Our blackened shrimp recipe is all about the spices and blackening technique. It’s pretty straightforward: rub the homemade Cajun seasoning into the shrimp before quickly pan-searing them. The dish ends up with an irresistible combination of savory, salty, spicy, and herby flavors.
These blackened shrimps are spiced in less than 30 minutes, making it an excellent choice for a quick dinner on a busy weeknight.
What Is Blackened Shrimp?
Blackening is a style of cooking that originates from Cajun cuisine. The food is coated in a gorgeous blend of a few bold spices and a touch of dried herbs before sizzling in oil on a hot pan.
The brown sugar in the spice blend begins to caramelize once it hits the heat, helping the mixture cling to the shrimp and get the signature brown color.
Is This Blackened Shrimp Recipe Healthy?
The short answer is yes; our blackened shrimp recipe is healthy.
With the main ingredient being raw shrimp, today’s recipe is packed with protein and healthy fats. Each serving contains approximately 48 g of protein — up to 95% of the recommended daily intake.
To keep the content of main nutrients aligned with healthy guidelines, we used a reasonable amount of fat: 2 tablespoons of oil for searing the shrimp and 3.5 tablespoons of butter for the mashed potatoes. Each serving ended up having only 7.4 g of saturated fat.
Besides the saturated fat, the sodium and calorie contents are within healthy limits at about 580 mg and 460 calories, respectively. In other words, the recipe is carefully compiled to make a delicious and healthy dish.
Ingredients for Blackened Shrimp
You will need two main elements to create a savory blackened shrimp at home: fresh, high-quality shrimp and a flavorful blackening spice blend.
1. Shrimp
The soul of the dish, the quality of shrimp decides the final taste and texture of your blackened shrimp. We always recommend fresh shrimp, even though it means you need an extra few minutes of prepping.
Because the shrimp is cooked quickly over high heat, it’s important to note that you should use either medium or large shrimp. A smaller size will end up burning on the high heat.
2. Vegetables
We love to serve our blackened shrimp with boiled asparagus and mashed potatoes. They are nutritious and give the bold shrimp a light balance in flavor.
Be assured, our recipe isn’t set in stone. If you have other vegetables that you prefer, feel free to cook or roast them. Any way you make it, the meal will still become a family favorite.
3. Blackened Shrimp Seasoning
The seasoning is easy to make, and most people have all the ingredients in their spice cabinet. Our blend contains paprika, cayenne, garlic powder, onion powder, dried oregano, salt, and pepper.
Blackened dishes, in general, feature an enjoyable heat. For our recipe, the main source of heat comes from the cayenne and chili powder. Not to worry, the level of spiciness is noticeable but does not overpower the shrimp’s natural flavor or burn your throat.
How to Make Blackened Shrimp
The blackening process involves coating the shrimp in a spice blend before pan-searing them in a pan or skillet.
Microwave the potatoes.
Marinate the shrimp in the blackening seasoning.
Boil the asparagus.
Pan-sear the shrimp.
Make the mashed potatoes.
Garnish and serve the blackened shrimp with asparagus and mashed potatoes.
The best pan used for blackening the shrimp is the cast iron skillet. It retains the heat evenly for a long time.
What to Make With the Leftover Blackened Shrimp
Having some leftover blackened shrimp will make your next meal a breeze since you can enjoy this dish in a variety of different ways.
1. Tacos Recipe
The cajun seasoning gives our blackened shrimp a bold flavor and makes the spiciest, most flavorful tacos. Fill your tacos with sweet mango salsa to balance the strong taste and finish it with a touch of cheese for extra saltiness. They all complete the flavor profile and level up your homemade tacos.
2. Alfredo Recipe
The creamy alfredo sauce is perfect for the smoky heat from our blackened shrimp. Fresh and rich, this spiced-up shrimp alfredo makes a great subtitle for the regular chicken alfredo.
3. Salad Recipe
Blackened shrimp salad is packed with tons of flavors. Crunchy lettuce, sweet corn, creamy avocado, juicy cherry tomatoes, and spicy blackened shrimp. It’s healthy, quick to prepare, and tastes like summer in a bowl.
Store and Reheat
The cooked shrimp should be transferred to an airtight container and refrigerated for 3 – 4 days. To maximize the shelf life, you can keep them in a freezer for up to 3 months.
There are several ways to reheat the blackened shrimp. Our favorite is on the stovetop. Simply add a bit of oil or butter to the pan along with the shrimp and sauté until heated through.
The process is quick and straightforward, but it works beautifully, with the flavor and texture remaining just as they were on the first cooking.
What to Serve With Blackened Shrimp
We added a simple combination of boiled asparagus and mashed potatoes to bulk up the shrimp and balance out the spicy seasoning. Rich in protein and giving a satisfying texture, the combination can stand alone as the main dish.
We paired the blackened shrimp with Nicoise salad and finished the meal with pineapple water to boost the calories and nutrient profile. The refreshing taste of salad pairs perfectly with the vivid and robust shrimp, and the simple pineapple water rounds off the meal wonderfully.
| Recipes | Course | Calories | Saturated fat | Sodium |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blackened Shrimp | Main Dish | 461 | 7.4 g | 577 mg |
| Nicoise Salad | Side Dish | 252 | 3.2 g | 259 mg |
| Pineapple Water | Beverage | 31 | 0.0 g | 14 mg |
| Total | 744 | 10.6 g | 850 mg | |
Other Shrimp Recipes To Love
Interested in cooking shrimp? We know you’re going to love these five shrimp killer recipes:
- Lemon Garlic Shrimp Recipe
- Shrimp Biryani Recipe
- Teriyaki Shrimp Recipe
- Shrimp Boil Recipe
- Shrimp Kabobs Recipe
Blackened Shrimp Recipe
Ingredients
- 15 oz peeled, deveined, tail-on shrimp 30 oz raw shrimp
- 20 oz potatoes cubed
- 1/2 tsp salt divided
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1/4 tsp cumin
- 1/4 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp cayenne
- 1/2 tsp brown sugar
- 1 tsp garlic chopped
- 1 tsp lime juice
- 16 oz asparagus
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 3 1/2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 2 tbsp coriander chopped
Instructions
- Place 20 oz potatoes in a bowl covered in plastic wrapper. Microwave for 7 minutes.
- Meanwhile, marinate 15 oz shrimp with 1/4 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper, 1 tsp paprika, 1/2 tsp oregano, 1/4 tsp cumin, 1/4 tsp chili powder, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1/2 tsp cayenne, 1/2 tsp brown sugar, 1 tsp garlic, and 1 tsp lime juice. Set aside.
- Fill a large skillet with 1 – 2 inches of water. Bring the water to a boil over high heat. Add 16 oz asparagus and cook for 2 minutes. Risen the cooked asparagus briefly with cold water and transfer them to a serving dish.
- Heat a skillet over medium heat. Add 2 tbsp olive oil and the marinated shrimp to the preheated skillet. Cook the shrimp until pink and opaque on one side and flip to the other side. The shrimp will take 10 – 12 minutes to cook all together.
- Take the potato bowl out of the microwave. Add 3 1/2 tbsp butter, 1/4 tsp salt, and 2 tbsp parsley. Use a large fork to mash the potatoes to your desired consistency.
- Garnish the seared shrimp with 2 tbsp chopped coriander. Serve the blackened shrimp with mashed potatoes and asparagus.
Nutrition
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