My simple and authentic gambas al ajillo recipe makes the most delicious Spanish garlic shrimp you can imagine! This popular Spanish tapas dish is one of my favorites (and it's ready in only 10 minutes!).
When my mother-in-law makes gambas al ajillo, everyone seems to be right on time for dinner. We scarf down our salmorejo and croquetas de jamón-- the first courses that are only a buffer before the true plato del dÃa. Her gambas al ajillo are fantastic, rivaled only by the ones at Madrid's famous Casa del Abuelo (where you get to see them prepare the shrimp right before your eyes and your plate always comes out sizzling).
Her secret can be explained in two words, sherry and butter. Traditionalists cover your ears, my suegra doesn't make the most typical gambas al ajillo recipe in Spain-- but it might be the most delicious!
Key Ingredients
Key Ingredients: Shrimp, butter, olive oil, garlic, salt, cayenne pepper, parsley, and sherry.
Ingredient Notes & Substitutions
This dish is so simple that there aren't too many things to play around with -- but here are some ideas!
- Shrimp (Prawns): While I wouldn't go ahead and change the main ingredient, there are other things here in Spain that we make in a similar way! Champiñones al ajillo are delicious mushrooms with garlic, for example. You can also attempt to substitute scallops or crab for the shrimp here. Let me know how it goes!
- Butter: My recipe uses butter and the combination with olive oil makes the dish even creamier. But you can use 100% olive oil if you prefer. Extra virgin, of course!
- Olive Oil: Please use the best quality extra virgin olive oil you can find. You'll ideally not waste a bit -- sopping up the excess with a good loaf of crusty bread! Read my article about olive oil to find out why it's a fantastic oil for cooking (and even baking!).
- Garlic: Add as much as you like (but the more, the better!). This is not a first date kind of dish! There's no great substitution here if for some reason you can't have garlic.
- Sherry: A dry sherry wine gives this dish an extra pop, but it's not traditional. Feel free to omit completely, or to substitute any dry white wine.
- Cayenne: This is one of Spain's few "spicy" dishes -- but feel free to skip the spice, or add a couple of black peppercorns for a slightly different take on things.
- Bread: While I didn't list it as an ingredient - it's important! It wouldn't be true gambas al ajillo without a loaf of crusty bread to sop up all of the delicious garlic sauce!
Gambas al Ajillo: Step by Step
Making these famous Spanish garlic shrimp couldn't be easier. Follow along for a full tutorial, or keep scrolling down for the printable recipe card with exact measurements.
Steps 1-2: Slowly heat the minced garlic, olive oil, and chili over medium heat. Don't let the garlic burn! When fragrant (after about one minute) add the raw shrimp (ideally shelled) and gently sauté to make sure all sides are coated with olive oil. Turn the heat up to high.
Steps 3-4: Once sizzling, add the wine (if using) and a pinch of salt. Let sizzle for one minute until pink -- don't overcook!
Steps 5-6: Remove from the heat (if making directly in the clay dishes you can serve still sizzling!) and add a pat of butter (optional) and some diced parsley. Serve immediately with crusty bread for dipping.
Recipe Tips & FAQs
You can use any type of shrimp to make this dish, but my preference is for a small, sweet variety.
Most places serve this dish with completely shelled shrimp, however, you can also keep the shells (or just the tail shell) on if you prefer. If you make this recipe with whole shrimp (heads on) the flavor may change and taste more intensely of shrimp stock/reduction. To keep the flavors simple -- extra virgin olive oil and garlic -- shelled shrimp is the best choice.
As with most shellfish dishes, you should plan to consume your garlic shrimp within two days. They will last 48 hours in the fridge without any issues.
Yes! I recommend cooling the dish completely and spooning the shrimp into a small airtight container (to avoid freezer burn). Make sure to freeze with all of the oil. The gambas al ajillo will last three months in the freezer.
Serving Suggestions
For me, gambas al ajillo are part of a tapas spread! They are a star dish on our Madrid tapas tours, where we enjoy them along with other Spanish favorites, like pimientos de padrón, chorizo al vino tinto, tortilla, patatas bravas, gazpacho, ensaladilla rusa... etc. The list of Spanish tapas is long (and so, so delicious!).
The key to Spanish garlic shrimp, however, is to have a loaf of hearty bread to serve alongside. Dipping your bread into the garlicky sauce is arguably the best part!
More Shrimp Tapas Recipes
Shrimp of all sizes are plentiful throughout Spain and we have some delicious shrimp tapas to show for it!
- Pintxo de Gambas al Ajillo: If you love these garlic shrimp, don't miss this garlic shrimp skewer. Perfect for barbecues!
- Shrimp Fritters: These crispy shrimp fritters are one of my favorite fried foods in Spain.
- Shrimp with Chickpeas: This delicious stew combines shrimp and garbanzo beans for a comforting seafood dish.
- Shrimp in Whiskey Sauce: Another super easy way to cook shrimp, this Spanish tapa uses whole shrimp in their shells for the best flavor.
- Perfect Boiled Shrimp: One of the most common ways to enjoy shrimp in Spain is to simply boil them for a couple of minutes and then chill them in ice water. It couldn't be easier!
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Gambas al Ajillo Recipe (Spanish Garlic Shrimp)
Ingredients
- About 1 pound a little less than ½ kilo of small, raw shrimp (shelled or unshelled)
- Extra virgin olive oil Spanish brands preferred!
