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Mexican Garlic Shrimp (Camarones al Mojo de Ajo)

Name: Mexican Garlic Shrimp Recipe (Camarones al Mojo de Ajo)
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons olive oil; 1 small onion (sliced); 1-2 jalapeno peppers (sliced – use serranos for spicier – peppers are not traditional, but I love the addition); 6 cloves garlic (minced); 3 tablespoons butter (or more as desired); 1 pound shrimp (peeled and deveined (I keep the tails on for ease of eating)); 1 teaspoon paprika; ½ teaspoon cumin; Salt and pepper to taste; 2 tablespoons dry white wine; Juice from 1 small lime + 1 teaspoon lime zest; For Serving. 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley or cilantro, red pepper flakes

by Mike Hultquist · Apr 5, 2023 · 36 Comments · Jump to Recipe

Mexican garlic shrimp, “camarones al mojo de ajo”, is a popular dish of succulent shrimp sautéed in garlic butter, seasoned with lime, so easy to make!

Camarones al Moj de Ajo Recipe (Mexican Garlic Shrimp)

Camarones al Mojo de Ajo (Mexican Garlic Shrimp)

We're cooking up an amazing shrimp recipe in the Chili Pepper Madness kitchen today, my friends! I think you are going to LOVE this one.

It is Mexican Garlic Shrimp, also known as "Camarones al Mojo de Ajo" in Spanish. It is a popular seafood dish in Mexican cuisine of succulent shrimp sautéed in a mixture of garlic-infused butter and oil, and seasoned with lime juice and fresh herbs.

Peeled and deveined shrimp are sautéed in a hot pan with plenty of minced garlic and a mixture of butter and olive oil until they turn pink and are cooked through. Lime juice is added to the pan to deglaze it and to create a tangy sauce.

Camarones al Mojo de Ajo is a simple yet flavorful dish that highlights the natural sweetness and succulence of shrimp while adding a punch of garlic and citrus.

It is a popular dish in coastal areas of Mexico and is often served as a main course or appetizer along with rice, tortillas, or crusty bread to soak up the flavorful sauce.

Let's talk about how to make Mexican garlic shrimp (camarones al mojo de ajo), shall we? You'll have it done in 20 minutes or less!

Mexican Garlic Shrimp (Camarones al Mojo de Ajo) Ingredients

Olive Oil.
Onion. Shallot is good for this, too.
Jalapenos or Serranos. Chili peppers are not traditional for this dish, but I love the addition for the flavor and spice factor.
Garlic. Lots of gorgeous garlic. The recipe calls for 6 cloves, but include as much as you'd like.
Butter.
Shrimp. The fresher the better, but frozen shrimp is great, too.
Seasonings. I use a bit of smoked paprika, cumin, and salt and pepper. You can realistically use your favorite spices.
Dry White Wine.
Lime. For the juice and a bit of zest.
For Serving. 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley or cilantro, red pepper flakes

How to Make Mexican Garlic Shrimp (Camarones al Mojo de Ajo) - the Recipe Method

Onion, Chilies, and Garlic. Heat the oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add the thinly sliced onion and peppers. Cook for 5 minutes to soften.

Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute, stirring, until the garlic becomes fragrant.

Butter. Add the butter and melt.

Shrimp. Season the shrimp with paprika, cumin, and salt and pepper. Add the shrimp to the pan with the white wine and cook for 6-7 minutes, or until the shrimp is pink and cooked through.

Cooking onions and peppers, then shrimp in a pan to make Camarones al Moj de Ajo (Mexican garlic shrimp)

Lime. Stir in fresh lime juice and lime zest

Garnish and Serve. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley or cilantro and red pepper flakes. Serve!

Boom! Done! Your Mexican garlic shrimp is ready to serve. Easy enough to make, isn't it? We love this as a simple appetizer, and it's always a crowd pleaser!

