GARLIC-INFUSED OLIVE OIL SHRIMP (Alicante Style)

A simple yet unforgettable shrimp dish inspired by Alicante, featuring fresh shrimp gently cooked in garlic-infused olive oil. The sauce highlights the sweet intensity of the shrimp, with whole garlic cloves slowly marinated and softened in the oil, creating a delicate aroma that lets the shrimp shine. Perfect with rustic bread to soak up every drop.

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🕒 Prep Time: 3+ hours (for oil infusion)

🍳 Cook Time: 10 min
🍰 Servings: 2

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Ingredients

• 20 medium whole shrimp (about 450 g), unpeeled
• 150 ml fruity olive oil (for salads; Arbequina recommended)
• 4–6 whole garlic cloves, peeled but left whole
• 2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
• 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
• Salt, pepper, and a pinch of smoked paprika

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Instructions

1. Remove heads and shells from shrimp, leaving tails on if desired. Save heads for stock or discard; keep shells.
2. Rinse shrimp heads and shells well and pat dry. Refrigerate shrimp until use.
3. Gently heat olive oil in a pan and sauté shells until red and fragrant (about 2 minutes). Stir frequently.
4. Transfer oil and shells to a food processor and blend for 30 seconds until finely chopped.
5. Strain the infused oil through a fine sieve or tea strainer, pressing to extract as much flavor as possible.
6. Place the strained warm oil in a jar with whole and sliced garlic cloves. Let infuse at room temperature for at least 3 hours (or refrigerate for longer storage).
7. When ready to cook, pour the garlic-infused oil with garlic cloves into a wide skillet (~25 cm). Warm gently over low heat for 5 minutes; oil should barely simmer, allowing garlic to soften without frying.
8. Meanwhile, season shrimp with salt, freshly ground black pepper, and smoked paprika. Toss well.
9. Add shrimp to the oil and increase heat to medium; sauté shrimp for about 2 minutes per side until pink and slightly browned.
10. Stir in lemon juice and mix well.
11. Transfer shrimp and garlic oil to a serving dish. Serve immediately with rustic or toasted bread to soak up the flavorful oil and softened garlic cloves.
12. Enjoy the sweet, buttery garlic cloves spread on bread alongside the shrimp.

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💡 Tips

• Use very fresh shrimp with a strong ocean aroma for the best flavor.
• Do not cut whole garlic cloves; they soften beautifully whole during infusion.
• Leftover garlic-infused oil makes an incredible pasta sauce with chili and parsley.

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🎉 Perfect For

• Simple yet sophisticated seafood meals
• Garlic lovers and Mediterranean cuisine fans
• Sharing with good bread and wine