- Minced garlic about 1 tablespoon per person, you can put less or more depending on your love for garlic
- A splash of dry sherry I generally use fino or manzanilla (this can be omitted or substituted for a very dry white wine)
- A touch of butter to finish off each serving
- 1-2 small cayenne peppers per serving
- Sea salt for seasoning
Instructions
- My mother-in-law makes these in individual sized clay dishes (cazuelitas) that you can put directly on the stove to cook in. Here I'll assume most will make the dish in one large pan and then plate separately.
- If the shrimp haven't been shelled, remove the shells
- Completely cover the bottom of a large frying pan with olive oil and slowly heat along with the garlic and cayenne pepper pods.
- When the garlic begins to sizzle add the shrimp and sauté a moment.
- Once everything starts to sizzle again, add a splash of sherry and a sprinkle of salt.
- Simmer for about a minute until the shrimp are cooked through (don't overcook!)
- Remove from the heat and divide into four servings.
- Top each serving with a touch of butter, and give it a quick stir before serving.
Notes
- Serve sizzling if possible, and always with crusty bread to mop up the sauce. Remember to only cook the shrimp for about one minute, they can overcook in no time and will keep cooking once off the heat if kept in the same dish!
- Remember that olive oil is a major part of this dish so use the best quality extra virgin olive oil you can get your hands on!Â
Nutrition
Update Notice: This post was originally published on April 10, 2014, and was republished with new text and photos on July 27, 2021.
I hope you enjoy my mother-in-law's gambas al ajillo recipe as much as I do. If you try it, please leave a comment!
Photography by Giulia Verdinelli
Andrew
Where I lived in Olvera, Cadiz Province, the dish was prepared with just a dash of tomato frito added during cooking, it makes a world of difference
Margaret Girgrah
Hello from Kingston Ontario I lived in Andalusia for eight years and spent the next ten winters in Spain I really miss it now . These Gambas were my favourite but instead of parsley I added cilantro and always used dry sherry I made this recipe myself .
My Spanish friends loved my cooking
Katrina
Super delicious! We used a lot of garlic, my fiancee said they were the best shrimp he's ever had!
Wild
Just finished a plate of these. Wonderful, Wonderful. Was out of sherries so had to use Vermouth. Can’t wait to try this with Sherry and cognac (separately, of course)!
This will be my Christmas present to my self. Thank you!
Giulia Verdinelli
I loved making this recipe with lots of garlic 🙂
So simple and quick and the sauce is perfect to mop up with crusty bread, great tip!
Bill Woodhouse
Boil the heads and shells separately to get a tasty broth.
Cuidado--manteca no es lo mismo que mantequilla!
I got a sets of cazuelas of different sizes from La Tienda, in Virginia, USA.
Ingrid
Can I use clay cookware on my glass cook top ?
Gracias for your delicious recipes !!!
Tom
What size clay dish should I buy for serving 1 person and how deep
Lauren Aloise
There's no rule! Some restaurants fill theirs to the brim, others have the shrimp in one layer. My mother-in-law seems to have a slightly different size for each guest at the table!
Randall Heath
My favorite tapas restaurant has closed down - Casa Tapas, in Montreal - whether temporarily or for good, I do not know... but I do know that I cannot live life without their gambas al ajillo! Thank you for the recipe so I can learn to make this at home.
Question: Can you recommend a source for quality clay cookware? Need a set or two of 6" or smaller cazuelas like you use here. Thanks again!
Lauren Aloise
Hi Randall-- how sad! But at least you'll learn to make them yourself! I don't have a specific recommendation, perhaps try Amazon? Thanks for reading!
Cyndie
Hello, We have a young man from Madrid he is 17 he is our exchange student, i would love to make a meal for him from his country. i found a Tortilla Espanola that looks so yummy can you please send me a couple of ideas that are related to Spain?
Lauren Aloise
I have lots of yummy recipes on the site! https://spanishsabores.com/recipes
kael genbrugge
on the picture, there is some green vegitable, but not in de recepe. Is this parsly?
Kg
Lauren Aloise
Yes-- completely optional and I usually omit!
Xuan Valdés
(Perdonen que aún no escriba bien en inglés, sólo necesitaré algo de tiempo...)
Esta receta me sorprendió por el uso de manteca (butter), que le da una personalidad extraordinaria. Yo soy del norte -de Asturias- y echaba sidra (cider) en vez de vino blanco, pero el resultado es totalmente distinto, sorprendente y delicioso. Me atrevo a sugerir el uso de las cabezas durante el cocinado y desecharlas al servir en la mesa. Enhorabuena
Lauren Aloise
Hola Xuan! Muchas gracias por comentar y me alegro mucho que te haya gustado la receta! La tendré que probar con sidra y las cabezas-- buen idea!
Enrique Reyes
No únicamente la cabeza, sino que también añade la concha de las gambas. Desde luego, deseche las cabezas y conchas ántes de servir. Una forma de facilitar el procedimiento es cociendo la cabeza y concha en aceite de olivo y luego, continuando con su procedimiento, añadir el aceite de olivo a las gambas .
Raul Herrera
?Qué son cabezas?
sel
I assume the word you imply is the heads of the shrimp. Generally i do use the heads and shells of prawns. More flavor. But in this receipe i would not. When i cook this delicious dish, i use a little more chili. It gives a wonderful flavor. Hola from USA with roots in Santander Spain.
Trevor Huxham
Mmmmmm I had no idea gambas al ajillo were so simple!