The blend of tender shrimp and a creamy, buttery sauce enhanced by the strong taste of garlic is simply captivating. I've improved this traditional dish by adding some unique elements to my version of garlic buttered shrimp, which elevates the original recipe to the next level. This recipe is sure to become a favorite, regardless of whether you enjoy seafood or just a tasty lunch. Each bite becomes something you'll want to savor thanks to the perfect balance of rich butter and garlic, as well as a slight dash of spice and soda. Come along as we explore the magic of garlic butter shrimp, reinvented with my unique flair that will surely impress your palate.
Hello everyone! Welcome to another episode of my blog this week. Today, I'm blogging about food for the first time, and I hope you'll read and upvote this post. In this blog, I'll be sharing my own version of the famous garlic buttered shrimp. It's an affordable, budget-friendly dish that will satisfy your cravings. Keep reading!
STEP 1:
You’ll need to prepare your garlic and red onions. If you have white onions at home, they’re more recommended for this recipe because white onions have a sweet flavor that compliments every bite. In my case, instead of using too much garlic, I opted for half a clove of garlic so that it doesn’t overpower the flavor. Once the onion and garlic are perfectly minced to your desired size, you’re ready to start cooking.
STEP 2:
Before you mince the onion and garlic, make sure the shrimp has already defrosted in the fridge. That way, after you prepare the garlic and onion, you’ll be ready to clean the shrimp. In my case, I clean the shrimp by cutting off its antenna and removing any sharp parts on its head. Afterwards, I rinse it with clean water to ensure it’s fully clean. By the way, these shrimp were a pasalubong (gift) from my mother last Sunday. She went to our province and brought back my favorite shrimp for me!
STEP 3:
Heat the pan, and once it’s hot, add the butter. In this recipe, I used unsalted butter to avoid making the dish too salty once I add the seasonings. I also used ¼ cup of butter since that was all I had left, and I needed to make sure it was enough for cooking the shrimp. Wait until the butter is fully melted.
STEP 4:
Once the butter is fully melted, you can add the minced garlic. Wait until the aroma of the butter and garlic blend together, then add the onions. Sauté until their aromas meld. The combination of butter, garlic, and onion smells incredible and is sure to make you even hungrier!
STEP 5:
Once it turns a light brown color, you can add the tomato paste. I added tomato paste to bring a balance of sourness and sweetness, and it also adds a nice color to the shrimp. I believe that with tomato paste, the dish becomes even more delicious, and the color isn't as pale. If you're allergic to tomato paste, you can use ketchup as a substitute. After adding the tomato paste, I add Sprite to give it a soda flavor and a little thickness to the sauce.
STEP 6:
After pouring in the soda, sauté for 1 minute and let it simmer for a while. This simmering step allows all the flavors to fully combine. After 5 minutes of simmering, you can add a sachet of oyster sauce to enhance the flavor of the sauce. Once you add the oyster sauce, quickly sauté it, then let it simmer for another minute.
STEP 7:
After 2 minutes of simmering, you can now add your seasonings of choice. In my case, I simply seasoned it with ground pepper, salt, and a small amount of Ajinomoto, since those are the basic condiments I have in my boarding house. After seasoning, I taste it, and if it’s still bland, I add a little more of each ingredient until it suits my taste buds.
STEP 8:
After adding the seasonings of my choice, I noticed that the sauce had thickened due to the soda. So, I added ¼ cup of water, then some ketchup for extra flavor, and a little bit of vinegar. Don’t stir it immediately, let it simmer for 2 minutes before stirring. This method of not stirring the vinegar right away helps preserve the food for another day.
STEP 9:
After simmering, you can now add the shrimp. Stir gently so that the sauce is absorbed by the shrimp, making it flavorful and savory. After stirring slowly for 2-3 minutes, cover the pan and wait until it starts to boil. To avoid overcooking the shrimp, make sure to cook them for no more than 15 minutes.
STEP 10:
After 2-3 minutes, I tasted it again and felt something was missing. This was the perfect time to add some chili powder for a bit of spice, then 2 dried chilies and a tomato to enhance the flavor. I also added a little bit of sugar for extra sweetness. After combining everything, the sauce became very flavorful, and the shrimp were almost done. Once the shrimp curl into a "C" shape, that means they’re cooked and ready to be served.
FINAL RESULT:
This is my version of Garlic Buttered Shrimp. As you can see, the sauce has a beautiful orangey color from the tomato paste I added. The taste is incredibly flavorful and tasty. The perfect balance of sweetness and sourness combines beautifully, with just a hint of spice. I simmer it for 2-3 minutes until the sauce fully coats the shrimp. This dish is best served hot, paired with egg and tomato fried rice.
If you’re like me and allergic to shrimp, you can still enjoy it, but be cautious. If you start to feel itchiness, make sure you have antihistamines on hand. Don’t take antihistamines before eating, as it won’t be effective. Take it after you eat or once you feel any itchiness or redness.
If you try this recipe, feel free to share your feedback!
Thank you so much for taking the time to read and connect with my thoughts today. I’m excited to continue sharing my journey with you, and I hope you found something here that resonated or sparked an idea. This blog is a space for growth, inspiration, and conversation, and I’d love to hear your thoughts, feedback, or experiences in the comments. Feel free to share if something stood out to you. Here’s to many more stories, lessons, and moments of connection ahead! See you in the next post!