Red Chile Grilled Shrimp

Plump shrimp are coated in a smoky, punchy marinade infused with dried chiles and musky annatto seeds before being grilled and finished in a buttery sauce in this grilled shrimp recipe from 2021 F&W Best New Chef Fermín Núñez, chef and owner of Suerte and Este in Austin.

“Before I opened Este, I traveled to Monterrey, Mexico, to visit a friend, and he told me I should go to a place called El Ricas,“ says Núñez. "When the grilled shrimp hit the table, I knew I had to make a version of them at Este. After a few recipe tests, I was able to mimic the flavor of the garlic-and-chile marinade. I named it Camarones El Ricas as a nod to the place that served the best grilled shrimp I’ve ever had in my life.” 

Núñez prefers peel-on shrimp for this recipe, as the shells help protect the shrimp from over-cooking in the high heat of the grill and enhance their taste. Use a grill basket to make it easy to flip all the shrimp at once. 

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to grill shrimp? 

Shrimp grill quickly, in under five minutes, so keep an eye on them while grilling so they don't overcook.

How do you butterfly shrimp? 

Butterflying shrimp increases the surface area, allowing for better charring and better flavor absorption, as the piquant marinade has more space to to settle into. To butterfly shrimp, use a paring knife to cut through the shell, making a 1/4- to 1/2-inch slit from the top of the shrimp (the depth of the slit will depend on the size of the shrimp), near the head, moving along the outer curve down toward the tail. Remove the vein and lightly press to open up the shrimp until it lays flat.

How do I use a grill basket?

Grill baskets are handy for grilling items that can easily slip through grill grates or are delicate, like these butterflied shrimp. Grilling the shrimp in a grill basket works well by charring the shells while keeping the interior shrimp meat tender and moist. Simply place the items you’d like to grill in the basket and close it. The basket is designed to keep your ingredients secure and give you more control while cooking. Núñez recommends the stainless steel fish grill basket from Made In Cookware, but you can use any grill basket you have at home.

What do I serve with grilled shrimp?

This grilled shrimp recipe is coated in a punchy marinade with strong earthy flavors from the chilies. Serve it with Núñez's homemade corn tortillas to make tacos, sliced avocados, or Mexican rice. 

Notes from the Food & Wine Test Kitchen

The grilled shrimp marinade is nice and punchy, with a strong earthy flavor from the annatto and chiles that pairs well with the sweetness of the shrimp. Although this is a thicker marinade and requires some additional effort to blend, it does eventually come together, smooth out, and emulsify, so be patient and scrape the sides of the blender as needed. 

Puya chiles are a spicy chile with a background of fruity flavor. You can find puya chiles, as well as guajillo chiles and chiles de árbol at most Mexican grocery stores or at online shops like spicetrekkers.com.

Suggested pairing

With a fruity kick from puya chiles in the marinade, a citrusy Gramona La Cuvée Cava dry sparkling wine pairs great with the sweet and spicy shrimp. 

Make ahead 

The grilled shrimp marinade can be stored for up to three days in a refrigerator or for up to one month in a freezer.