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    Home » Seafood

    Sauteed Shrimp & Basil

    Published: Sep 2, 2021 · Modified: Jan 9, 2024 by Tammy Circeo · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

    Yum
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    A quick and easy meal is always en vogue and this Sauteed Shrimp and Basil gets on the table in a blink of an eye. The shrimp marinate for 10 minutes and only cook about a minute on each side! If you buy peeled and deveined shrimp, it's that much faster!

    Two servings of Sauteed Shrimp & Basil

    How to prepare the shrimp

    You can purchase frozen shrimp, of course, but if you can get fresh, wild shrimp, take that option! Pull the tail off, then put your thumb between the legs and pull off the rest of the shell. Use a small paring knife to cut down the back of the shrimp. put the tip of the knife under the vein, and pull it out. This is not the most pleasant part of preparing shrimp, but it is highly necessary!

    Peel and devein the shrimp

    The ingredients for the Sauteed Shrimp and Basil marinade are few and simple.


    A little fish sauce, a little oil, some sugar, a little salt, plenty of garlic, and some spicy peppers (jalapenos, serrano, fresno) ... and that's it. Mix it together and stir the shrimp in, making sure to coat them all very well. The photo shows three red jalapenos, but rest assure that you can adjust it according to what you can handle.

    Truth is, I only used ONE! You do you. I can stand it being spicier and sometimes add more pepper depending on who I'm feeding.

    Marinade ingredients for the shrimp

    Are you wondering what fish sauce is?

    Fish sauce is made from a mixture of fish (often anchovies, but sometimes mackerel or shrimp ... an oily fish) and salt that is allowed to ferment for up to two years. It is a staple ingredient in many Asian dishes and lends a beautiful umami, that certain je ne sais quoi. My favorite brand is Red Boat as it is gluten-free, has no preservatives (who needs them especially with a fermented, salted product?!), and has no MSG.

    Marinade mixed up: fish sauce, vinegar, sugar, garlic, peppers

    Mix all the ingredients, then toss the shrimp with the marinade and allow it to sit for 10 minutes.

    Marinating the shrimp for 10 minutes

    Use a large skillet over medium-high heat or work in batches in a smaller one. You don't want to crowd the skillet because you'll have less of a chance of getting that delicious char.

    The shrimp will literally only take about 1 minute on each side. I turn them to the second side when I start seeing the pink come up the edges of each shrimp.

    Turn the heat off, remove the shrimp immediately to a platter, then put all the basil leaves into the skillet. Make sure they are dry so that you don't create oil splatters with any water left on them! Just let them wilt and add them to the platter with the shrimp.

    Fresh basil on a dish towel

    How to serve Sauteed Shrimp & Basil

    I like it with rice, of course, and always with lime juice! And that's all you need, right?

    They also work brilliantly as an appetizer or hors d'oeuvre. Thread them onto sticks with basil leaves and grill them!

    Close up of Sauteed Shrimp & Basil

    Recipe

    Two servings of Sauteed Shrimp & Basil

    Sauteed Shrimp & Basil

    Tammy Circeo
    A quick and easy meal is always en vogue and this Sauteed Shrimp and Basil gets on the table in a blink of an eye. If you buy peeled and deveined shrimp, it's that much faster ... just be sure to start the rice a bit earlier.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 20 minutes mins
    Cook Time 5 minutes mins
    Total Time 25 minutes mins
    Course Dinner
    Cuisine Asian
    Servings 4 servings

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 red jalapeno pepper chopped small
    • 6 cloves garlic chopped small
    • ¼ cup sugar
    • 2 Tablespoons fish sauce I like the Red Boat brand, but see the Notes for a substitution.
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 4 Tablespoons avocado oil
    • 1 pound large shrimp peeled and deveined
    • 2 cups fresh basil leaves
    • lime wedges for serving

    Instructions
     

    • Combine the chiles, garlic, sugar, fish sauce, salt, and 3 Tablespoons of oil in a bowl. Add the shrimp and stir to coat each shrimp well. Let marinate for 10 minutes.
    • Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the remaining tablespoon of oil. Work in batches, if needed, to avoid crowding the pan. Cook the shrimp until deeply browned around the edges and the flesh is just opaque, about a minute per side. Remove the shrimp to a platter, turn off the heat, and add all of the basil. Toss until the basil is wilted., then add it to the platter with the shrimp.
    • Transfer the shrimp and basil to dinner plates with rice and lime wedges.

    Notes

    Use red jalapenos, serranos, or fresno chiles. Serranos are definitely hotter than jalapenos so be aware of the spicy factor.
    If you don't have fish sauce, use soy sauce, tamari, or coconut aminos with a mashed anchovy. 
    Serve these as appetizers by threading them onto a skewer with basil leaves and grilling them. 
    Keyword basil, shrimp, shrimp and basil
    Yum

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    I have always loved nurturing and feeding people. My cooking style is influenced by my Southern parents, time living in Europe, and the foods available in the Pacific Northwest, where I lived for over 20 years. I cook from scratch and strongly support local farms and producers, believing that food plays a pivotal role in our quality of life.

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