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Camarones al Mojo de Ajo (or Mexican Garlic Shrimp) is such a tasty dish! You’ll want to eat it right from the skillet.
You’re going to fall head over heels for this Mexican seafood recipe. I mean, who doesn’t love shrimp? They are a gift from the ocean.
Juicy shrimp swimming in all those gorgeous, fragrant garlic flavor… YUM!
Camarones a la Diabla, Camarones en Crema Chipotle, Camarones Rancheros
How to Make It
If the shrimp still have their digestive tract, you need to remove it.
Taking out the poop vein can be quite the chore and, believe me, I’m no pooper scooper.
Word to the Wise: If it’s in your budget, buy them already deveined and ready to go. It’s also worth noting that Large to Jumbo Size shrimp are easier to devein.
Location! Location! Location
Mexico is geographically located around water. That’s why you will see several traditional Mexican recipes that include seafood like Fish Ceviche, Pescado Zarandeado, Tostada de Atun.
No vampires at my house. To make this sauce, it requires A LOT of garlic.
You will need a full head of garlic. Not just one lonely clove. The garlic adds SO much flavor!
If you feed it to your significant other, two negatives make a positive. See… I learned something in high school math. LOL.
- Use half of a stick of butter for the mojo, or the sauce.
- Add to the blender along with the garlic, olive oil, lime juice, salt, and pepper.
- Zippity zappity blend until smooth.
Make sure that the butter is soft. That will get the blender going.
In a way, we’re making a soft butter spread. You can even put this on bread. Yum!
Don’t worry. It will become saucier when it hits the pan.
See the bottom? There’s a lot of goodness down there. Make sure you get all of it when you’re adding it to the pan.
A long thin spatula (AFFILIATE) works well in cases like this.
Remember to scrape the sides of the blender too. You want everything last bit of this magic sauce.
- More butter goes into the pan.
- Add the mojo sauce and let it melt.
You could add this sauce to a shoe, and it would taste good. Please don’t try that home, kids!
Great Idea: Try this sauce with fish, scallops, mussels. Just about any seafood would go well with this sauce.
Camarones al Mojo de Ajo vs. Camarones al Ajillo:
- In some Spanish-speaking countries, these two dishes are exactly the same.
- In Mexico, Camarones al Ajillo is made with a garlic butter sauce, but it also includes chiles.
- Next up, add the shrimp.
- Stir constantly.
Larger shrimp take a longer time to cook. Smaller shrimp are done in minutes.
This makes a great appetizer, but as a main course, this is a delicious meal.
Don’t go far from the skillet. This dish is ready as soon as the shrimp turn pink. We’re talking minutes.
For a Party:
- Make the sauce and clean the shrimp ahead of time.
- Then when your guests arrive, greet them with the smell a buttery garlic sauce.
I do not recommend freezing this dish because reheated shrimp turn rubbery. However, you can keep it in the fridge for up to 3 days.
What goes good with shrimp?
Mexican White Rice
Homemade Tostada Shells
refried beans
Ensalada de Nopales
Tell me that wasn’t easy?! All under 30 minutes. It’s an appetizing Mexican seafood recipe that is sure to win the hearts of anyone who tastes it.
You might see this dish also served with lime wedges, cucumber, saltine crackers, and orange slices. Hope you enjoy!
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Camarones al Mojo de Ajo
Ingredients
Instructions
- Peel, devein, and wash shrimp.
- Set aside until ready to use.
- In a blender, add ½ stick of butter, garlic, olive oil, lime juice, salt, and pepper.
- Blend until smooth.
- In a large skillet, melt the remaining stick of butter.
- Add all of the garlic mixture from the blender.
- Melt. About 1 minute.
- Add the raw shrimp.
- Cook for 3-4 minutes or until shrimp is pink.
- Serve.
- Top shrimp with butter sauce and chopped cilantro.
- Enjoy.
Thanks for the great recipe, Maggie. I made this for dinner tonight and it was excellent. Easy too! Definitely a recipe to keep.
That just made my day!! So glad you liked it. 🙂
My favorite Mexican dish! Never had the recipe though, so thank you. No idea it was that simple, yet delish.
Oh my goodness, this looks so scrumptious! I definitely need to make this sometime this week!
Thank so much! I love the recipe! camarones al mojo de ajo are definitely one of my favorites!
What a great idea to use it as a butter spread as well. Two recipes in one. 🙂
This recipe was delicious and easy! I had to double the recipe and was scared the garlic (2 heads) was going to be too much but it was perfect! Who am I kidding I love garlic. Putting it in the blender was a great tip, cut prep time.
Oh yum! Each time I think of this dish, I want to make it. lol. Glad you enjoyed!