Discover the Perfect Wicked Shrimp Recipe for Dinner Tonight
Welcome to the world of El Gaucho’s Wicked Shrimp Recipe! This dish is a perfect blend of rich flavors and spiciness that will ignite your taste buds. If you are a seafood lover, then this recipe is tailor-made for you!
El Gaucho, one of the premier steakhouse chains in the Pacific Northwest, has a lot of unique and delicious dishes on their menu. However, if you ask me to choose, I would go for their Wicked Shrimp without any second thoughts.
This recipe is a perfect combination of various spices and herbs, which when combined with prawns, make magic happen in your mouth. Chef Steve Cain shows us how to make this recipe perfectly every time. Whether you’re hosting a fancy dinner party or just trying to impress your friends with your cooking skills, El Gaucho’s Wicked Shrimp Recipe should definitely be included in your culinary arsenal.
So what makes this recipe so special? First off, it’s easy to make and requires only a few ingredients which can be easily found at any grocery store. Additionally, its versatility allows you to serve it as an appetizer or even as a main course with some sides such as grilled bread or Caesar salad.
What are you waiting for? It’s time to get cooking. So gather all your ingredients and let’s take this flavor adventure together with El Gaucho’s Wicked Shrimp Recipe!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
El Gaucho’s Wicked Shrimp Recipe is a must-try for anyone who loves seafood with a kick of spice. This recipe is one of the most popular dishes at El Gaucho, a renowned steakhouse with locations in Seattle and Portland. The shrimp are cooked to perfection and flavored with a unique blend of spices that you won’t find anywhere else.
First and foremost, this dish is all about flavor. The spice blend includes oregano, rosemary, thyme, red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper, and more. Each ingredient is carefully chosen to create a savory and slightly spicy seasoning that perfectly complements the shrimp’s delicate flavors without being overpowering.
Another reason to love this recipe is its versatility. You can adjust the level of spiciness by adding more or less cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes. And if you’re not a fan of shrimp, you can easily substitute it with chicken or beef for an equally delicious meal.
Additionally, this recipe is easy to make at home. With just a few simple steps and ingredients found in most kitchens, you can recreate El Gaucho’s signature dish right in your own home. Impress your family or guests at your next dinner party with these wickedly delicious shrimp.
Lastly, this dish pairs perfectly with dark beer or ale, white wine, or even a refreshing cocktail such as Aqua El Gaucho. You can serve it as an appetizer or main course alongside grilled bread or Caesar salad if you want the full El Gaucho experience.
Overall, there’s no reason why you wouldn’t love this recipe. The balance of unique spices and quality shrimp will leave you craving it again and again. So what are you waiting for? Give it a try and see why El Gaucho’s Wicked Shrimp Recipe is everyone’s favorite!
Ingredient List
Here are the ingredients you’ll need to create El Gaucho’s Wicked Shrimp recipe:
- 1 pound of prawns (21-25 count per pound), rinsed
- 2 cups of flour
- 1 tsp garlic, minced
- 1 1/2 tbsp of steak seasoning
- 1/2 tbsp El Gaucho Seasoning
- 2 tbsp clarified butter + 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 bottle of dark beer or ale
- 1/4 cup of white wine
- 1 tsp oregano, dried
- 1/2 tsp rosemary, dried
- 1/2 tsp thyme, dried
- 1 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper, freshly ground
- Pinch of cayenne pepper
- 1 fl oz Worcestershire sauce
Note that these ingredients are enough to make the original recipe from executive chef Steve Cain. If you are serving a larger crowd, adjust the amount accordingly.
The Recipe How-To
To make El Gaucho’s Wicked Shrimp recipe, follow these easy steps:
Step 1: Prepare the Shrimp
– Rinse 1 lb of prawns 21-25 count per pound in cold water and add 1 tsp of baking soda. Leave the shrimp to sit for 15 minutes before rinsing thoroughly and patting them dry.
Step 2: Creating the Wicked Spice Blend
– In a small bowl, combine 2 tbsp of flour with 1 tbsp of steak seasoning and 1 tbsp of cayenne pepper. Mix together thoroughly.
Step 3: Cooking the shrimp
– In a large skillet or wok, melt 2 tbsp of clarified butter and heat it with 2 tbsp of vegetable oil over high heat.
– Once the oil is hot, add 1 minced garlic clove and half the wicked spice mix. Cook for about 30 seconds or until fragrant.
