Camarão à Guilho (Garlic Shrimp) is a classic Portuguese dish often served as an appetizer or a light meal. Its roots are steeped in the Mediterranean tradition of cooking with fresh seafood, olive oil, and garlic, creating a flavorful yet simple dish that highlights the shrimp.
This dish is traditionally served in small terracotta dishes with fresh bread on the side to soak up the delicious garlic-infused oil.
Ingredients:
- 1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
- ⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon dry white wine (optional)
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Lemon wedges, for serving
- Crusty bread, for serving
Instructions:
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat until shimmering but not smoking.
- Add the garlic slices and red pepper flakes to the skillet. Sauté gently, stirring frequently, until the garlic is golden and fragrant, about 1-2 minutes. Be careful not to burn the garlic.
- Increase the heat to medium-high and add the shrimp in a single layer. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Cook the shrimp for 1-2 minutes on each side until they are pink and opaque.
- Add the lemon juice and white wine, if using, to the skillet. Cook for another 1 minute, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
- Remove the skillet from the heat and sprinkle the dish with fresh parsley.
- Serve immediately with crusty bread for dipping and lemon wedges on the side.
