Yummy Royal Red Shrimp Recipes

Royal red shrimp is a deep-sea creature that seems to be crimson when raw. They have a texture and flavor comparable to lobster and are sweeter than regular shrimp. Check out these 6 distinct recipes to get a taste of the royal red shrimp.

Royal red shrimp can be found in both the Gulf of Mexico and Florida’s East Coast. Their uniqueness isn’t limited to their colors. The most common types of fresh Alabama Gulf shrimp available on menus and in the markets are pink shrimp, white shrimp, and brown shrimp. They differ slightly in flavor, but they’re all delicious.

What is my feeling about Royal Red Shrimp? They’re an outlier, to be sure. If you’ve ever had one, you’ll understand why they’re special.

Royal red shrimp are the monarchs of Gulf shrimp, found 60 miles offshore in deep, chilly waters and prized for their lobster-sweet flesh. The royal red shrimp has a magnificent crimson color that emerges from the sea. These gigantic prawns can be found in restaurants and seafood shacks along the Florida Panhandle and the Alabama coast. It is so popular that when the fisherman brings them in, chefs and home cooks stock up as much as they can.

They have a sweeter, butterier flavor than regular shrimp, and taste a little like lobster. The best part is their color. They look pink even before they’re cooked.

So, are you excited to learn how to cook these yummy royal red shrimp recipes? Then, what are you waiting for? I’ve included six different royal red shrimp recipes in this article. Let’s dive in!

The Secret Of Yummy Royal Red Shrimp Recipes

The Royal Red Shrimp are significantly larger and more flavorful than the typical red shrimp found in most markets. You can cook them just like any other shrimp. However, because of their rich, sweet flavor and lobster-like texture, they’re best served as a main course. So, all of these recipes are intended for the main course. These recipes are ideally served with grilled corn or fingerling potatoes, but you can improvise with anything that goes well with grilled protein.

In this post, I’ll show you how to make a variety of royal red shrimp recipes. You can try them based on your requirements.

The Recipes

Recipe #1 – Grilled Royal Red Shrimp With Lemony Garlic Butter

Let’s start with grilled royal red shrimp. This royal red shrimp with lemony garlic butter is a delicious addition to any meal.

Ingredients

• 1 cup softened unsalted butter (8 oz.)
• 1 ½ tablespoons minced garlic
• 2 tbsp lemon zest
• 2 ½ tbsp.fresh lemon juice (approximately 2 lemons)
•  tablespoon fresh thyme, sliced
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 tsp. kosher salt (divided
• 2-pound royal red shrimp (fresh)
• 2 tablespoons of olive oil (extra virgin)

Preparation Method

• Step 1

Preheat the grill to a medium setting (350°F to 400°F). In a medium mixing bowl, combine the butter, garlic, lemon zest and juice, thyme, pepper, and 1 teaspoon of salt.

• Step 2

In a large mixing bowl, mix the shrimp, oil, and the remaining salt. Then transfer the shrimp to an oven-proof tray and grill them for 2 to 3 minutes on each side, or until bright red and burnt. Toss with lemony garlic butter and serve right away.

Serves 

• Serves: 6

See how easy the recipe is. Now it’s your turn to make this delicious dish.

Recipe # 2- Butter-Fried Royal Red Shrimp

When the shrimps are cooked, they turn pink, which is a good indicator that they’re properly done. But, royal red shrimp are already pink and you can’t tell if they’re cooked just by looking at them. Instead, keep an eye out for royal reds that are becoming more opaque and curling up. Now let’s see how to cook royal red shrimp on the stove.

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, sliced into small cubes
• Royal Red Shrimp, peeled and deveined, 1 pound (40-50 count).
• A pinch of salt

Preparation Method

• 2 tablespoons butter, melted in a large skillet over medium-low heat
• Add the royal red shrimp once the pan is heated.
• Cook until they’ve curled up and become opaque, stirring regularly. This type of shrimp cooks faster than conventional shrimp. At the low temperature, this will only take 2-3 minutes.
• Then transfer it to a plate right away.
• Serve with a pinch of salt before serving.

Indication

• If royal red shrimp are overcooked, they won’t taste good.

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6; Calories Per Serving: 98

Isn’t it amazing to experience something new? I hope you enjoy making this recipe as much as I had.

