How to Cook Delicious Butterfly Shrimp: A Step-by-Step Guide

Butterfly shrimp is a fun and tasty way to enjoy shrimp! By butterflying or splitting shrimp down the back or belly before cooking you allow them to cook faster and more evenly. The pretty presentation also makes butterfly shrimp great for serving at parties or special occasions.

Cooking up properly butterflied and seasoned shrimp is easier than you think. In this detailed guide, I’ll walk you through exactly how to prep, butterfly, season, and cook shrimp to perfection. Let’s get started!

Ingredients You’ll Need

• Shrimp – go for large shrimp if you can, 16/20 size is ideal. You can use shells-on or peeled.
• Butter or ghee – for seasoning the shrimp.
• Garlic – for flavor.
• Sea salt
• Black pepper
• Lemon – for seasoning and garnish.
• Parsley or other herbs (optional) – for extra flavor.

Prep Your Shrimp

Before butterflying, you’ll want to wash, peel, and devein the shrimp. Here’s how:

• Rinse shrimp under cool water to remove any debris.
• Peel off shells, legs, and heads (if still attached).
• Use a paring knife to slice along the back and remove the digestive tract (dark vein running along back).
• Turn shrimp over and remove the nerve cord (dark line along inside curve) if desired. This is optional.

Once prepped, place peeled shrimp in a bowl set in ice to keep chilled while you work.

Butterflying Methods

You can butterfly shrimp in two main ways – along the back or along the belly. Back butterflying is more common, but belly butterflying yields a very unique presentation.

Back Butterfly

This is the classic method

• Place your knife in the slit where you removed the vein.
• Cut deeper, slicing along the back of the shrimp from head to tail.
• Take care not to cut all the way through – just deep enough to open the shrimp up.

Belly Butterfly

For a more unique look:

• Turn shrimp over and make a deep cut along the inner curve, dividing the belly into two attached halves.
• Again, be careful not to cut fully through the shrimp.

Either method will work beautifully! Rinse the butterflied shrimp under cool water and place on ice while you finish prepping the rest.

Season Your Butterflied Shrimp

Butterflying opens up more surface area, allowing you to really infuse flavors into the shrimp. Try any of these tasty seasoning combinations:

• Lemon garlic butter: Mix softened butter or ghee with minced garlic, lemon zest, salt, and pepper.
• Cajun spice: Coat with Cajun seasoning, paprika, salt, and pepper.
• Herb butter: Mix butter or olive oil with minced garlic, italian herbs, salt, and pepper.
• Ginger soy: Toss in soy sauce, sesame oil, grated ginger, and honey.

Simply spread or toss the shrimp with your seasoning mix to coat. The possibilities are endless!

How to Cook Butterfly Shrimp

Cooking your seasoned butterfly shrimp is a breeze. Some quick and easy methods:

• Baked: Lay shrimp flat on a baking sheet and bake at 400F for 5-7 minutes.
• Grilled: Toss shrimp in a grilling basket over medium heat for 2-3 minutes per side.
• Sauteed: Heat butter or oil in a pan. Cook shrimp 2-3 minutes per side until opaque.
• Air fried: Air fry at 400F for 4-5 minutes, flipping halfway.

The cooking time will vary slightly based on size of your shrimp. Aim for an internal temperature of 145F.

Check for opaque, firm shrimp and just a slight curl in the tail. Take care not to overcook, as shrimp can go from tender to rubbery quickly.

Serving Suggestions

Your beautiful butterfly shrimp are ready to enjoy! Here are some tasty ways to serve them up:

• On lettuce wraps or tacos with avocado and lime
• Over caesar salad
• In a bowl with veggie noodles or rice
• On skewers as an appetizer
• With cocktail sauce for dipping

Butterfly shrimp lend themselves well to so many recipes. Try tossing them in pasta, stir fries, frittatas, sushi rolls, and more.

Tips for Perfect Butterfly Shrimp

Follow these tips for the best results:

• Use fresh, raw shrimp – avoid precooked.
• For best presentation, devein both back and belly.
• Chill peeled shrimp while working by placing bowl in ice.
• Use sharp knife and work slowly to butterfly cleanly.
• Don’t overcrowd shrimp if cooking in batches.
• Monitor closely and don’t overcook – shrimp cooks very quickly!

Get Creative with Butterfly Shrimp

Butterflying shrimp opens up a whole world of possibilities for creative flavors and presentations. Try some fun ideas like:

• Stuff with cheese, salsa, or spinach dip before baking.
• Skewer flat for grilling “shrimp burgers”.
• Bread and deep fry for coconut shrimp or bang bang shrimp.
• Smoke on a grill for a delicious twist.
• Stuff shells with shrimp salad for an appetizer.

However you choose to prepare your butterfly shrimp, this simple technique yields beautiful, restaurant-quality results. Impress your family and friends with your skill and creativity!