Description
Crispy potato chips topped with sizzling garlic shrimp, olive oil, shallots and roasted red pepper. An easy Spanish-inspired tapas snack you can make in minutes.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 8-12 tiger shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 shallots, thinly sliced
- 3-4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
- 1 green onion, thinly sliced
- 1/4 cup roasted red pepper, finely chopped
- 1/4 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped
- 1/2 lemon, cut into wedges
- Kosher salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 4-5 cups crispy potato chips
Instructions
Prepare the Shrimp
- Peel and devein the shrimp, then slice each shrimp in half lengthwise.
- Pat the shrimp very dry with paper towel. This is important — you want the hot oil to sear and cook the shrimp, not steam them.
- Arrange the shrimp in a single layer in a shallow heatproof serving dish or pan.
- Season lightly with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
Make the Garlic Oil
- Add the olive oil, sliced shallots, garlic, green onion and roasted red pepper to a small skillet.
- Heat over medium heat until the oil is very hot and the aromatics are bubbling.
- Once the garlic is fragrant and the oil is actively bubbling, remove it from the heat immediately.
Cook the Shrimp
- Carefully pour the piping-hot garlic oil and aromatics directly over the shrimp.
- The shrimp will begin cooking immediately.
- Give them about 30–60 seconds, turning once if necessary, until just cooked through.
- Do not overcook them — they are small, halved shrimp and cook incredibly quickly.
Build Your Spanish Bar Snack
- Arrange the potato chips on a large platter.
- Pour the hot garlic shrimp and every last drop of the infused olive oil over the chips.
- Scatter generously with fresh parsley.
- Finish with fresh lemon juice and serve immediately.
Notes
A Few Easy Variations
- Make it spicy: Add a pinch of dried chili flakes or thinly sliced fresh chili to the garlic oil.
- Use prawns: Any small-to-medium shrimp or prawns work beautifully.
- Add smoked paprika: A small pinch gives the oil another layer of Spanish flavour.
- Go bigger: Serve the shrimp and garlic oil over toasted baguette instead of chips for a more traditional gambas al ajillo presentation.
- Party size: Double the shrimp and oil, but cook in batches so the shrimp remain in a single layer.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Spanish