Recipe #3 (a)- Sauteed Royal Red Shrimp

Over grits or white rice, these sauteed shrimp are delicious. Let’s have a look inside.

Ingredients

• 1 lemon
• 3-pound medium peeled and deveined uncooked shrimp
• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• 1 sliced small onion
• 2 celery ribs, chopped.
• 2 cloves garlic, crushed and chopped
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 rosemary sprig, chopped, or to taste
• ¼ teaspoon basil (dry)
• ¼ teaspoon oregano(dry)
• ¼ teaspoon coriander powder
• One bay leaf
• ¾ cup white wine, or to taste
• 1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce (or to taste)

Preparation Method

• Step 1

First, squeeze the lemons over shrimp and set them aside.

• Step 2

Then, heat the olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion, celery, and garlic. Cook for 5 minutes, or until soft, after seasoning with salt and pepper. Add the rosemary, basil, oregano, coriander, and bay leaf and mix well. Then, add white wine and Worcestershire sauce and cook for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the sauce has somewhat reduced and the flavors have come together.

• Step 3

Add the shrimp to the sauce and cook for another 5 to 7 minutes, or until pink.

Nutrition

• Calories 117.9 calories
• Carbohydrate 2.6 g
• Cholesterol 172.7 mg
• Fat 2.2 g, Fiber 0.8 g
• Protein 18.8 g
• Saturated fat 0.4 g
• Sodium 225.9 mg
• Sugar 0.6 g

Recipe #3 (b)- Sauteed Royal Red Shrimp

This is another recipe for sauteed royal red shrimp. Royal red shrimp can be prepared in a variety of ways. I’m hoping that the crushed red pepper flakes, a couple of garlic cloves, parsley, and oregano in this recipe will provide a lot of flavor for sauteed shrimp. It can be served alone or with radicchio and ricotta spaghetti.

Ingredients

• 1½ pounds big shrimp, peeled and deveined, tails on
• 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
• Lemon wedges for serving
• 4 minced garlic cloves
• 2 tablespoons fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped
• 2 tbsp. fresh oregano, chopped
• A pinch of red pepper flakes, crushed
• 1/2 cup white wine, dry
• Freshly ground black pepper and coarse salt

Preparation Method

• Step 1

First, heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes, or until the garlic is tender but not browned. Add the shrimp, parsley, oregano, and red pepper flakes. Then, cook and stir frequently, for about 2 minutes, or until the shrimps are bright pink and opaque.

• Step 2

Increase the heat to medium-high and add in the wine. Cook until the liquid has mostly evaporated. After that, pull the pan from the heat and season it with salt and pepper. Serve immediately, garnished with lemon wedges.

Recipe #4 – Pan-Fried Boiled Instant Royal Red Shrimp

Let’s see if we can replicate the flavor of another royal red shrimp recipe. This is a simple and kid-friendly recipe. The cooking time is around ten minutes.

Ingredients

• 1¼ to 1½ pound peeled royal red shrimp (or any other type).
• 2-3 tablespoons salted butter
• 2-3 tablespoons De Cecco L’Olio extra virgin olive oil
• Salt to taste.
• Pepper to taste.
• 1 medium minced shallot
• 1/4 to 1/2 cup chopped Italian parsley
• Garlic, minced (1/2 – 1 tablespoon)
• White wine (1/4 to 1/2 a cup)
• Lemon juice (half a lemon)
• Parmesan Cheese, freshly grated
• Linguine or Capellini, freshly prepared.

Preparation Method

• Step 1

Melt butter and olive oil in a pan over medium to medium-high heat.

• Step 2

Add shallots and garlic. Cook until the shallots are transparent, about 1-2 minutes. Pour in the white wine slowly and cook for 60-90 seconds. Then add the shrimp. Cook for 2-3 minutes, or until the shrimp are firm to the touch.

• Step 3

Add the lemon juice, salt, pepper, and Italian parsley and stir to combine. Mix in 1/4 cup or so of freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Serve it over your favorite freshly cooked pasta. Season with salt and pepper, as well as additional parmesan cheese to make it even tastier.

Recipe #5 – Royal Red Shrimp Hot Dog

Let’s try something different with our royal red shrimp. The hot dog is a popular snack for people of all ages. When you combine royal red shrimp with a hotdog, you’ll get a unique item.

