This Hawaiian Garlic Shrimp recipe brings the flavors of Hawaii straight to your kitchen. Inspired by the famous shrimp trucks on Oahu’s North Shore, this dish features succulent shrimp cooked in a rich garlic butter sauce, with a touch of lemon and a hint of spice. It’s quick and easy to make, perfect for a weeknight dinner or a special treat. Serve it with steamed rice or fresh vegetables for a full meal!

Full Recipe:

Ingredients

• For the Shrimp:

  • 1 lb shrimp, deveined

  • 2 tablespoons glutinous rice flour (or all-purpose flour)

  • 1 tablespoon paprika

  • ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper

  • 1 ½ teaspoon salt

• For the Garlic Butter Sauce:

  • 8 tablespoons unsalted butter

  • ½ cup garlic (about 2 heads), minced

  • 3 tablespoons olive oil

  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

  • 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, minced (for garnish)

Directions

1. Prepare the Shrimp: Wash and devein the shrimp, leaving the tail on or peeling as desired. Pat them dry with a paper towel. In a mixing bowl, combine glutinous rice flour, paprika, cayenne pepper, and salt. Coat each shrimp evenly with the flour mixture and set aside.

2. Make the Garlic Butter Sauce: In a medium skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add minced garlic and cook until fragrant and golden brown, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.

3. Cook the Shrimp: In the same skillet, add olive oil over medium-high heat. Once the pan is hot, add the shrimp in a single layer and cook for 1-2 minutes on each side until golden and cooked through. You may need to cook the shrimp in batches, adding more oil as necessary.

4. Combine: Once the shrimp is cooked, turn off the heat and pour the garlic butter sauce over the shrimp. Toss to coat and mix well.

5. Serve: Drizzle with fresh lemon juice and garnish with minced parsley. Serve immediately with rice, macaroni salad, or roasted vegetables.

Nutrients (per serving)

• Calories: 350 kcal

• Carbohydrates: 8g

• Protein: 20g

• Fat: 28g

  • Saturated Fat: 13g

  • Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g

  • Monounsaturated Fat: 11g

• Cholesterol: 195mg

• Sodium: 821mg

• Potassium: 321mg

• Fiber: 1g

• Sugar: 0.3g

• Vitamin A: 781 IU

• Vitamin C: 9mg

• Calcium: 92mg

• Iron: 1mg

The Inspiration: Hawaii’s North Shore Shrimp Trucks

One of the most iconic culinary experiences on Oahu’s North Shore is visiting the shrimp trucks that line the roadsides. These trucks serve up plates of shrimp cooked in garlicky butter sauces, seasoned to perfection, and often served with rice and salad. Inspired by this beloved Hawaiian street food, this recipe captures all the essence of those famous shrimp trucks. The simplicity of the dish, combined with the bold garlic flavors, makes it a unique and delightful way to enjoy shrimp.

The Shrimp: Fresh and Tender

The star of this dish is, of course, the shrimp. Using fresh, deveined shrimp ensures that you get the most tender, juicy texture in each bite. The shrimp are seasoned with a light coating of glutinous rice flour, paprika, cayenne pepper, and salt, which gives them a flavorful crust when they cook. The light flour coating also helps the garlic butter sauce cling to the shrimp, ensuring that every bite is bursting with flavor.

You can choose to leave the tails on or peel the shrimp, depending on your preference. Leaving the tails on can make for a more authentic presentation, and it’s easier to pick them up with your fingers if you prefer eating shrimp in that way.

The Garlic Butter Sauce: Rich and Flavorful

The garlic butter sauce is what really makes this dish stand out. Made with unsalted butter, minced garlic, and a bit of olive oil, the sauce is rich and fragrant. The garlic cooks to a golden brown in the butter, creating a deliciously aromatic base that fills your kitchen with the most irresistible scent. Adding a bit of fresh lemon juice to the sauce adds a refreshing zing that cuts through the richness, balancing the flavors and brightening the dish.

The beauty of this sauce is its simplicity. With just a few ingredients, you get a sauce that complements the shrimp perfectly without overpowering it. It’s rich, garlicky, buttery, and just the right amount of tangy.

Cooking the Shrimp: Quick and Easy

One of the best things about Hawaiian Garlic Shrimp is how quickly it comes together. After coating the shrimp with the flour and seasoning mixture, they cook in a hot skillet with olive oil for 1-2 minutes per side. The shrimp cook up quickly, turning golden and crispy on the outside while remaining juicy on the inside. You may need to cook the shrimp in batches, depending on the size of your skillet, but this will ensure they cook evenly and don’t overcrowd the pan.

Once the shrimp are cooked, the garlic butter sauce is poured over them, and the shrimp are gently tossed to coat them in the sauce. This final step infuses the shrimp with all the flavors of the garlic butter, and the dish is ready to serve immediately.

Serving Suggestions

Hawaiian Garlic Shrimp is a dish that pairs beautifully with a variety of sides. Traditionally, the shrimp is served with steamed rice, which helps absorb the delicious garlic butter sauce. You can also serve it with macaroni salad or roasted vegetables for a complete meal. The light, refreshing flavors of a simple green salad would also complement the richness of the shrimp.

If you want to add a bit of extra tropical flair, consider serving the shrimp with a side of pineapple salsa or grilled pineapple slices. The sweetness of the pineapple provides a refreshing contrast to the rich, savory shrimp.

Nutritional Benefits

Hawaiian Garlic Shrimp is a relatively healthy dish that’s high in protein and low in carbohydrates. Each serving provides around 350 calories, making it a filling yet not overly heavy option for a meal. With 20 grams of protein per serving, the shrimp provides a solid source of lean protein that helps build and repair tissues. The 28 grams of fat come from the butter and olive oil, providing healthy fats that are great for energy and maintaining healthy cell function.

While the dish does contain 13 grams of saturated fat, much of the fat is derived from unsalted butter and olive oil, which can be part of a balanced diet in moderation. The shrimp itself is naturally low in fat and cholesterol, making it a great choice for a healthy meal. The dish also provides 1 gram of fiber, helping with digestion, and a modest amount of essential vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, and iron.

Customizing the Dish

This Hawaiian Garlic Shrimp recipe is incredibly versatile and can be easily adapted to suit different tastes. If you like more heat, you can increase the amount of cayenne pepper or add red pepper flakes to the garlic butter sauce. For a different flavor profile, try adding a splash of white wine to the garlic butter sauce or a pinch of smoked paprika for a deeper, smoky taste.

If you prefer a lighter version, you can use less butter or substitute some of the butter with vegetable broth for a more reduced-fat option. For a non-dairy version, you can try using dairy-free butter or coconut oil to replace the butter.

Conclusion

Hawaiian Garlic Shrimp is a simple yet flavorful dish that brings the taste of Hawaii to your kitchen. With its tender shrimp, rich garlic butter sauce, and a touch of lemon, it’s an easy-to-make meal that feels special enough for a celebration. The balance of flavors—from the garlicky richness to the zing of lemon—makes this dish a standout. Whether served with rice, roasted vegetables, or a crisp salad, this Hawaiian-inspired dish is a delicious way to enjoy shrimp in a new and exciting way. Perfect for a weeknight dinner or a special treat, Hawaiian Garlic Shrimp will undoubtedly become a favorite in your recipe rotation.