These Peri Peri Shrimp Skewers are the perfect balance of sweet, spicy, and savory. They are great as a main dish or as a tasty appetizer.
This shrimp recipe comes together really quickly. The shrimp need 10 minutes sitting in the easy marinade, thread them onto skewers, and grill them up. Or cook them in the oven or under the broiler.
Whether you're looking for a quick and easy weeknight dinner or planning a backyard barbecue with your friends, these shrimp skewers will be a hit.
Ingredient Notes
These notes are here to help make this recipe a success; they cover some but not all ingredients. For a complete ingredient list, check out the recipe card below.
Peri Peri Seasoning: I use a homemade blend, but you can use a store-bought mix. Grab my Peri Peri Seasoning Blend recipe.
Raw Shrimp: I like to buy frozen raw, shelled shrimp! For skewers, I tend to use medium-large shrimp. By the count, this is 36/40 count. You can also use fresh shelled and deveined shrimp.
Lemon Wedges: Not just for garnish, the lemon juice helps to balance the sweet, spicy peri peri. You could also use a small orange.
Recipe Tips
We've tested this recipe at least 3 times to ensure it works well for you. Have a look at our tips for getting the best dish you can!
Start with dry shrimp: Pat the shrimp dry before coating them with oil and spices; this helps them color on the grill or in the oven.
Soak your skewers: If you use wooden skewers, soak them in water for 30 minutes first to ensure they don't burn during cooking.
Don't overcrowd: You want the heat to get to all parts of the shrimp, so don't squash them up as you thread them on the skewers. I use 3 per skewer.
Don't overcook: Shrimp need very little cooking and are rubbery if overcooked. So cook the shrimp for no more than 2 minutes on each side.
Why You'll Love These Peri Peri Shrimp
- It is a quick and easy dish.
- The flavors are vibrant and fresh.
- They can be cooked on the grill, in the oven, or under the broiler.
- They are great as a main or an appetizer.
- Perfect for summer grilling or a firey winter supper.
Recipe Adaptions
These are all just suggestions and things that have worked in our test kitchen, but it is your dinner, so adapt it to suit your family. That is the beauty of cooking; we can all create our own delicious meals.
- Add extra spice: If you like your food spicy, add cayenne pepper to your shrimp to increase the heat level.
- Add extra sweetness: Adding honey to the marinade will enhance the shrimp's natural sweetness and encourage them to brown on the grill.
- Add extra citrus: Add wedges of lemon or orange to the skewers to char as the shrimp cooks.
- Add other fish: You can use chunks of salmon or a firm white fish as well as shrimp. Squid chunks and swordfish cubes are also fantastic with the peri peri rub.
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Serving Suggestions
Sides: These Peri Peri Shrimps are great as an appetizer or part of the main meal. As an appetizer, all they need is a small salad. We love a fennel and orange salad with them.
As a main course, serve them with garlic rice, mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables, rocket salad, and some flatbreads.
Wine: The spice of the peri peri works wonderfully with Viognier or Grüner Veltliner. If you use an extra spicy peri or add additional cayenne pepper, then a creamy off-dry Pinot Gris or Riesling would be fantastic.
A fruity Pinot Noir or Beaujolais would be perfect for red wine lovers. Or if you add extra heat, then a Malbec will balance the smoky, spicy flavors.
Enjoy x
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Get the Recipe
Peri Peri Shrimp
Ingredients
- 2 garlic cloves peeled and finely sliced
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoon peri peri seasoning (see note 1)
- 1 lb medium-large raw shrimp shelled and deveined (see note 2)
- 1 lemon
Instructions
- If you are using wooden skewers, soak them in cold water.
- Combine the sliced garlic, olive oil, salt, and peri peri seasoning in a small bowl.2 garlic cloves2 tablespoon olive oil¼ teaspoon salt2 tablespoon peri peri seasoning
- Add the shrimp and stir to coat.1 lb medium-large raw shrimp
- Let the shrimp sit for at least 10 minutes and up to 4 hours.
- Thread the shrimp onto your prepared wooden skewers and place on a plate ready to cook.
To cook on the grill
- Preheat your grill on high and then lower the teperature to medium (around 300ºF).
- Grease the cooking grates, careful as you can get flare ups.
- Place the skewers directly onto the grates, close the lid and cook for 2 minutes on each side.
To cook on a Grill Pan or Griddle.
- Place the grill pan/griddle over medium-high heat and heat for 3-4 minutes until hot.
- Add the shrimp skewers and cook for 2 minutes.
- Turn the shrimp over and cook for another 2 minutes.
To cook in the Oven.
- Preheat the oven to 450°F.
- Place the skewers on a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Roast the shrimp for 4-5 minutes until just cooked.
To Broil
- Preheat broiler to high.
- Place the skewers on a broiler pan with a wire rack. Broil 5"/12cm from the heat for 2 minutes on each side.
To Serve
- Once the skewers are cooked squeeze over lemon juice and serve immediately.1 lemon
Notes
- I use a homemade blend, but you can use a store-bought mix. Grab my Peri Peri Seasoning Blend recipe.
- I like to buy frozen raw, shelled shrimp! For skewers, I tend to use medium-large shrimp. By the count, this is 36/40 count. You can also use fresh shelled and deveined shrimp.
Nutrition
Nutrition is per serving
Sage says
My daughter and I are "chickened out" so we've been making a lot more fish and seafood recipes lately. We had these for dinner with mashed potatoes and roasted Brussels sprouts. Yum! It's so cold here that we made them inside, rather on the grill, but that will be our go-to way to make them once spring arrives.
Randy Ronning says
Your peri peri shrimp recipe was super tasty, full of flavor and an easy meal that I made on my flat top griddle. Thank you for introducing me to peri peri seasoning! It is such an amazing spice!!
Lynn says
Thanks for this recipe! It was so easy to make and so full of flavor! My whole family devoured it! I'll be adding it to my rotation for sure!
Claudia says
The Peri Peri Shrimp were a big hit - the marinade packed so much flavor. When roasted, the kitchen smelled amazing! The shrimp were tender inside. Will be making this one again, such an easy weeknight recipe.