If you'd like to add variety to your summer cookouts, consider grilling shrimp. It cooks quickly, and can be flavored with marinades to enhance its taste. This page will help you learn how to grill shrimp.

• Although shrimp can be boiled, steamed, baked, broiled, or stirfried, grilling is a quick and easy way to prepare shrimp as an appetizer or entree.

(Creative Commons photo by djnordic)

• Marinating shrimp before grilling enhances their flavor. Brining is also a good idea. The shell carries a large part of the shrimp flavor, so you might consider to peel the shrimp only after you marinated them. Deveining is optional, but depends also on the size of the shrimp and the occasion. For aesthetic reasons, you should devein shrimp if you butterfly them.

• 11/2 pounds large shrimp

• 1/2 cup olive oil

• 1 tablespoon lemon juice

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• Freshly ground pepper, if desired

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• 1 teaspoon oregano

• 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, minced

• Large bowl

• Seafood grill basket

1. Combine the shrimp and the remaining ingredients in a large bowl, and mix well.
2. And the shrimp, cover, and refrigerate for at least an hour to marinate.
3. Preheat the grill.
4. Remove the shrimp from the marinade, maybe consider peeling and deveining the shrimp if large and place it in a single layer in the seafood grill basket.
   1. If you don't have a basket, you can thread the shrimp on a skewer.
   2. If you use wood skewers, soak them in water first to prevent them from catching fire.
5. Cook 3-4 minutes, then flip the basket, and cook 3-4 minutes on the second side.
6. The shrimp will be done when they firm up and turn white and opaque.

1. Watch the shrimp carefully, as it cooks quickly and can easily overcook.

2. Bottled Italian dressing can be used for a quick and easy marinade.

3. Plan on 1/2 pound of raw shrimp per person.

4. Instead of peeling the shrimp, you can leave the shells on, and butterfly it by slicing the shrimp down the middle.

• MarthaStewart.com: Orange-and-Thyme Grilled Shrimp

• Barbecue Bachelor: Grilled Chili Shrimp (April 16, 2009)

• Food Network: Grilled Shrimp

• Grilled Shrimp: Various shrimp recipes with pictures

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