Grilled Shrimp with Spicy Lemon-Garlic Sauce

As you may have noticed, I'm attempting to update the blog with recipes I've made over the past, oh, 2 years or so! I am always diligent about photographing but when it comes to actually having time to sit down and craft a recipe / edit photos, I fall short. Hopefully over the next few months I will be able to post these stragglers that never quite made it to the blog.

This is probably my favorite way to cook shrimp - grilled and tossed in a garlicky lemon sauce. ATK recommends serving with grilled bread, and I have to agree. We also had a Caesar salad, and this was one of my favorite meals - perfect for spring and summer!

Grilled Shrimp with Spicy Lemon-Garlic Sauce

Ingredients:
1 1/2 pounds extra-large shrimp (21 to 25 per pound), peeled and deveined
2 - 3 tablespoon olive oil for brushing the shrimp
table salt and ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon sugar
vegetable oil for the cooking grates
1 recipe Spicy Lemon-Garlic Sauce (see below)
Lemon wedges, for serving

Directions:
1. Pat the shrimp dry with paper towels. Thread the shrimp onto 3 skewers, alternating direction of heads and tails. Brush both sides of the shrimp with olive oil and season lightly with salt and pepper. Sprinkle one side of each skewer evenly with the sugar.

2. If using a charcoal grill, light a chimney starter filled with charcoal (about 6 quarts) and allow to burn until coals are partially covered with ash, about 20 minutes. Open the bottom vent on the grill. Build a modified two-level fire by arranging coals over half the grill, leaving the other half empty. Set the cooking grate in place, cover grill, and heat until hot, about 5 minutes. If using a gas grill, turn burners to high to heat grill with lid down until very hot, about 15 minutes.

3. Use grill brush to scrape grates clean. Dip wad of paper towels in vegetable oil; holding wad with tongs, oil the grates.

4. Set the disposable pan with the sauce ingredients (see below) on the hot side of the grill and cook, stirring occasionally, until hot, about 1 1/2 minutes; transfer the pan to the cooler side of the grill.

5. Place the shrimp skewers, sugared sides down, on the hot side of the grate and use tongs to push the shrimp together on the skewers if they have separated. Grill the shrimp, uncovered, until lightly charred, 4 to 5 minutes.

6. Using tongs, flip and grill until the second side is pink and slightly translucent, 1 to 2 minutes longer.

7. Using a potholder or oven mitt, carefully lift each skewer from the grill and use tongs to slide the shrimp off the skewers into the pan with the sauce. Toss the shrimp and sauce to combine and transfer the pan to the hot side of the grill; cook, stirring, until the shrimp are opaque and fully cooked, about 30 seconds. Remove from the grill, add the fresh parsley, and toss to combine. Transfer to a serving platter and serve immediately with lemon wedges.

Spicy Lemon-Garlic Sauce

Makes about 1/2 cup

Ingredients:
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 4 pieces
4 tablespoons lemon juice from 2 lemons
3 medium garlic cloves, minced or pressed (about 1 tablespoon)
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/8 teaspoon table salt
1/3 cup minced fresh parsley

Directions:
1. Combine the butter, lemon juice, garlic, pepper flake, and salt in a 10-inch disposable aluminum pan or pie plate.

2. Cook over the hot side of the grill, stirring occasionally, until the butter melt, about 1 1/2 minutes; transfer to the cooler side of the grill (if using a charcoal grill) or off heat (if using a gas grill).

3. Proceed to grill the shrimp (see above), adding the parsley just before serving.

Source: America's Test Kitchen