Fish & SeafoodDifficulty: easy

Gambas al Ajillo (Garlic Shrimp)

Name: Gambas al Ajillo (Garlic Shrimp)
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 6 min
Total time: 11 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Ingredients: 500 g large shrimp, peeled (tails on); 6 garlic cloves, sliced paper-thin; 1 dried guindilla or cayenne chili; 120 ml olive oil; 1 tsp sweet paprika; 10 ml brandy or white wine (optional); Flaky salt, parsley

Spain's fastest tapa: shrimp sizzling in olive oil with slivers of garlic and a kick of chili.

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Instructions

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1Dry the shrimp very well — water kills the sizzle.

2Warm the olive oil in a small cazuela over medium-low heat with the garlic slices; cook until they barely turn blonde, 2 minutes.

3Add the whole chili; let it infuse 30 seconds without burning.

4Raise the heat, add the shrimp in one layer; cook 60–90 seconds per side until just pink.

5Off the heat, add the paprika and the splash of brandy; swirl.

6Serve immediately in the bubbling cazuela with flaky salt and parsley.