There is no better seasoning for shrimp than this one. It gives baked, grilled, sautéed, and air-fried shrimp a delicious savory-smoky taste. Use your perfectly seasoned shrimp in tacos, salads, fajitas, grain bowls, and more!.
When you want to take shrimp from good to great, you have to pick the right seasonings. It’s not hard to find the best seasonings for shrimp. You can cook them in garlic butter sauce, add heat with Cajun seasoning, or use this simple shrimp seasoning recipe for the best flavor all around.
Shrimp is a versatile and popular seafood ingredient used in cuisines around the world. When cooked properly, shrimp offers a sweet, succulent flavor and tender texture. However, shrimp can easily become bland without the right spices added. Choosing complementary spices is key to bringing out the best in shrimp and taking any dish to the next level.
This guide covers the best spice pairings for accentuating the natural flavor of shrimp. Whether you enjoy shrimp scampi, grilled shrimp skewers, or shrimp tacos, these spices will elevate your recipes. Read on to learn expert tips for seasoning shrimp and discover new flavor combinations.
Why Spices Matter for Cooking Shrimp
Spices aren’t just about making food taste better They offer several important benefits
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Enhance natural flavors – Spices complement and intensify the sweet, briny notes of shrimp.
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Provide depth – Layered spice flavors create complexity.
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Allow versatility – Different spices give many options for global recipes.
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Add nutrition – Spices contain antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties.
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Preserve freshness – Spices like garlic and oregano have antimicrobial effects
With the right spices, you can transform bland shrimp into an exciting culinary experience.
Top 5 Spices for Shrimp
These five spices pair especially well with shrimp. Keep them stocked in your pantry to quickly amp up any shrimp dish.
1. Garlic
Garlic adds a pungent, savory punch of flavor. It marries beautifully with buttery, sweet shrimp. Use minced or powdered garlic.
2. Red Pepper Flakes
A touch of heat from red pepper flakes balances the richness of shrimp. Sprinkle over pasta, salads and more.
3. Paprika
Paprika lends a subtle smokiness along with a vibrant red-orange color. It’s excellent with grilled shrimp.
4. Oregano
Oregano has a woodsy, slightly minty taste that complements shrimp’s brininess. Use dried or fresh oregano.
5. Lemon Juice
Bright, zesty lemon juice offsets the heaviness of shrimp. Drizzle over any shrimp recipe for freshness.
Spice Pairing Guidelines
Follow these tips for choosing spices that work well with shrimp:
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Consider the recipe – Match spices to ingredients like tomatoes, greens, etc.
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Complement, don’t overwhelm – Allow shrimp’s natural flavor to still shine.
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Layer flavors – Use spices with different notes like hot, sweet, savory.
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Allow carryover cooking – Give spices time to fully infuse the shrimp as it cooks.
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Balance intensities – Combine a mild spice with a bolder one.
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Account for cooking method – Some spices hold up better to grilling or sautéing.
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Use fresh spices – Replace spices that have lost their potency for best flavor.
10 Winning Spice Combinations
Here are ten mix-and-match spice pairs that offer incredible results with shrimp:
- Lemon, parsley – Fresh and lively
- Garlic powder, cumin – Earthy and complex
- Chili powder, cilantro – Smoky with a kick
- Curry powder, ginger – Warming and fragrant
- Rosemary, black pepper – Woodsy and spicy
- Cayenne, lime juice – Tangy heat
- Paprika, oregano – Savory and aromatic
- Basil, thyme – Mediterranean herbal
- Celery salt, dill – Bright and coastal
- Cinnamon, allspice – Sweet and warm
Feel free to tweak amounts to suit your preferred spice levels.
Complementary Ingredients Beyond Spices
While spices add big flavor, don’t forget these other ingredients that pair deliciously with shrimp:
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Citrus – Lemon, lime, orange all brighten up shrimp. Use juice and zest.
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Onion & garlic – Foundations for sautéed shrimp. Sweat them first before adding shrimp.
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Wine – White wine adds acidity and complexity to shrimp in pasta or risotto.
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Herbs – Dill, cilantro, basil, mint offer freshness. Chop or tear just before adding.
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Butter – Enriches the flavor of sautéed or broiled shrimp. Clarified butter is ideal for high heat cooking.
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Chiles – Jalapeños, serranos, or thai chiles provide spicy contrast to creamy shrimp.
Best Spices for Shrimp Based on Cooking Method
Certain spices shine more depending on how you cook the shrimp.
