What size shrimp should I use?

One of the great things about this recipe is that you can use whatever size shrimp you have on hand, or whatever your local grocery store has on sale this week. Large shrimp are beautiful in this spicy shrimp recipe, but I have made it with small and medium with equal success. Keep in mind that the size of the shrimp will affect cooking time.

Do I have to marinate the shrimp?

If you're short on time, just combine the shrimp with the sauce in the pan and sear until the seafood is cooked through and the sauce is thick, about 5-6 minutes.

Can I substitute a different chili pepper?

Of course! I recommend either a jalapeno or a serrano, depending on your spice tolerance (jalapeño will be milder, Serrano more aggressively spicy). If you prefer even less spice, poblano or Anaheim chiles would give good flavor with very low heat. These sweet and spicy Mexican shrimp are inspired by diablo shrimp or shrimp diablo (Mexican deviled shrimp), which is an authentic Mexican recipe served in many a Mexican restaurant across the United States. So while this can be a fiery Mexican dish, the heat level is completely up to you.

What's the best way to serve sweet and spicy shrimp?

My favorite ways to serve these succulent shrimp are on crispy corn tortillas for tostadas, alongside pickled red onions, extra hot sauce and maybe even some sour cream to cool it down. They are also dynamite on Mexican Caesar Salad with that delicious spicy dressing.

How to store leftover spicy Mexican shrimp?

Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, warm gently in a low heat skillet.

Sweet and Spicy Mexican Shrimp

Name: Sweet and Spicy Mexican Shrimp
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients: 2 teaspoons chipotle powder (or 2 tablespoons adobo chili sauce); 1 teaspoon cumin; 1 teaspoon garlic powder; 1 teaspoon honey; Juice of 1 lime (about 1 tablespoon), plus more for serving; 1 pound medium shrimp (cleaned and tails removed); 3 tablespoons neutral oil, divided; 2 tablespoons fresh jalapeno, sliced; 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, diced; Salt and pepper, to taste

Description

The perfect flavorful sweet and spicy shrimp for all your Mexican food cravings.

Ingredients

Scale

2 teaspoons chipotle powder (or 2 tablespoons adobo chili sauce)

1 teaspoon cumin

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon honey

Juice of 1 lime (about 1 tablespoon), plus more for serving

1 pound medium shrimp (cleaned and tails removed)

3 tablespoons neutral oil, divided

2 tablespoons fresh jalapeno, sliced

2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, diced

Salt and pepper, to taste

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

Combine chipotle powder or adobo, cumin, garlic powder, honey, lime juice and 1 tablespoon of neutral oil in a microwave safe bowl. Heat in microwave for 45 seconds then stir to dissolve honey. Cool to room temperature then toss shrimp into sauce, letting it marinate for 10 minutes.
Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add shrimp to skillet along with diced jalapeños. Cook for 2-3 minutes on each side or until shrimp is cooked through. Taste and adjust seasonings, if needed. Remove from heat, add cilantro.
Serve with pickled onions and lime wedges

Notes

If using dried chipotle powder, add a little bit of extra lime juice to the sauce. Canned chipotles in adobo sauce have acidity added during the canning process, so they will not require any additional lime juice.

Prep Time: 10
Cook Time: 10
Category: Dinner
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: Mexican