlic add several sprigs of fresh Rosemary toss around 3o seconds or so remove save for flat bread , then garlic den raise heart add Shrimps. yeaahhhhhhhh. cook cook and learn. James would say ” Good Eating “
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This site was… how do I say it? Relevant!! Finally I have found something that helped me. Thanks!
13 . Dec . 2023Spain on a Fork
Happy to hear that! Thanks for the comment 🙂 Much love
15 . Dec . 2023Lynn
03 . Feb . 2023Just made this as a quick low calorie meal and it is delicious. I really love your recipes and make them often .
Thank you for teaching us these wonderful foods .
Spain on a Fork
So happy to hear that! Thanks for the comment 🙂 Much love
03 . Feb . 2023Kitty
Hola Albert, do you devein the frozen shrimp yourself? If not, please could you let me know which brand you use? I am currently in Sevilla and have not seen deveined frozen shrimp in the supermarkets here. Muchas gracias! I can’t wait to make this recipe–it’s one of my favorite Spanish dishes!
31 . Jan . 2022Spain on a Fork
Mercadona and Consum sells them, they are called colas de gambones, in the freezer section, peeled & deveined 🙂 much love
31 . Jan . 2022Mediterranean Cook
04 . Jul . 2021Your recipes are fantastic. Love the abundant use of garlic. Just like we Sicilians. Can’t wait to try this one and your mushrooms with garlic and vinegar sauce.
Spain on a Fork
So happy to hear that! thanks for the comment 🙂 much love!
04 . Jul . 2021SusieD
22 . Jun . 2021I made this for Father’s Day for my husband….along with the creamy garlic potatoes and a salad…..it was incredible. Guaranteed no vampires at our house!! The beauty of these recipes is their simplicity, yet the flavours are amazing!
Spain on a Fork
I am so happy to hear that! Much love 🙂
22 . Jun . 2021Randy Alexander
13 . Jan . 2021Wonderful recipe. I discovered this on YouTube where I am a subscriber. What brand are the small peppers? I’ve only seen large long ones available here (US.)
Spain on a Fork
The ones I used are ¨hacendado¨ which are only available in Spain. You can use the largers ones, just cut them into small pieces 🙂 much love!
13 . Jan . 2021Steve
Excellent videos!
20 . Dec . 2020Spain on a Fork
Thank you! much love 🙂
20 . Dec . 2020Brian Robinson
When is the cookbook coming out? My printer is running out of ink printing all of these amazing recipes!
01 . Dec . 2020Spain on a Fork
Maybe one day! Thanks for the comment 🙂 much love
01 . Dec . 2020Hilloo Gopal
18 . Nov . 2020Great dishes and so easy to make!
Spain on a Fork
Thank you!!! Much love 🙂
19 . Nov . 2020Hilloo Gopal
18 . Nov . 2020Love Spanish food so these recipes are v welcome
Spain on a Fork
Thanks for the comment 🙂 Much love!
19 . Nov . 2020