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Being apart of a big family has its advantages and disadvantages.
I am one of seven kids. There’s mom and dad, and they been together forever – since my mom was fifteen and my dad was 18, three older brothers, two younger bothers and one little sister. And yes, I also have cousins galore.
This means I have family everywhere. This is personally one of my favorite advantages. When I am running low on inspiration they are who I turn to. I have family members in Canada (but he’s normally in Utah or Tahoe – actually he is really just all over the place – yes, Brendan), Florida, Vermont, Ohio, Pennsylvania and California.
This time though, I turned to an unlikely source.
One of my older brothers, Trevor. See Trevor and I? Well, we fight more than we get along, but I am pretty sure we would not be “us” if we didn’t fight. I mean he just gets on my nerves. I can’t help it. But I love him and I love where he is living.
Trevor’s living and working in California and we all know how people in California know how to eat some dang good food. I asked him what he has been eating and he said he’s broke, so not much. Surprise, surprise. And I am not trying to be mean, but the kid can’t save a dollar for the life of him. It’s just a known fact.
Anyway, he did say he has been loving Hawaiian foods and he told me about this place he goes to. It sounds awesome and I am jealous (oh, to live in a place with good restaurants and grocery stores that carry things like rhubarb in the spring – mine does not). He mostly told me about beefy dishes because he is mostly a beef and chicken only kind of guy, BUT he did get me thinking about Hawaiian food.
Like any normal person I spent the next two hours researching Hawaiian Shrimp Trucks which, FYI, are a huge thing along the shores of Hawaii.
Also FYI, I really want to go to Hawaii. Like today. Please, please, please today?
I looked at like a gazillion recipes and read like a gazillion descriptions regarding top shrimp trucks along the shores and somehow I came up with this super simple recipe for Garlic Lemon Pepper Butter Shrimp. Basically it is caramelized garlic in butter and lemon with some pepper that you toss together with shrimp. It’s the best thing ever. So tender, juicy and buttery.
You have to marinate the shrimp in olive and garlic for at least thirty minutes, but the longer the better. Then just sauté and smell the amazingness that is taking place. I served it just like they do in Hawaii – with rice, pineapple slices and a lemon wedge. Oh, and I think they leave the entire shell on the shrimp, but for easy eating purposes, I just left the tail shell on.
Hawaiian Shrimp Truck Special (Garlic Lemon Butter Shrimp).
Ingredients
- 1 pound raw tail on shrimp
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 2 lemons, juiced, divided
- 5-6 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped plus more for garnish
- 1 tablespoon flour
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 6 tablespoons salted butter
- 1 teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Add the shrimp to a gallon size ziplock bag or medium size bowl. Add the olive oil, juice of 1 lemon, chopped garlic, 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, flour, cayenne pepper and pepper. Toss well to combine, seal the bag or cover the bowl and place in the fridge for 30 minutes or up 24 hours.
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Once hot use a slotted spoon to scoop the shrimp out of the marinade and into the hot skillet, season with salt and pepper. Make sure to scoop up all the garlic as well. Saute the shrimp until pink, about 2-3 minutes per side. Remove the shrimp from the pan leaving the garlic in the skillet. Add the salted butter and 1 teaspoon pepper (or more or less to your taste) to the skillet. Cook the garlic in the butter until it begins to caramelize and turn golden brown. Remove from the heat and stir in 1 tablespoon chopped parsley, the juice of 1/2 a lemon and zest if using. Drizzle with the warm garlic butter over the shrimp. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Did you make this recipe? Please rate & comment below.
So we could devour without pausing. Obviously.
If this dish is as good as your writing, it’s a winner! Question: I have couple of pounds of cooked jumbo shrimp. Have you ever tried already cooked shrimp for this recipe? What do you suggest?
I have been meaning to try this and I finally made it tonight accompanied with Fire Rock Pale Ale. It was delicious, thanks for the recipe!
So happy you loved the recipe! Thanks!
Tieghan, ah-MAZING – made tonight for my parents and we all loved it. So buttery but fresh from the lemon. My only question was if you’re not supposed to put the oil from the marinade into the pan to cook? Thank you for a great recipe!
So happy you loved this, Amy!!
You are supposed to scoop the shrimp + garlic out with a slotted spoon. Sorry, I will add that to the recipe.
Thanks so much!
Coming from Hawaii I can tell you that those shrimp trucks have some of the best shrimp I have ever eaten. Your recipe looks on poin,t the only thing is that they don’t usually serve it with pineapple unless it’s a really touristy place. Btw love your blog, so much inspiration
Thanks so much, Celia!! I added the pineapple because I love it, but I also thought they added it. Thanks for letting me know!
Shrimp is my lover. I want to eat that whole skillet of yum!
Thanks Brenda!
Yum, shrimp or prawns as they are called here are amazing! So making this tonight! Thanks
Thanks so much! Hope you loved them!
I love shrimp, these look killer. So wish I had these in front of me for dinner!
These shrimp sound AMAZING. Also, I went to Hawaii (Maui) for the first time last year and it was incredible. You must go!
Glad you loved your trip here. Being born and raised here I guess I take the food for granted. We are waiting for Olive Garden, Sonic, In & out burger, etc to open on Maui lol. Hope your next visit here is just as great.
Thanks Amanda!
All I can say is….I’m glad I found you!
Thank you so much!! 🙂
Hawaii is on my list of dream vacation spots as well, of course for the beautiful scenery and warm weather, but also for the food. I’ve heard it’s all phenomenal, I feel like I could close my eyes, eat this shrimp and pretend I’m there…..
Thanks Nicole!
I’m one of 8! I have 7 sisters. Just wait until all your brothers and sisters start having kids. In like ten years when you all get together and they have kids running everywhere it’s going to be a mad house. I have 20 nieces and nephews, but my sisters started having babies in high school, I would advise against that 😉
Haha! I never meet many people who beat me with siblings! I cannot even imagine my brothers with kids… they can barely take cake of themselves! LOL!
Thanks Jackie!! 🙂
I can’t bevilee I’ve been going for years without knowing that.
im jealous of those people who have seasonal produce at their disposal all the time!
Me too!
Thanks Dixya!
I <3 <3 <3 shrimp {and Hawaii, but that goes without saying} Simple recipes are the best – pining!
Thank you!
I love seafood! This dish sounds completely yummy! Beautiful pictures!
Thanks Sommer!
I have Hawaii dreams too, and this shrimp only makes me want to go more! I have been craving seafood like a crazy person..and garlic + lemon is always a good idea!
Thanks Cindy!