Description
This Easy Sweet Chili Shrimp recipe is a quick and flavorful dish featuring succulent shrimp cooked in a sizzling garlic sesame oil base, tossed with tangy lime juice, and coated in a sweet chili sauce. Garnished with toasted sesame seeds and fresh chives, it makes a perfect light meal or appetizer ready in under 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Shrimp and Sauce
- 1 lb raw shrimp (peeled and deveined)
- 2 tablespoons sesame oil
- 4 cloves garlic (minced)
- Juice of one lime
- 1/2 cup sweet chili sauce (your choice of brand)
Garnish
- 1 tablespoon fresh chopped chives
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
- Extra lime wedges (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the skillet: Place a medium-sized skillet over high heat to preheat. Add the sesame oil and minced garlic to the hot skillet.
- Sizzle the garlic: Sauté the garlic in the sesame oil until it becomes fragrant and begins to sizzle, about one minute. This step infuses the oil with garlic flavor and primes the pan for cooking the shrimp.
- Cook the shrimp: Add the peeled and deveined raw shrimp to the skillet. Give the pan a good shake or stir to spread out the shrimp evenly. Cook for about 3 minutes, or until the shrimp are almost cooked through and turn pink and opaque.
- Add lime juice and chili sauce: Squeeze the juice of one lime directly over the shrimp and toss to coat well. Pour the sweet chili sauce over the shrimp, stir thoroughly to combine, and bring the sauce to a gentle simmer. Once simmering, remove from heat.
- Garnish the dish: Sprinkle the cooked shrimp with toasted sesame seeds and fresh chopped chives for added flavor and texture. Add extra lime wedges on the side if desired.
- Serve and enjoy: Serve the sweet chili shrimp warm on their own, or alongside a small portion of steamed rice or your favorite side dish for a complete meal.
Notes
- For extra heat, add some red pepper flakes or sriracha sauce to the sweet chili sauce.
- Make sure not to overcook the shrimp; they cook quickly and are best when tender and juicy.
- This recipe pairs wonderfully with steamed jasmine rice or lightly sautéed vegetables.
- Use fresh garlic for the best flavor, but garlic powder can be substituted in a pinch.
- Sesame seeds can be lightly toasted in a dry pan before adding to enhance their nuttiness.
