Skip to content
Dinner · Spanish

Garlic Shrimp (Gambas al Ajillo)

Sizzling shrimp cooked in olive oil, garlic and smoked paprika, finished with a splash of sherry – quick, aromatic and perfect for a weeknight Spanish dinner.

October 9, 2026 My Daily Cook 419 views
Prep
10 min
Cook
10 min
Total
20 min
Serves
4
Difficulty
Easy
Jump to Method E-mail me
Garlic Shrimp (Gambas al Ajillo) Save
Step by step

Method

5 steps · 20 min
0 of 5 done · tap a number as you finish each step
  1. Step 1 of 5

    Heat the olive oil in a wide skillet over medium heat until it shimmers.

  2. Step 2 of 5

    Add the sliced garlic and sauté for 30 seconds, watching for a light golden colour but not brown.

  3. Step 3 of 5

    Stir in the smoked paprika, then tumble in the shrimp, seasoning with salt and pepper; cook 2‑3 minutes per side until pink and just firm.

  4. Step 4 of 5

    Pour in the sherry and lemon juice, let it bubble for a minute to reduce slightly, then remove from heat and sprinkle with parsley.

  5. Step 5 of 5

    Transfer the shrimp and pan juices to a shallow serving bowl and serve immediately with crusty bread for soaking up the sauce.

Notes from the kitchen

If sherry is unavailable, dry white wine works as a substitute; add a pinch of cayenne for extra heat.

Weekly newsletter

Liked this recipe? Get one like it every week.

New recipes, seasonal ideas and kitchen tips in one short e-mail a week.

No spam. Unsubscribe with one click.
Share this recipe
Cooked it?

Reviews

Write a review

Sign in or create a free account to rate this recipe and share a photo of your dish.

Your rating
Create account

No reviews yet. Be the first to tell us how it went.

Keep cooking

You Might Also Like

All Recipes