Lemon Garlic Shrimp Skewers

This is a family favorite we break out every summer. In fact, we're serving it for Father's Day this weekend, so I'm sharing it in case there are any other shrimp lovin' dads out there!

A brief cure in salt and sugar not only adds flavor to the shrimp and makes them more tender, but also acts as a mild preservative for transporting them. You can assemble the skewers through step 2 up to 1 day ahead; cover and chill. Makes 6 to 8 servings.


2 Tablespoons kosher salt
2 Tablespoons sugar
2 to 2½ pounds peeled, deveined shrimp (12 to 15 per lb) rinsed and drained
¼ cup olive oil
¼ cup chopped parsley, fresh
1 Tablespoon grated lemon peel
2 or 3 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
½ teaspoon fresh-ground pepper
Lemon wedges


1. In a bowl, mix salt and sugar. Add shrimp and stir gently to coat. Cover and chill 45 minutes to 1 hour. Rinse shrimp well and drain; also rinse and dry bowl.

2. Return shrimp to bowl. Add olive oil, parsley, lemon peel, garlic and pepper. Mix to coat. Thread shrimp on metal or soaked wooden skewers, running skewer through the body once near the tail and once near the head of each ship so it looks like the letter C.

3. Lay shrimp skewers on an oiled barbecue grill over hot coals or high heat on a gas grill (you can hold your hand at grill level only 2 or 3 seconds); close the lid on gas grill. Cook, turning once, until shrimp are bright pink and opaque but still moist-looking in center of thickest part (cut to test), 5 to 6 minutes total. Serve with lemon wedges to squeeze over shrimp.

Per serving: 161 cal, 8.3 g fat, 0.2 g fiber.