Simple But Sophisticated Appetizer: Tangy, Lemony Shrimp, Onion and Olive Skewers

We’re on board for appetizers almost every day here at Glover Gardens. Here’s one of our latest favorites, which is sophisticated but super-easy. Make this when you have leftover shrimp – or cook shrimp so you can make this appetizer. 😁 If you already have shrimp on hand, the recipe comes together in about 10 minutes. If you have to cook the shrimp and use our rapid oven recipe, it’s about 17 minutes. Not bad for a fancy-looking appetizer!

Recipe: Tangy, Lemony Shrimp, Onion and Olive Skewers

Serves 6 as an appetizer (2 per person) – multiply as necessary to suit your party size

Ingredients

• 12 large well-seasoned cooked shrimp (see this recipe for how to roast shrimp in the oven; see note for other options)
• 12 large green olives – jalapeno-stuffed, pimento-stuffed or garlic-stuffed
• 12 cocktail onions
• 1½ tbsp. lemon juice
• 2 tsp. extra-virgin olive oil or flavored extra-virgin olive oil (we use lemon-flavored olive oil – see note)
• Salt and pepper
• Red pepper flakes
• 12 ~6-inch wooden skewers
• Fresh herbs for garnishing, such as oregano, rosemary or parsley
• 12 grape tomatoes (optional)

Cooking Instructions

Thread the olives, shrimp and cocktail onions onto the skewers, with each skewer hosting one of each item, placing them on a baking sheet or other surface. Mix the lemon juice and olive oil in a small dish and brush liberally over the skewers. Sprinkle them with salt and freshly ground pepper, and distribute several pinches of red pepper flakes. Transfer to a serving platter and decorate with herbs. Toss the grape tomatoes in the remaining oil and lemon juice mixture, adding a little salt, pepper and red pepper flakes. Mound the tomatoes in the middle of the skewers.

Notes:

• We have shrimp all the time here at Glover Gardens, sometimes grilled, sometimes marinated, sometimes baked, sometimes boiled. Any shrimp will work in this recipe, but it must be nicely spiced. If you are using leftover boiled shrimp from shrimp cocktail, toss it first in our Zippy Southwest seasoning or your other favorite spice mix, like Old Bay.
• It’s important to use a very high-quality olive oil, and as noted, we like to use a lemon-flavored oil from Pass Christian Olive Oils and Vinegars (they ship!). Many other flavors would work, or you could just use an excellent plain olive oil.

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