Now, that the weather is warming up, I try to grill every Saturday. And by grilling, I mean going out on my screened in back porch, opening the lid of my grill, turning the knob on the propane tank, and pressing the ignite button. I know, for some of you that does not constitute grilling, since there is no charcoal involved. But if I had to mess with the whole charcoal business, grilling would not happen very often around here. So, I sacrifice that authentic flavor for convenience. Accept my flaws, I have.
Do you have Cuisine at Home's Weeknight Grilling? If you don't, go get it now. Order it, do whatever you have to do. You will thank me later. This was wonderful. Completely, utterly wonderful. They recommended serving it with cheddar polenta, which I did. It was a great riff on a classic shrimp and grits.
Shrimp Skewers with Cilantro Pesto
Makes 4 skewers
Marinade and Shrimp
¼ cup olive oil
¼ cup garlic, minced
1 tablespoon red pepper flakes
½ teaspoon paprika
zest of 1 lime, minced
salt to taste
16 jumbo shrimp, peeled and deveined (mine were just large)
Pesto
2 cups fresh cilantro leaves and stems, packed
½ cup olive oil
2 tablespoons heavy cream
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
salt to taste
Preheat the grill to medium-high.
Combine the marinade ingredients in a bowl and add the shrimp. Toss to coat and let it stand for about 5 minutes.
Process all the pesto ingredents in the food processor, until smooth. Set it aside.
Thread the shrimp onto skewers. Reserve the marinade for basting.
Grill the skewers for about 1 ½ minutes per side, brushing on the marinade. Serve with the pesto.
This will be my entry for this week's Weekend Herb Blogging hosted by Maninas at Maninas: Food Matters.
Sara says
YUM, this looks so amazing! What great flavors. 🙂
Peter M says
Pam, that's one dramatic photo of shrimp on a skewer...love it, the sauce and grilling season the most!
Jeff says
If you are outdoors and there is a chance you can lose eyebrows you are grilling in my book.
Been looking for a way to burn up a bunch of cilantro I have and I think this recipe just won.
Looks amazing!
Carrie says
This sounds absolutely wonderful! And what a great photo.
Lori Lynn says
Looks fabulous. I am not a charcoal aficionado. I can walk outside on my patio almost every day of the year here in SoCal and have a lovely grilled item in minutes, and it tastes smokey and wonderful. I'm with you, I wouldn't do it if it was labor intensive except for a special occasion.
LL
Pam says
Lydia - parsley pesto would definitely work!
Alisha - give it a try and let me know if you like it.
Kalyn - you would, it has our beloved cilantro.
Psychgrad - bad grill! Bad grill!
Elizabeth - thank you!
Pearl - thank you!
Long - this was really easy, it looks much harder than it was!
Shari - shrimp on a grill is a match made in heaven.
Grace - Bobby would probably scoff at my techniques!
Grace says
you're a regular grill-master--bobby flay should take a lesson. 🙂
meanwhile, cilantro is far and away my favorite herb and i think that pesto sounds amazing!
Shari@Whisk: a food blog says
This looks like a wonderful combination. Cilantro with shrimp. On a Grill. What's not to like about that? Looks beautiful too!
Long dark hair, blue eyes says
Pam, I am in awe of the consistency of your gourmet meals. I would be happy to make something that look this good once a month. You are amazing to be able to make such delicious food so often.
Pearl says
shrimp skewers looks delish!
Psychgrad says
I tried bbqing shrimp last weekend and they ended up burning. I think it's my grill...yeah - that's it.
This looks really good. I'm going to star it!
Elizabeth says
I love shrimp and grits and this is a great variation!
Kalyn says
Looks amazing! I can tell I'd love this.
Alisa - Frugal Foodie says
That picture looks so delicious and I love the sound of the marinade. I have quite a bit of shrimp in the freezer ...
Lydia (The Perfect Pantry) says
I'd have to substitute parsley pesto for the cilantro, but I think it would work. And the shrimp are gorgeous!
Pam says
Natashya - yay, I'm glad I'm not the only one who uses a gas bbq.
bigsis - thanks for commenting! Let me know if you try it.
Hip - it is yummy!
Joanne - it would go great with chicken.
Shabby - I realized it a long time ago, and have all of them.
Marjie - does that mean you don't like things grilled?
Kathy - it really is good. Let me know if you try it!
Fearless - thank you!
E - it would make a great derby night dinner!
cagrowngirl - it is all about the shrimp. We love shrimp.
Paula - I love that whoosh sound! It happens on our second burner. The other two are quiet.
Lei - well, I roughly chopped it, and it probably was about 4 big cloves.
E Mama says
Great! Now I'm hungry!
This is going to be dinner for Derby Night. Yum!
lei says
Is it really 1/4 CUP of garlic?
Wow!
Paula says
Shrimp, pesto, grits, and grilling = perfection! Um, my grilling method is identical to yours! How else would I hear that "whooosh" sound that the grill makes when it ignites? Anyway ... LOVE this recipe. Oh, and I'm logging off to go check out that cookbook! (I have a *thing* about cookbooks.)
Joanne says
I don't really LOVE shrimp, but I bet the marinade would also go well with chicken. And the cilantro pesto - my FAVORITE herb. You can't go wrong there!
cagrowngirl says
LOVE IT!!! Down here in the South it's all about the shrimp. 🙂 I am learning this.
Fearless Kitchen says
This looks really tasty! I really like the cilantro pesto.
Kathy says
This recipe is one I have to try. It looks so good. I love cilantro and I think a pesto sounds wonderful. Hmmm and shrimp. Heaven.
shabby girl says
Two of my very favorites; shrimp & cilantro!
I just realized last night, on the back of the outer cover, all the different Cuisine at Home books!
Marjie says
We all have flaws. Sadly, mine include despising black lines on my food. Your shrimp are a marvelous idea!
hip chick says
Oh man...grilled shrimp and cilantro...yummy!
bigSIS says
I think this is the first time I've commented here although I've been following for quite awhile.
This looks absolutely delish! I love to grill and try new things. I'm not big on pesto but maybe I'd like the cilantro better than basil.
I'm gonna make some of this ASAP.