Ingredients

• 1 lb. whole royal red shrimp
• 1¼ cups mayonnaise
• 2 lemons (zest and juice)
• 1 tablespoon jalapeno, minced
• 1½ tablespoon Honey
• 1 tablespoon. red wine vinegar
• 1 teaspoon hot sauce
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon pepper
• ½ teaspoon cayenne
• 3 leaves each of mint, parsley, and celery, chopped
• ¼ cup celery and red onion, chopped
• 4-6 buttered hot dog buns

Preparation Method

• Step 1

Boil 1 pound of whole royal red shrimp for 2–3 minutes in water. Then cool the shrimp. After that, skin each shrimp, devein it, and cut it into four pieces.

• Step 2

In a mixing bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, lemon zest and juice, jalapeno, honey, red wine vinegar, spicy sauce, salt, pepper, and cayenne. Now, toss the shrimps with mint, parsley, and celery leaves, as well as diced celery and red onion in a separate bowl. Chill after folding in the mayonnaise mixture.

• Step 3

Then toast 4–6 buttered hot dog buns before stuffing with shrimp and the other servings.

That’s all! If you try this hotdog, I’m betting you’ll admit that you’ve never had a more uniquely delicious hotdog in your life.

Recipe #6 – BBQ Royal Red Shrimp

Last but not least, let’s try to BBQ the royal red shrimps. This is another mind-blowing recipe that you can make pretty easily. Let’s see how to prepare it.

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons of spice seasoning, more or less to taste
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 3 pounds of peeled and deveined Royal Red Shrimp, tail on
• 4 oz. unsalted butter
• 2 oz. olive oil
• A quarter cup (1/4) of white vinegar
• 3 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
• 1 tablespoon mustard, yellow
• 3 teaspoons spicy sauce
• 1 pinch fresh thyme
• 1 pinch fresh oregano
• 2 tablespoons of green onion, chopped
• 2 tablespoons of parsley, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, chopped
• 2 bay leaves
• 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

Preparation Method

• Step 1

Mix all the spices, seasonings, and flour. Coat the shrimp lightly with seasoned flour.

• Step 2

In a large skillet, heat the butter and olive oil over high heat. After that, add the coated shrimp. Cook in batches if necessary, or use two skillets if possible.

• Step 3

Add the vinegar, lemon juice, balsamic vinegar, mustard, hot sauce, thyme, oregano, green onion, parsley, garlic, bay leaves, red pepper flakes, paprika, and Worcestershire sauce after the shrimp have been added.

• Step 4

Cook for 4 to 5 minutes, or until the sauce has reduced and the shrimp is done. Serve with french bread as an appetizer.

Some Additional Tips

• The best pricing and availability are in August and September because the shrimps are in season from late summer to early fall.
• Make sure you don’t oversalt the shrimp because it’s already pretty salty.
• Cooking time for royal red shrimp is less than regular shrimp. So, be a bit more cautious when cooking it.

So, now it’s your turn to make your favorite recipe. I hope you will enjoy all of the royal red shrimp recipes I’ve provided here. Each recipe has its unique flavor profile. Though they each taste different, they’re all delicious.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS)

1. What Makes Royal Red Shrimp Unique?

The flavor of Royal Red Shrimp is intensely rich and genuine. They’ve been compared to lobster, bay scallops, and blue crab, and they’re a true Alabama Gulf seafood feast because they’re larger than other Alabama shrimp. The meat of Royal Reds is delicate, and if overcooked, it will shrink and become rough.

2. What Does Royal Red Shrimp Taste Like?

The large royal red shrimp taste like lobster and scallops.

3. How Long Do Royal Red Shrimp Take To Boil?

Normally, they take less time than regular shrimps. They take around 5 to 7 minutes in boiling water, depending on their size.

4. What Is The Best Way To Check If Shrimp Are Fully Cooked?

The color of the shrimp determines whether it is done or not. Royal red shrimp are usually pink. As a result, you cannot use this method to determine.

Here’s how it works: Keep an eye on the fissure where the vein was severed at the rear of the shrimp. Keep your focus set on the thickest part of the shrimp (the end opposite the tail), and the shrimp will be done when the flesh at the base of that crevice turns opaque.

5. What Happens If Shrimp Are Overcooked?

Shrimp becomes matte white or gray when overdone. Another easy way to determine whether your shrimp are done is if they have curled into a lovely C shape. Shrimp that has been overcooked is curled tightly into an O shape.