Korean Garlic Butter Shrimp (Printer-friendly)

Succulent shrimp glazed in garlicky butter and Korean chili flakes, delivering bold, vibrant flavors.

# Ingredient List:

→ Seafood

01 - 1 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined

→ Sauce

02 - 3 tbsp unsalted butter
03 - 4 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
05 - 1 tbsp soy sauce (gluten-free if preferred)
06 - 1 tbsp honey
07 - 1 tsp sesame oil

→ Garnish

08 - 2 tbsp chopped scallions
09 - 1 tsp toasted sesame seeds
10 - Lemon wedges, for serving (optional)

# How-To Steps:

01 - Pat the shrimp dry with paper towels and set aside.
02 - In a large skillet over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute, stirring constantly until fragrant without browning.
03 - Incorporate gochugaru, soy sauce, honey, and sesame oil into the skillet. Cook for an additional 30 seconds to combine flavors.
04 - Arrange shrimp in a single layer in the skillet. Cook 2 to 3 minutes per side until they turn pink and opaque.
05 - Toss the shrimp thoroughly to coat in the sauce. Remove from heat.
06 - Transfer shrimp to a serving dish. Sprinkle with chopped scallions and toasted sesame seeds. Serve immediately with optional lemon wedges.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Ready in under 20 minutes, which means you can actually pull this off on a weeknight without stress.
  • The gochugaru gives you that authentic Korean heat without being pretentious or difficult to find anymore.
  • Buttery, slightly spicy, deeply savory, and somehow still feels fancy enough for guests.
02 -
  • Overcooked shrimp is the fastest way to ruin this dish, so pull them off heat the moment they turn pink and opaque because they'll keep cooking from residual heat.
  • The butter can break if the heat is too high, so medium is your friend and patience is the secret ingredient.
03 -
  • Buy shrimp that you can peel and devein yourself if possible, because pre-deveined sometimes feels like they've already lost character and texture.
  • Keep sesame oil away from heat for too long or it tastes bitter, so add it at the very end and don't be tempted to let it cook longer.
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