Grilled Pesto Shrimp Skewers Recipe

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5 from 1 vote

Grilled Pesto Shrimp Skewers Recipe

Easy and delicious grilled pesto shrimp skewers loaded with basil pesto sauce and fresh lemon juice.

Prep Time30

Cook Time4

Total Time34

Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: American

Servings: skewers

Author: Shawn Williams

Ingredients

1-1 1/2 pounds large fresh raw or fully cooked shrimp, peeled and deveined (tails optionally removed)
1/2 lemon juice squeezed
1/2 cup fresh or jar basil pesto
Wooden or metal skewers for grilling

homemade basil pesto

3 cups basil leaves
3 tablespoons pine nuts
2 garlic cloves
2/3 cup grated parmesan cheese
2/3 cup olive oil
salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

For the pesto

Combine all pesto ingredients except for the olive oil in a food processor or blender. Blend until mixed and smooth. With the motor running, add olive oil in a slow stream until combined. Pesto should not be too soupy or fine.

For the shrimp

Soak the wooden skewers, fully submerged in cool water for 20 minutes so they do not burn when grilling.
Pat shrimp dry with paper towel to remove excess moisture. In a large bowl, combine shrimp, pesto, and freshly squeezed lemon juice. Toss the shrimp until completely covered in pesto sauce and let marinate in the fridge for 20-30 minutes for best results. Give the shrimp a final stir and add 4-5 shrimp per skewer.
Preheat the grill with the cover down for 10 minutes on medium-high heat. Clean the grates well. Place skewers flat on the grill. Put the cover down and cook for 2 minutes, flip and cook for two more minutes. Shrimp should no longer be translucent and turn white/orange.
Serve immediately with additional pesto if wanted.

Notes

I've made this recipe with every type of shrimp. Fresh, frozen, and fully cooked. If you're really looking for quick and easy, buy pre-cooked, peeled, and deveined cooked shrimp. Fresh shrimp is usually juicier and taste fresher, mainly because they aren't being cooked twice. Whatever you do, make sure frozen shrimp are completely thawed, and patted dry before marinating in pesto.

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