Grilled
Smoked paprika, garlic powder, cayenne, ancho chile powder
Sautéed
Dill, lemon zest, oregano, red pepper flakes
Baked
Cajun seasoning, saffron, tarragon
Boiled
Old bay seasoning, garlic, celery seed
Broiled
Cumin, coriander, ginger
Global Spice Inspiration for Shrimp
Every cuisine offers classic spice combinations that pair wonderfully with shrimp. Recreate authentic flavors from around the world.
Cajun – Thyme, smoked paprika, cayenne, oregano, garlic
Spanish – Smoked paprika, saffron, garlic, oregano
Thai – Lemongrass, lime, red chili flakes, galangal
Indian – Cumin, turmeric, cinnamon, cardamom, curry leaves
Italian – Oregano, basil, fennel, parsley
Mexican – Cumin, oregano, chili powder, lime juice
Handling Spices Properly
To get the most potency and flavor from spices:
- Buy whole spices whenever possible and grind just before using
- Store spices in airtight containers away from light and heat
- Refresh stale spices by briefly dry roasting in a pan
- Rub or toast whole spices like cumin seeds to extract oils before cooking
- Don’t cook spices too long, or they can burn and turn bitter
Satisfying, Full-Flavored Shrimp
Shrimp offers incredible versatility. With the right spices, you can take it in many flavor directions for endless delicious meals. Follow these tips to choose spice pairings that accentuate shrimp’s sweetness and delicate texture. Then get cooking to enjoy this seafood at its very best!
What kind of shrimp should I use?
Any kind! You can season shrimp of any size or type; it depends on the dish you want to make.
Shrimp usually comes in colossal, jumbo, extra large, large, medium, small, and miniature sizes. I buy big or jumbo shrimp when I want to use them in tacos, salads, or as an appetizer with any of these 20 sauces for shrimp dipping.
Tip: Always take out the vein (also known as the shrimp’s digestive tract) from larger shrimp before you season and cook them. The vein’s gritty texture can ruin your dish.
Why you’ll love it
The ingredients for this shrimp seasoning blend are the same as those in my chicken wing rub and salmon dry rub recipes. You likely have most or all of them in your kitchen already!.
The blend features a well-balanced mix of savory flavors. It’s like blackening seasoning, but it doesn’t have the herbs and cayenne. It gives the shrimp a mild flavor that everyone likes. This also makes it go well with a lot of different foods, like salads, pasta, grain bowls, shrimp tacos, fajitas, and more!
The best spices to enhance the flavor of shrimp are likely in your pantry already. Here’s what you need:
- Paprika: The shrimp will taste different depending on the kind of paprika you use. With smoked paprika, shrimp will taste like it was cooked in a smoker. With regular or sweet paprika, shrimp will taste mild and slightly sweet.
- The seasoning mix has a balanced savory taste thanks to the garlic powder and onion powder.
- Black pepper and salt: to round out all the tastes
Mix the spices with the shrimp in olive oil before cooking so they stay on the outside. I also like to put fresh parsley on top of cooked shrimp, but you don’t have to.
Quick and Easy Garlic Butter Shrimp Recipe | Garlic Shrimp Recipe
What spices go well with shrimp?
Shrimp pairs beautifully with various spices like paprika, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, allspice, cinnamon, ginger, and more – as seen throughout our seven recipe suggestions above. What do you put on shrimp before grilling?
What can I add to shrimp sauce & seasoning?
Or, you can mix it up with other sauces and seasonings. Here are a few other shrimp seasoning ideas: Lemon shrimp: Go basic with just salt and lemon juice (optionally, add a sprinkle of chives, basil or oregano). Honey garlic shrimp: A favorite! Go to Honey Garlic Shrimp. Garlic shrimp: Make garlic shrimp with minced garlic.
What flavoring goes well with shrimp?
Dill is another traditional flavoring for shrimp and other seafood. It has what many consider to be a lemon flavor, which is why it goes so well with shrimp’s natural brininess. It is a delicate herb, which allows it to enhance shrimp without masking it.
What kind of shrimp do you put in a shrimp salad?
Lemon shrimp: Go basic with just salt and lemon juice (optionally, add a sprinkle of chives, basil or oregano). Honey garlic shrimp: A favorite! Go to Honey Garlic Shrimp. Garlic shrimp: Make garlic shrimp with minced garlic. Cajun shrimp: Add Cajun seasonings, or for a milder spin go for blackened seasoning.