Grilled Shrimp with Honey-Ginger Barbecue Sauce
Of all the ways to prepare shrimp, the grill delivers the best flavor. Although unadorned "shrimp on the barbie" are great, an easily assembled gingery barbecue sauce makes them that much better. You can save time by buying already shelled and deveined shrimp, but our recipe developer, Alexis Touchet, who grew up in shrimp country in southwest Louisiana, thinks shell-on shrimp are better quality. Depending on where you live and what's in your market, you may not have much choice. Freshness trumps all, so don't hesitate to use your nose in deciding which shrimp to buy.
Honey-Ginger Barbecue Sauce
1 1/2 cups apple cider vinegar
1/2 cup mild honey
1/2 cup ketchup
1 1/2 tablespoons hot sauce, such as Tabasco
4 large garlic cloves, minced
2 tablespoons minced peeled ginger
1 teaspoon salt
Shrimp:
4 pounds jumbo (21–25 per pound) or extra-large (26–30 per pound) shrimp in shell, peeled, leaving tail and adjoining shell segment intact, and deveined (See Cooks' Notes)
4 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 teaspoon salt
For the Shrimp:
- If necessary, pat shrimp dry, then thread about 6 shrimp (through top and tail, leaving shrimp curled), onto each skewer, without leaving space between shrimp.
- Prepare grill for direct-heat cooking over medium-hot charcoal (medium-high for gas); see Grilling Procedure.
- Meanwhile, brush shrimp with vegetable oil and sprinkle evenly with salt.
- Lightly oil grill rack. Grill shrimp, covered only if using a gas grill, turning over once, 2 minutes.
- Brush shrimp with some sauce from the saucepan, then turn. Brush shrimp with additional sauce then grill until just cooked through, 1 to 2 minutes. Serve with reserved sauce.
Honey-Ginger Barbecue Sauce
Stir together all sauce ingredients in a 2- to 2 1/2-quart heavy saucepan and briskly simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until thickened and reduced to about 1 1/4 cups, 25 to 30 minutes. (Stir frequently toward end of cooking to prevent sticking.)
Cooks' notes:
•Sauce can be made 3 days ahead and refrigerated once cooled. Reheat before proceeding.
•If making the shrimp and the corn, double the recipe for the sauce and cook it until it is reduced to 2 1/2 cups.
•In terms of shrimp size, go by the count per pound versus the descriptive terms such as jumbo and extra-large. If the count is not displayed, ask.
•Sauce can be made 3 days ahead and refrigerated once cooled. Reheat before proceeding.
•Shrimp can be threaded onto skewers and refrigerated on a tray, loosely covered with plastic wrap, 2 hours before grilling.
None Available.