Xanthan Gum Free Garlic Shrimp Skewers

Total time43 min

Prep time15 min

Cook time8 min

4.8

(5)

These skewers are the kind of recipe that makes a weeknight feel like a backyard party — smoky, garlicky, and bright with lemon in every bite. The marinade comes together in minutes using pantry staples like smoked paprika, turmeric, and crushed red pepper flakes, building layers of flavor without any processed thickeners or additives. That's genuinely good news for anyone avoiding xanthan gum, because so many bottled marinades and sauces sneak it in as a stabilizer — here, everything is made from scratch with zero guesswork. A quick 20-minute soak in the marinade is all the shrimp need before hitting a hot grill, where they pick up a gorgeous char in just a few minutes per side. Threading each shrimp through both the tail and body keeps them flat and ensures even cooking, so you're not wrestling with curled, unevenly done pieces. Finished with a scatter of fresh parsley and a squeeze of lemon, these skewers are clean, vibrant, and completely satisfying. Serve them straight off the grill while they're still sizzling.

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Ingredients

4 servings

For the marinade and shrimp

1 ½ lb large shrimp (16/20 count), peeled and deveined, tails on
3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
4 cloves garlic, finely minced
1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
1 tsp lemon zest
½ tsp ground turmeric
½ tsp smoked paprika
¼ tsp crushed red pepper flakes
½ tsp kosher salt
¼ tsp black pepper

For serving

2 tbsp fresh flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped
1 lemon, cut into wedges

Instructions

1
If using wooden skewers, submerge them in water for at least 20 minutes so they don't scorch on the grill.
2
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, lemon zest, turmeric, smoked paprika, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper until combined.

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