Cinnamon Free Basil-Lemon Shrimp Skewers
These shrimp skewers are bright, fresh, and packed with herby flavor — the kind of dish that looks impressive but comes together with minimal effort. The homemade pesto is built from fresh basil, garlic, lemon juice, and zest, with a subtle warmth from turmeric and ginger that makes it anything but ordinary. For anyone navigating a sensitivity to cinnamon, this recipe is a genuinely safe and satisfying option — there's not a trace of it anywhere in the ingredient list, and you're making everything from scratch so there's no guessing about what's hiding in a store-bought sauce or marinade. The shrimp get tossed in a few spoonfuls of that pesto before hitting the grill, then the reserved portion is spooned generously over the top right before serving, so every bite is coated in that vivid green goodness. A few minutes per side over medium-high heat is all it takes to get perfectly opaque, slightly charred shrimp with a gorgeous pink edge. Finish with a squeeze of lemon and a few extra basil leaves, and you've got a platter that's as beautiful as it is delicious.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the pesto
- 2 cups fresh basil leaves, packed
- 3 cloves garlic, roughly chopped
- ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- ½ tsp fine sea salt
- ¼ tsp ground turmeric
- ⅛ tsp ground ginger
For the skewers
- 1 ½ lb large shrimp (21–25 count), peeled and deveined, tails on
- 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- ¼ tsp fine sea salt
For serving
- lemon wedges, for serving (optional)
- fresh basil leaves, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- 1
If using wooden skewers, submerge them in water for at least 20 minutes so they don't char on the grill.
- 2
Combine the basil, garlic, lemon juice, lemon zest, salt, turmeric, and ginger in a blender or food processor. Pulse several times until the herbs are roughly broken down. With the motor running, stream in the 1/2 cup olive oil and blend until the pesto is smooth and bright green, about 30 seconds. Taste and adjust salt if needed.
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