Cilantro Lime Shrimp

This chilled shrimp appetizer delivers massive, vibrant flavor with absolutely no cooking required. The secret to keeping the shrimp perfectly tender is starting with pre-cooked, chilled shrimp and dressing them after the fact. This sidesteps the risk of the highly acidic lime juice toughening or chemically "cooking" the delicate seafood the way a ceviche would, preserving that beautiful, natural snap in every single bite.

The dressing comes together in moments. Whisking quality extra virgin olive oil with freshly squeezed lime juice creates a bright, slightly thick base. Stirring in onion powder, garlic powder, and chili powder allows the spices to release their full, aromatic flavor directly into the citrus oil, building a boldly seasoned marinade that is ready in seconds.

The Cilantro & Lime Toss

Tossing the chilled shrimp generously in this citrus and spice-flecked oil ensures every single piece is beautifully coated. The addition of freshly chopped cilantro introduces a brilliant, herbaceous brightness that contrasts wonderfully with the warm, earthy spices.

The final and most rewarding step is a brief rest in the refrigerator. As the dressed shrimp chills for twenty minutes, the olive oil thickens slightly in the cold, creating a luxurious, clinging glaze that coats every piece. The result is a vibrant, make-ahead centerpiece that delivers incredible impact with zero active cooking time — perfect for any gathering.

Jorj Morgan

Cilantro Lime Shrimp

These vibrant Cilantro Lime Shrimp are bathed in a brilliant, spice-flecked glaze that clings beautifully, delivering a burst of sun-drenched flavor with every tender snap. The post-cook marination ensures each succulent piece remains perfectly tender, offering effortless elegance for any occasion.

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 10 minutes mins

Servings: 4 servings

Course: Appetizer

Ingredients Method

Ingredients

  

The Post-Cook Marinade

• ⅓ cup high-quality extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice from 1 large lime
• 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro finely chopped
• ½ teaspoon onion powder
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon chili powder

The Seafood

• 1 pound fully cooked shrimp, peeled and deveined peeled, and deveined large shrimp
• Kosher salt and coarse black pepper to taste

Method

 

Make the Cilantro Lime Marinade

1. In a large ceramic or glass mixing bowl, combine the extra virgin olive oil, fresh lime juice, finely chopped cilantro, onion powder, garlic powder, and chili powder.
2. Vigorously whisk the ingredients together until the lime juice and olive oil blend into a thick, cloudy, highly aromatic dressing.

Toss the Shrimp

1. Add the fully cooked, chilled shrimp directly into the bowl with the marinade. (Tossing post-cook ensures the acidic lime juice does not chemically "cook" or toughen the raw protein, preserving a flawless, tender snap).
2. Season the shrimp aggressively with kosher salt and coarse black pepper to taste.

The Toss & Chill

1. Use a large wooden spoon or rubber spatula to toss the shrimp continuously until every piece is heavily coated in the glossy, spice-flecked dressing.
2. Cover the bowl tightly and refrigerate for 15 to 20 minutes to allow the flavors to marry and the olive oil to slightly thicken, creating a rich glaze that clings to the seafood. Serve chilled.