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In this flavor-packed Blackened Shrimp recipe, fresh shrimp are coated with a spicy blackening seasoning blend and pan-seared in butter until they are tender, juicy, and simply amazing. It's the perfect main course or appetizer and takes just minutes to make.

If you like shellfish and you want spice, you will love this recipe. The distinctive sweet and savory seasoning mix magically transforms plain shrimp into a seafood lover's dream dish.

It's also one of those versatile dishes that can be eaten as is or combined with other ingredients like grits, pasta or rice, or used in tacos or quesadillas.

Sharon's Tips:

Shrimp has a delicate flavor, and too much spice can overpower it. But, if you want more heat, you can increase the amount of cayenne pepper in the recipe.

This recipe calls for extra-large shrimp, which generally means that there are 21-24 shrimp per pound. If yours are larger or smaller, you will need to adjust the cooking times.

When placing the shrimp in the skillet, for the best results, make sure only to put them in one layer and do not crowd them. You want them to get a nice sear, and not steam.

This recipe will produce smoke. Be sure to turn your kitchen exhaust fan to high before adding the shrimp.

Sharon Rigsby is the blogger behind Grits and Pinecones, a cooking, and hospitality blog. Check out her recipes by visiting https://ift.tt/1VcxZ3n.

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Blackened Shrimp 

Serves 4

Ingredients:

1.5 pounds extra-large shrimp, peeled, deveined, and with the tails removed

5 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided

2 teaspoons paprika

1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

1/2 teaspoon ground dried thyme

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon onion powder

1 teaspoon brown sugar

2 teaspoons kosher salt

Optional garnishes, one tablespoon chopped parsley, the juice of one-half of a lime.

Directions:

Combine all seasonings and spices in a small bowl and stir well to make the blackening seasoning. Set aside.

Place the shrimp in a large shallow bowl or plate. Use a paper towel and blot them to remove any excess moisture.

Melt two tablespoons of butter and use a pastry brush to coat the shrimp generously. Sprinkle one-half of the seasoning mix evenly over the crustaceans. Turn over and repeat with the butter and seasoning.

Preheat a large cast-iron skillet or non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the remaining three tablespoons of butter.

When the skillet is hot, and the butter has melted, add the shrimp in one layer and cook undisturbed for one minute. Turn the shellfish over and cook for another minute or until the thickest end of the has turned from translucent to opaque, and the seasoning mix is blackened and crusty.

Remove the skillet from the heat immediately and then quickly remove the shellfish from the pan. If not, they will continue to cook and could become tough and stringy.

Optional, garnish with chopped parsley and a splash of lime juice.  Serve immediately.

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