Camarones al Ajillo

Camarones al Ajillo (Puerto Rican Garlic Shrimp) are cooked in a delicious broth of butter, garlic, lime, white wine and cilantro or parsley.  Serve as an appetizer, with pasta or on top of rice.  Yummylicious!!

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If you’re a seafood and shrimp lover like I am, then you will love these Camarones al Ajillo (Puerto Rican Garlic Shrimp)!

These are delicious, succulent plump shrimp in a garlicky, butter, lime, cilantro and wine broth that are to die for!

You will find Camarones al Ajillo on the menu in many restaurants in Puerto Rico especially along the coast and the Metropolitan Area of San Juan.

This shrimp recipe is extremely similar to the notoriously famous shrimp scampi recipe but with some slight differences.

In Puerto Rico, we use slightly more garlic and cilantro instead of parsley.  Although that’s not to say that sometimes, we do use parsley too!  And sometimes neither!

Serve Camarones al Ajillo with:

• These are great served as an appetizer served with crusty bread for dipping in the broth.  YUM!
• On the side or on top of white rice.
• With garlic tostones (fried garlic plantains).
• Puerto Rican Rice (Puerto Rican Yellow Rice with Corn)
• Puerto Rican Rice and Beans (Arroz con Habichuelas).
• Cilantro Lime Rice
• Arroz Mamposteao (“Dirty Rice” with Beans)
• On top of pasta or egg noodles.

Or whatever else you can think of I’m sure these will taste amazing with!

Ingredients for Camarones al Ajillo

• 1 pound RAW large or jumbo shrimp
• 1 stick unsalted butter
• 6 garlic cloves
• juice of half a lime
• 2 tablespoons of fresh cilantro or flat leaf parsley
• 1/4 white wine (dry)
• salt and pepper to taste

How to Make Camarones al Ajillo

1. Peel and mince garlic cloves.
2. Peel and devein shrimp.  Rinse and season with salt and pepper to taste.
3. Set aside in the refrigerator until ready to use.

NOTE:  It is important to use raw shrimp and not precooked shrimp.  You want all the flavors of the butter, garlic, lime, cilantro and wine to soak into the shrimps.

(oops! Sorry the cilantro is missing from this picture!)

1. In a cast iron skillet or pan, over medium heat, add the butter.  Allow the butter to melt.  DO NOT burn the butter.
2. Add the minced garlic, lime juice and wine.  Stir well and cook for about 5 minutes.  (Watch not to allow garlic to burn)

(Taste broth and make sure it is not bitter.  If so, lower heat and cook broth for a few more minutes allowing white wine to evaporate.)

1. Add shrimps and cook for 2-3 on one side, flip with a fork and cook for an additional 2 minutes on the other side.  (Do not overcook or shrimp will be tough and rubbery)

Shrimps will be pinkish/orange in color when fully cooked.

1. Add chopped cilantro or parsley and stir.
2. Taste for seasoning.  Add additional salt and pepper if needed.

Shrimps are done.

Serve shrimps with any of the yummy options above!

For additional shrimp recipes, you will also love these:

Fried Avocado Stuffed with Shrimp

Shrimp Ceviche Tostadas

Tacos Gobernador (Cheesy Shrimp Tacos)

Salpicón de Mariscos (Seafood Medley)

Mexican Bruschetta Recipe (with Shrimp)

Ceviche Verde (Green Ceviche)

Pinchos de Camarones (Shrimp Skewers Wrapped in Rice Noodles and served with an Avocado Jalapeño Dip)

for a full list of yummy shrimp recipes, click here → shrimp recipes

5 from 4 votes

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Camarones al Ajillo (Puerto Rican Garlic Shrimp)

Prep Time

10 mins

Cook Time

10 mins

 

Camarones al Ajillo (Puerto Rican Garlic Shrimp) are cooked in a delicious broth of butter, garlic, lime, white wine and cilantro or parsley.  Serve as an appetizer, with pasta or on top of rice.

Course: Appetizer, Dinner

Cuisine: Puerto Rican

Keyword: Puerto Rican Shrimp, Shrimp Scampi

Servings: 4

Calories: 335 kcal

Author: Mexican Appetizers and More

Ingredients

• 1 pound raw large or jumbo shrimp peeled and deveined
• 1 stick unsalted butter
• 6 garlic cloves minced
• juice of half a lime
• 2 tbsp fresh cilantro or flat leaf parsley chopped
• 1/4 cup dry white wine
• salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Peel and mince garlic cloves.

2. Peel and devein shrimp.  Rinse and season with salt and pepper to taste.

   Set aside in the refrigerator until ready to use.

   NOTE:  It is important to use raw shrimp and not precooked shrimp.  You want all the flavors of the butter, garlic, lime, cilantro and wine to soak into the shrimps.

3. In a cast iron skillet or pan, over medium heat, add the butter.  Allow the butter to melt.  DO NOT burn the butter.

4. Add the minced garlic, lime juice and wine.  Stir well and cook for about 5 minutes.  (Watch not to allow garlic to burn)

   (Taste broth and make sure broth is not bitter. If so, lower heat and cook broth for a few more minutes allowing white wine to evaporate.)

5. Add shrimps and cook for 2-3 on one side, flip with a fork and cook for an additional 2 minutes on the other side.  (Do not overcook or shrimp will be tough and rubbery)

   Shrimps will be pinkish/orange in color when fully cooked.

6. Add chopped cilantro or parsley and stir. Taste for seasoning.  Add additional salt and pepper if needed.

   Shrimps are done.

7. Serve Camarones al Ajillo as an appetizer with crusty bread for dipping in broth, with pasta, egg noodles, tostones (garlic fried plantains) or beside or on top of rice.

Nutrition Facts

Camarones al Ajillo (Puerto Rican Garlic Shrimp)

Amount Per Serving (4 g)

Calories 335 Calories from Fat 216

% Daily Value*

Fat 24g37%

Saturated Fat 15g94%

Cholesterol 347mg116%

Sodium 886mg39%

Potassium 119mg3%

Carbohydrates 2g1%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 1g1%

Protein 24g48%

Vitamin A 705IU14%

Vitamin C 6mg7%

Calcium 179mg18%

Iron 2.5mg14%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.