Blackened shrimp is a spicy meal with bold flavors and it only takes about 20 minutes to make. This simple recipe features pan seared shrimp in a simple homemade blackening seasoning.
If you bought shrimp in shells, make sure to shell and devein the shrimp first. (Detailed instructions here.)
Pat clean shrimp dry with a paper towel and add them to the mixing bowl.
In another small bowl, mix together all the ingredient for the blackening seasoning.
Add melted butter to the shrimp and toss to coat them evenly.
Sprinkle blackening seasoning over the shrimp as you gently mix. Make sure that shrimp is evenly coated in seasoning.
Preheat a cooking pan over medium-high heat. (Make sure that the pan is completely preheated before adding shrimp.)
Add a tablespoon of butter and add shrimp after it's melted. Make sure the shrimp are in one even layer.
Cook shrimp until pink and opaque on one side and then flip to the other side. Cook shrimp just until they are pink and opaque on that side as well. Depending on the size, shrimp will take 4-7 minutes to cook altogether.
Take them out of the pan as soon and they're cooked and serve with your favorite sides or over pasta.
Clarified Butter:
If you have a little extra time, it's better to use clarified butter to make blackened shrimp. It does take a few minutes to make and not 100% necessary. Try it anyway if you have a little extra time.
Add 4 ounces of butter to a small saucepan over medium heat. Be sure to use unsalted butter. As the butter melts, you will notice a foamy white substance floating on the surface. Remove all of the foam (but not the butter) and pour the contents of the pan into a glass measuring cup and allow it to sit for a minute or two. You’ll notice that the milk solids are sitting on the bottom of the cup and the golden clarified butter will be on the top.
Slowly pour the butter into a smaller glass measuring cup, stopping when you reach the milk solids. Discard what’s left in the larger measuring cup.
That golden liquid is what you’ll coat the shrimp with to create this delicious blackened shrimp dinner.