– Add in the prepared shrimp and cook for 3 minutes on each side or until lightly browned.
– Remove shrimp from pan and set it aside.
Step 4: Making the Sauce
– In the same pan over medium-high heat, add another 2 tbsp of clarified butter
– Once melted, add another minced garlic clove as well as 1/4 cup of dark beer, or alternatively ale or white wine. Let it simmer for a minute or two.
– Next, stir in 1/4 cup of Worcestershire sauce, followed by a pinch each of dried oregano, rosemary and thyme, crushed red pepper flakes, kosher salt and black pepper. Continue to simmer until reduced to half.
– Add the cooked shrimp into the sauce mixture and toss until fully coated with sauce.
Serve immediately with grilled bread, caesar salad or enjoy it as an appetizer or main dish.
Substitutions and Variations
While the Wicked Shrimp Recipe from El Gaucho is already a flavorful and exciting dish, you can always switch up the ingredients to cater to your personal taste preferences. Here are some substitutions and variations that you can try:
– Cooking alcohol: If dark beer or white wine is not available, you can use another type of alcohol such as ale or even whiskey.
– Herbs and spices: Don’t be afraid to adjust the herbs and spices in the recipe to suit your liking. You can add more oregano, rosemary, or thyme if you want a stronger flavor. Conversely, if you’re not a fan of spicy food, you can reduce the amount of cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes.
– Clarified butter: If clarified butter is not readily available in your pantry (or at the grocery store), you can use regular butter instead. Just remember to adjust the cooking time accordingly as regular butter has a lower smoke point.
– Vegetable oil: Similarly, if you don’t have vegetable oil on hand, you can use another type of neutral cooking oil such as canola oil or grapeseed oil.
– Prawns: The recipe calls for 21-25 count per pound prawns, but feel free to mix it up and use a different type of shrimp or even other seafood like scallops or squid.
By making these substitutions and variations, you can create a personalized version of El Gaucho’s Wicked Shrimp Recipe that suits your taste buds. Enjoy experimenting with different ingredients and see what works best for you!
Serving and Pairing
El Gaucho’s Wicked Shrimp recipe is a savory and spicy dish that will pair well with a variety of sides and beverages. To fully appreciate the flavors of this dish, it is recommended to serve it as a starter or main course with a side of grilled bread, caesar salad or shrimp tenderloin.
For those who prefer a lighter option, it can be served with a shrimp surf and turf or seafood cocktail. The spicy and rich elements of the Wicked Shrimp’s sauce blends harmoniously with mild spices found in seafood dishes.
To complement the dish, cold ale or white wine are ideal beverages to provide refreshing balance with richness of the dish. The sweet and malt flavors in dark beers work also well as an alternative beverage pairing that enhances the spice in the shrimp.
The Wicked Shrimp recipe is a versatile dish, pleasingly balanced with spices and best enjoyed as part of a perfectly curated menu. Its sensational flavor makes it perfect for both casual meetups and formal events alike.
Make-Ahead, Storing and Reheating
This Wicked Shrimp Recipe is ideal for make-ahead cooking, as it can be prepared in advance to free up time for other party preparations. The dish can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 12 hours before cooking for optimal freshness.
When storing leftovers, use an airtight container and refrigerate within two hours of cooking to maintain the flavor and texture. The leftovers should be consumed within four days of refrigeration, or frozen for later consumption.
Reheating this dish is simple and straightforward. You can use a microwave or a stovetop to reheat the shrimp, but using the stovetop will provide better results. Simply heat up a skillet over medium heat and add the shrimp, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking, for 1-2 minutes until warm. Alternatively, you can reheat them by placing them in a preheated oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 5-8 minutes.
Remember that reheating the Wicked Shrimp Recipe repeatedly may dry it out and cause it to lose its flavor profile, so it is best to avoid reheating it too many times if possible.
Tips for Perfect Results
Achieving the perfect flavor and texture for El Gaucho’s Wicked Shrimp Recipe may seem daunting, but with a few tips, you can easily create a dish that your guests will find irresistible. As a home chef myself, I have found that following these tips helps to elevate this dish to the next level.
First and foremost, make sure to rinse the shrimp with baking soda before cooking. This will remove any excess odor and impurities that may affect the overall taste of the dish. Additionally, make sure to pat dry the shrimp with paper towels before seasoning them with El Gaucho’s spice blend.
