Hawaiian Garlic Shrimp Skewers are the perfect summer recipe. Made with juicy shrimp, spices, and fresh pineapple, these skewers work great as an appetizer or main course.
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Why this Hawaiian Garlic Shrimp Recipe is a Keeper
This is a popular way of preparing jumbo shrimp in Hawaii, with a garlic butter sauce and served over white rice. With fresh garlic and spices like paprika and cayenne pepper, it’s like a recipe they often serve from food trucks in Hawaii, especially on the north shore of Oahu. Here are a few reasons why you’ll love this Hawaiian dish consisting of garlicky, buttery shrimp served with rice:
- 20 Minute Meal: Have this Hawaiian shrimp recipe ready in less than 20 minutes.
- Simple Ingredients: All of the ingredients for this succulent shrimp in a delicious garlic butter sauce are from your kitchen or local grocery store.
- Adaptable: Easily adjust the ingredients for grilled shrimp skewers to your tastes and dietary preferences.
If you’re looking for more rice recipes, try these: Perfect Brown Rice, Parmesan Cauliflower Rice, and The Perfect Risotto.
How Do I Skewer the Shrimp so They Stay On?
When skewering shrimp, it’s best to thread them onto two skewers to make sure they don’t slide off. If you’re grilling and you’re using bamboo skewers, make sure to soak them in water first so they don’t burn.
North Shore Shrimp Truck Style Shrimp Ingredient Notes
This easy recipe is like that served from Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck in Hawaii. Make with minced garlic, sautéed shrimp, and pineapple. Here are some Hawaiian garlic shrimp ingredients to note when making this recipe:
- Shrimp: Use peeled and deveined shrimp in this recipe. This shrimp is easier to place on the skewers.
- Pineapple: Add fresh pineapple chunks to the skewers along with the shrimp.
See the recipe card below for a complete list of the ingredients with measurements.
Variations and Substitutions for Hawaiian Style Garlic Shrimp
- Grill: Make this shrimp on the grill or in the oven.
- Fruit: Use different fruit instead of pineapple, such as peaches.
- Spices: Feel free to use your favorite spices in this shrimp recipe.
Special Equipment for Grilled Shrimp Skewers
- Skewers: Use metal skewers or wooden skewers. Make sure to soak the skewers in water first if you’re grilling with wooden ones.
Pro Tip to Love this Recipe
Pre-soaking the skewers in water for 30 minutes plumps up the wood, preventing it from burning and potentially scorching your shrimp. Moist skewers act like a heat diffuser, ensuring even cooking.
How to Make Hawaiian Shrimp
This delicious recipe inspired by Hawaiian food truck menus has lots of garlic flavor. Shrimp is always popular with guests, so make this shrimp in batches to give everyone a taste of food in Hawaii. Just follow the step below to learn how to make shrimp in a delicious butter and garlic sauce.
These are the basic steps for how to grill shrimp on skewers. Refer to the full, printable recipe card below for detailed instructions.
1. Make Marinade for Shrimp Skewers
First, submerge the skewers in water while prepping other ingredients. Add the garlic and heat 2 of the 3 tablespoons of unsalted butter, honey, and soy sauce over medium heat. Then, stir until well combined, bring to a slight boil, and then allow to simmer for 4-5 minutes until thickened.
2. Skewer the Shrimp
Remove the shrimp from heat and stir in lemon juice. Add shrimp and pineapple pieces to the skewers, alternating them. Season with salt and pepper on both sides. Then, brush the sauce on both sides of the skewers.
3. Melt the Butter and Cook the Shrimp in a Single Layer
In a large pan, heat butter over medium heat. Add shrimp in an even layer on the skewers to the pan, and sauté the shrimp for 2 to 3 minutes on each side on low heat, brushing sauce on the skewers as they cool, until the shrimp is coated in garlic and butter. Skewers are ready when the shrimp is pink and opaque. Serve over a few scoops of rice, such as sticky rice, with a lemon wedge.
Hawaiian Garlic Shrimp FAQs
Yes, you can use frozen shrimp. Just make sure to thaw them first.
Large shrimp are the perfect size to make skewers with.
You can use pineapple from a can, but fresh pineapple is best.
Store shrimp in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They should be good for 1-2 days.
