MSG Free Mediterranean Shrimp Skewers with Tomatoes and Olives
These skewers are everything a summer grill session should be — bright, bold, and packed with Mediterranean flavor from a marinade built on fresh garlic, lemon juice, oregano, and cumin. The cherry tomatoes blister beautifully on the grill, the Kalamata olives add a briny punch, and the shrimp cook up juicy and pink in just a few minutes per side. Every single ingredient here is whole and unprocessed, which means no hidden flavor enhancers, no seasoning packets, and no restaurant-style shortcuts that can sneak unwanted additives onto your plate. That matters more than people realize with shrimp dishes, where pre-seasoned or pre-marinated options at the store are common culprits. Here, you control everything from the olive oil down to the pinch of red pepper flakes. A quick 15-to-20-minute marinade is all it takes before these hit the grill, making this an impressively fast weeknight dinner that still feels special enough for company. Finish with a squeeze of fresh lemon and a scatter of flat-leaf parsley, and you've got a platter that looks like it came straight off a Greek waterfront.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the marinade and skewers
- 1 lb large shrimp (16–20 count), peeled and deveined, tails on
- 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, divided
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- ½ tsp ground cumin
- ¼ tsp crushed red pepper flakes
- ½ tsp fine sea salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes
- ½ cup pitted kalamata olives
For serving
- 2 tbsp fresh flat-leaf parsley, roughly chopped (optional)
- lemon wedges, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- 1
If using wooden skewers, soak them in water for at least 20 minutes so they don't char on the grill.
- 2
In a mixing bowl, whisk together 2 tbsp of the olive oil, the garlic, oregano, cumin, red pepper flakes, salt, black pepper, and lemon juice. Add the shrimp and toss to coat evenly. Let marinate at room temperature for 15–20 minutes — no longer, as the lemon juice will begin to firm the shrimp.
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