When it comes to cooking the shrimp, use clarified butter and vegetable oil in equal parts instead of regular butter alone. This combination will help prevent the butter from burning while giving the shrimp a crispy texture. Be sure not to add too much liquid or you may end up boiling the shrimp instead of sautéing them.
Another important tip is to properly season the shrimp mix. The right amount of seasoning can have a dramatic impact on the overall taste of this dish. As such, it is recommended that you double-check if you’re using enough Gaucho seasoning; at least two tablespoons per pound of prawns (21-25 count) should do it. Don’t forget the red pepper flakes and cayenne pepper either – they add a little kick to balance out the flavors.
Lastly, when serving El Gaucho’s Wicked Shrimp Recipe, be sure to pair it up with grilled bread or Caesar salad for a well-rounded dining experience your guests will love. And above all, have fun! Cooking should never feel like a chore – remember to enjoy yourself while trying out new recipes in your kitchen!.
FAQ
Now that you’re familiar with the ingredients and procedure, it’s time to answer some of the frequently asked questions about El Gaucho’s Wicked Shrimp Recipe. While the recipe is straightforward, there are some queries that might pop up in your mind. So, here are some of the most common questions and their answers to make sure that you achieve a wickedly delicious result.
How do you tenderize shrimp with baking soda?
Let’s start off by preparing our shrimp! Grab a pound of peeled shrimp and toss them in a bowl with ¼ teaspoon of baking soda. Give it a good mix, then pop the bowl in the fridge for at least 15 minutes. Once that’s done, we can move on with the rest of the recipe.
How to cook shrimp well?
Looking to cook some delicious shrimp for your next party? Start by bringing 4 cups of water and 1 teaspoon of salt to a boil in a 3-quart saucepan. Once boiling, add 1 pound of shrimp and let it simmer, uncovered, for 1 to 3 minutes or until the shrimp turn opaque. Don’t forget to give it a good stir every once in a while. Once done, it’s time to drain and rinse the shrimp in a colander under cold running water. This will help stop the cooking process and ensure that your shrimp are perfectly cooked and ready to serve.
Bottom Line
In conclusion, the El Gaucho’s Wicked Shrimp recipe is a must-try dish for any seafood lover looking to impress their guests. Not only is it easy to make, but it also boasts of tantalizing flavors that will leave your taste buds wanting more. The magic sauce used in this recipe, consisting of butter, Worcestershire sauce, dark beer/ale, and garlic make all the difference in bringing out the unique and bold flavors you can’t get with any other shrimp recipe.
Additionally, this recipe allows for various substitutions and variations depending on your preference and what’s available to you. You can go ahead and play around with different types of beer or wine or even change up the type of seasoning you use altogether. The options are endless.
Finally, don’t forget to pair your wicked shrimp with a nice glass of white wine or a cold beer for a perfect complement. Whether you’re dining at El Gaucho restaurant or cooking at home, this hearty seafood dish is guaranteed to leave your guests impressed and satisfied.
So gather your ingredients and get cooking! With Executive Chef Steve Cain’s guidance and expertise from El Gaucho Seattle, you won’t go wrong with making this wicked shrimp recipe a staple in your culinary repertoire. Bon Appetit!
El Gaucho’s Wicked Shrimp Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 lb prawns (21-25 count per pound)
- 1/2 cup flour
- 2 tablespoons clarified butter (or vegetable oil)
- 2 tablespoons steak seasoning
- 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic
- 1/2 tablespoon cayenne pepper
- 1/2 tablespoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon thyme
- 1 teaspoon rosemary
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1/4 cup white wine
- 1/2 cup dark beer or 1/2 cup ale
- 1 1/2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tablespoons butter
Instructions
- Coat prawns in flour.
- Heat clarified butter or vegetable oil on high heat.
- Add prawns to saute pan.
- Coat with steak seasoning (your favorite store brand like Lawry's or Johnny's will work fine).
- Add garlic to pan.
- To make the spice mixture, mix cayenne pepper, black pepper, salt, red pepper flakes, thyme, rosemary and oregano.
- Grind them together in a spice grinder or food processor.
- Top prawns with 1 1/2 tablespoons of the spice mixture.
- Add white wine, beer and Worcestershire sauce to pan.
- Simmer 2-3 minutes until prawns are cooked.
- Swirl in butter to finish the sauce.
- Serve with a thick rustic bread.
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Anna is a culinary expert who specializes in grilling delicious BBQ dishes. She also enjoys sharing her recipes and experiences with her foodie community on her blog. She’s the total package for any backyard barbecue!