Expert Tips for Making Shrimp Kebabs
- Wooden Skewers: If you are using wooden skewers, soak the skewers for 20-25 mins for the best results.
- Add Garlic Cloves: Vary the flavor of the garlic in this recipe to your preferences by altering the amount of garlic. If you want extra garlic, use garlic powder in the butter and toss to coat the shrimp. You can also roast one head of garlic and spread the garlic bits on top.
- Shrimp Scampi: If you want to use this recipe for shrimp scampi, swap the rice for noodles.
- Brine: Soak the shrimp in salted water with a little baking soda. This will make them plump and tender.
- Milk: Soaking shrimp in milk will allow its fishy taste to come out.
- Remove from Heat: Shrimp is done when it turns pink. Remove cooked shrimp immediately from heat to prevent a rubbery texture.
- Cooking Tip: Do not overcrowd the pan. Give the shrimp room for the heat to distribute evenly.
What to Serve with Hawaiian Shrimp Skewers
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Hawaiian Garlic Shrimp Skewers
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Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons Unsalted Butter
- ¼ cup Honey
- 4 Garlic, large cloves
- 2 tablespoon Low Sodium Soy Sauce
- 1 tablespoon Lemon Juice, fresh
- 1 tablespoon Butter
- 1 pound Shrimp
- ½ teaspoon Sea Salt
- ¼ teaspoon Cracked Pepper
- 1 cup Chopped Pineapple, fresh
- 2 tablespoons Chopped Parsley, optional
Instructions
- Submerge the skewers in water while prepping other ingredients.
- Heat 2 of the 3 tablespoons of unsalted butter, honey, garlic, and soy sauce over medium heat.
- Stir until well combined, bring to a slight boil, then allow to simmer for 4-5 mins until thickened.
- Remove from heat and stir in lemon juice.
- Place the shrimp and pineapple pieces, alternating them on the skewers. Season with salt and pepper on both sides.
- Brush the sauce on both sides of the skewers.
- In a large pan, melt 1-2 tablespoons of unsalted butter over medium heat.
- Sear the skewers for 3-4 mins per side, brushing sauce on the skewers as it cools. Skewers are ready when the shrimp is pink and opaque.
Christina’s Notes
- Wooden Skewers: If you are using wooden skewers, soak the skewers for 20-25 mins for best results.
- Add Garlic Cloves: Vary the flavor of the garlic in this recipe to your preferences by altering the amount of garlic. If you want extra garlic, use garlic powder in the butter and toss to coat the shrimp. You can also roast one head of garlic and spread the garlic bits on top.
- Shrimp Scampi: If you want to use this recipe for shrimp scampi, swap out the rice for noodles.
- Brine: Soak the shrimp in salted water with a little baking soda. This will make them plump and tender.
- Milk: Soaking shrimp in milk will allow its fishy taste to come out.
- Remove from Heat: Shrimp is done when it turns pink. Remove cooked shrimp immediately from heat to prevent a rubbery texture.
- Cooking Tip: Do not overcrowd the pan. Give the shrimp room for the heat to distribute evenly.
- Scale the recipe: Simply adjust the serving size in the recipe card and the ingredients will update automatically.
- Make your own All Purpose Seasoning: When a recipe calls for All Purpose Seasoning, you can use my homemade All Purpose Seasoning recipe or substitute salt and pepper to taste.
- Meat doneness: I always use a meat thermometer to test for doneness when cooking meat.
- Use unsalted butter: I use unsalted butter so I can control the salt level in the recipe.
- Preheat the oven: Unless otherwise noted, always preheat your oven before baking.
For more helpful information about this recipe, such as variations, substitutions and other pro-tips, check out the blog post.
Nutrition
The nutritional information provided are estimates. It is recommended that you verify this information with your own trusted resource.
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This recipe is my personal adaption of an ethnic-inspired recipe. It is not intended to be an authentic recipe. I’ve recreated this recipe because I enjoy the flavors and I want to encourage my readers to expand their tastes and try new flavor combinations. The recipe, ingredients, and processes may have been adapted to make the recipe accessible to the average American. I have provided links to authentic versions of the recipe in the post above. I encourage you to visit these pages and learn more about the traditional version(s) of this recipe.
This is so good. My family loves it.