Camarones al Moj de Ajo (Mexican Garlic Shrimp) in a pan with lots of seasoned butter sauce

Recipe Tips & Notes

High-quality ingredients ensure the best taste. Fresh shrimp, garlic, butter, and lime juice are the key ingredients that give this dish its amazing flavor.
Shrimp cook quickly, watch them carefully while sautéing to make sure they do not overcook, which can make them tough and rubbery.
Use a large skillet or pan so that the shrimp cook evenly without overcrowding.
To ensure that the garlic flavor is infused throughout the dish, cook the minced garlic in the butter-olive oil mixture for a few minutes before adding the shrimp.
Taste and adjust the seasoning as needed. You may need to add more salt or lime juice to balance the flavors to your preference.

Serving Camarones al Mojo de Ajo

This dish is popularly served with rice, tortillas, or crusty bread to soak up the flavorful butter and garlic sauce.

You can also toss it with noodles for a pasta version.

Storage

Mexican Garlic Shrimp (Camarones al Mojo de Ajo) will last up to 5 days in the refrigerator in a sealed container. Simply warm it up gently in a pan to enjoy again.

You can also freeze it for 2-3 months.

That's it, my friends. I hope you enjoy this Mexican-style garlic shrimp recipe, aka "camarones al mojo de ajo". Let me know if you make it. I'd love to hear how it turned out for you, and if you decided to spice it up!

Cookbook Recommendation

If you enjoy Mexican and Latin American cuisine, I recommend the following cookbook, which I used to adapt this recipe. It has a lot of great recipes.

The Latin American Cookbook, by Virgilio Martinez (affiliate link, my friends!)

Try Some of My Other Popular Recipes

Got any questions? Ask away! I’m happy to help. If you enjoy this recipe, I hope you’ll leave a comment with some STARS. Also, please share it on social media. Don’t forget to tag us at #ChiliPepperMadness. I’ll be sure to share! Thanks! — Mike H.

Mexican Garlic Shrimp Recipe (Camarones al Mojo de Ajo)

Mexican garlic shrimp, “camarones al mojo de ajo”, is a popular dish of succulent shrimp sautéed in garlic butter, seasoned with lime, so easy to make!

Save Recipe

Course: Appetizer, Main Course

Cuisine: Mexican

Keyword: butter, garlic, jalapeno, serrano, shrimp

Prep Time: 5

Cook Time: 10

Calories: 84kcal

Author: Mike Hultquist

Servings:

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5 from 14 votes

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Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 small onion sliced
1-2 jalapeno peppers sliced – use serranos for spicier – peppers are not traditional, but I love the addition
6 cloves garlic minced
3 tablespoons butter or more as desired
1 pound shrimp peeled and deveined (I keep the tails on for ease of eating)
1 teaspoon paprika
½ teaspoon cumin
Salt and pepper to taste
2 tablespoons dry white wine
Juice from 1 small lime + 1 teaspoon lime zest
For Serving. 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley or cilantro, red pepper flakes

Instructions

Heat the oil in a large pan over medium heat.
Add the onion and peppers. Cook for 5 minutes to soften.
Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute, stirring, until the garlic becomes fragrant.
Add the butter and melt.
Season the shrimp with paprika, cumin, and salt and pepper. Add to the pan with the white wine and cook for 6-7 minutes, or until the shrimp is pink and cooked through.
Stir in lime juice and lime zest
Garnish with fresh chopped parsley or cilantro and red pepper flakes. Serve!

Nutrition Information

Calories: 84kcal Carbohydrates: 3g Protein: 0.5g Fat: 8g Saturated Fat: 3g Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g Monounsaturated Fat: 4g Trans Fat: 0.2g Cholesterol: 11mg Sodium: 36mg Potassium: 57mg Fiber: 0.5g Sugar: 1g Vitamin A: 362IU Vitamin C: 7mg Calcium: 13mg Iron: 0.3mg

Did You Enjoy This Recipe?I love hearing how you like it and how you made it your own. Leave a comment below and tag @ChiliPepperMadness on social media.