This recipe is always a hit as a party appetizer but also makes a great main course. The key to maximizing your enjoyment of this dish is to have a supply of warm bread nearby to dip in and soak up the delicious broth. If you are serving as a main course, make sure to have the dish on the table where everyone can have easy access.
I often struggle knowing when its worth it to use my “good” seafood in a particular recipe. This is definitely one that’s worth it, but it is also flavorful enough that you can get away with using less than the best if you need to. My favorite shrimp is from Alaska, of course, but if I need a convenient backup, the Argentine Red Shrimp from Trader Joe’s come in handy.
Ingredients
1 lb. medium – jumbo shrimp
3 tbsp butter
2 tbsp red wine
1 tbsp Worchestershire sauce
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp cayenne (for an extra spicy version)
Instructions
1.) Preheat oven and prepare the shrimp
You will want to start with shrimp that is fully thawed, peeled and deveined. Leaving the tails on is optional – its extra work, but those tails really do make it easier to grab a shrimp, especially if you are serving it as an appetizer. Make sure shrimp is dried before you begin, as we do not want the broth to be watered down.
Lay the shrimp out in a baking dish. You will want to use a baking dish large enough to fit the shrimp but not so large that the shrimp don’t have ample broth to “bathe” in. A large pie dish usually works for me, and I am able to lay out all the shrimp almost in a single layer. Sometimes, they are nicely arranged, sometimes they are just quickly tossed in.
2.) Prepare the sauce
In a small sauce pan, over low heat, melt the butter and stir in all other ingredients. Bring to a low boil for a couple of minutes then remove from heat. If you are on the fence about how spicy to make it, I recommend going conservative. You can always add spice at the end, but you can’t take it out.
3.) Bake the shrimp
Gently pour the sauce mixture over the shrimp. If you are serving warm bread, which you should be, be sure to pop it in the oven so its warm and ready when the shrimp is. Bake shrimp in the oven for 8-10 minutes, using the shorter time for smaller shrimp and longer time for jumbo.