Crispy & Savory Garlic Butter Roasted Shrimp Heads: A Recipe to Use Every Part!
Garlic Butter Roasted Shrimp Heads
Hello there! ‘Babsim is the strength of a nation!’ Shrimp are in season right now, making them extra fresh and delicious. Shrimp are packed with taurine, which is beneficial for heart health by helping to lower cholesterol. For truly fresh shrimp, I highly recommend utilizing the heads, which are full of flavor and nutrients! Today, we’ll be making ‘Garlic Butter Roasted Shrimp Heads’ using shrimp heads that are often discarded. They turn out wonderfully crispy on the outside and infused with the rich flavors of butter and garlic. This is a fantastic side dish or appetizer, perfect for kids and an excellent pairing with beer!
Ingredients- 14 fresh shrimp heads
- Pinch of seasoned salt for marination
- 1 piece unsalted butter (approx. 10g)
- 4 cloves garlic
- Pinch of dried parsley flakes (for garnish)
- Pinch of your favorite seasoning blend (optional)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, prepare your fresh shrimp heads, perhaps leftover from frying or cooking shrimp. Carefully use scissors to trim off the sharp pointy part near the eyes. Also, neatly trim away any long, whisker-like appendages. This preparation makes them much easier and cleaner to eat.
Step 2
Gently pat the cleaned shrimp heads dry with a paper towel. Removing excess moisture is key to achieving a crispy texture when roasting.
Step 3
Sprinkle the prepared shrimp heads with seasoned salt for marination. Let them sit for a moment to allow the salt to penetrate. If you don’t have seasoned salt, regular salt can be used, but use a slightly smaller amount.
Step 4
Peel the garlic cloves and thinly slice them into slivers. Thinly slicing the garlic allows its aroma to beautifully infuse into the butter as it cooks, and it will also become wonderfully crispy.
Step 5
Heat a pan over medium-low heat and add a piece of butter. Once the butter is melted, add the thinly sliced garlic. Sauté the garlic, being careful not to burn it, until it becomes fragrant. You’ll start to smell a lovely garlic aroma.
Step 6
As the garlic begins to turn golden, add the marinated shrimp heads to the pan. Toss them together with the garlic and butter. Stir and cook the shrimp heads, flipping them occasionally, until they are evenly cooked and their shells turn a vibrant red and become crispy. This should take about 5-7 minutes.
Step 7
Once the shrimp heads are golden brown and crispy, turn off the heat. Finish by sprinkling with dried parsley flakes or your chosen seasoning blend for an extra touch of flavor. The garlic butter aroma is absolutely delightful! These roasted shrimp heads are best enjoyed warm, immediately after cooking. Experience the fantastic harmony of crispy exteriors, tender interiors, and the rich flavors of butter and garlic!
