Famous Gambas al Ajillo (Spanish Garlic Shrimp Recipe)
Gambas al Ajillo (Spanish Garlic Shrimp Recipe) – Classic Spanish recipe and popular dish from Curate Tapas Bar in Asheville, North Carolina.
Gambas Al Ajillo
I’m thrilled today to share with you a recipe from nationally renowned Chef Katie Button. Katie started Asheville’s famed restaurant Curaté, and shared not one but two recipes Gambas Al Ajillo (Spanish Garlic Shrimp) and Pan con Tomate.
This simple Spanish Garlic Shrimp recipe is certainly more than meets the eye. Packed with garlic, arbol chile, and sherry flavor, it is the perfect protein dish to adorn a traditional tapas feast.
These big juicy shrimp kissed with spicy oil can be served as an appetizer, piled over potato puree, or even tossed with pasta.
About Katie Button
Katie Button’s culinary journey started in a curious place. She finished her undergrad at Cornell, then moved to Paris to get her Master’s in Biomedical Engineering. Although she excelled in math and science, Katie’s educational pursuit left a void in her life. Engineering offered her praise and potential prestige, but no real fulfillment.
While studying in Paris, Katie lived in a little apartment around the corner from Rue Mouffetard, famous for its glorious food markets. Fascinated by the Parisian way of savoring ingredients and giving proper respect to the foods they prepared, she spent endless hours practicing cooking techniques and experimenting in her tiny kitchen.
After returning to the states, Katie was accepted into a Ph.D. program for Neuroscience. Yet, two weeks before she was due to arrive, Katie quit something for the first time in her life. She had a deep resolve that this was not the path meant for her. To the astonishment of friends and family, she took a wait staff position at Café Atlántico in Washington DC.
From a certain career in Neuroscience to a first-time waitress? Had Katie lost her compass? No.
Katie looked at this as another opportunity to learn. Café Atlántico is no run-of-the-mill restaurant. It is one of several celebrated restaurants from renowned Chef José Andrés, one of the most respected chefs in the US. It should be noted that José Andrés trained in Spain under famed Chef Ferran Adrià of El Bulli, a Michelin 3 star winner, and considered the world’s BEST restaurant for 5 years. (Ferran Adrià is also thought of as the father of molecular gastronomy and culinary deconstructionism.)
A Long Journey To Gambas al Ajillo… And Other Spanish Recipes
Although Katie wasn’t allowed to work in the kitchen at Café Atlántico, for lack of formal training or experience; she would take her days off to come into work, simply to watch and learn. Interest became fortitude; fortitude became passion.
During this time, Ferran Adrià sent several of his employees to Washington DC to help his friend José Andrés with training. At this party came Felix Meana, El Bulli’s “Chef de Rang” or head of the dining room. Katie and Felix developed a strong bond and when it was time for Felix to return to Spain, it was decided that Katie would go with Felix and work at El Bulli. She still was not allowed in the kitchen, due to lack of experience, but she was the first American to ever serve at El Bulli and was able to study Chef Ferran Adrià’s flawless technique and ingenuity.
When Katie left Spain, she had the approval and recommendation of Ferran Adrià and was finally able to work in a professional kitchen, first at José Andrés’ The Bazaar in Los Angeles and then at Jean Georges in New York. To Katie’s delight, now that she had experience, she was offered a position back at El Bulli. There she finalized her “education” as a line cook in one of the most sought-after restaurants on the planet.
Curate Tapas Bar
So what is she doing now, you ask? Katie Button and Felix Meana are in ASHEVILLE! When they returned to the states, they searched for the perfect place to open their first restaurant together. After a long road trip down the east coast, they decided Asheville, North Carolina had just the right feel and food culture in which to birth their dream.
With the help of Katie’s family, Curate Tapas Bar opened its doors on March 4th, 2011 and is feverishly making its mark on Asheville. Katie and Felix focus on high-quality ingredients, simple authentic Spanish preparations, and painstaking attention to detail. This casual eatery, serving rustic dishes, exudes elegance in every way.
If you aren’t a local but plan to be in Asheville this spring, Curate Tapas Bar is definitely worth checking out!
What Ingredients You Will Need
- Whole Garlic Clove – with peel on
- Garlic Clove – sliced thin, this is in addition to the other garlic clove
- Dried Arbol Chili – or you can substitute with a pinch of chili flakes
- Bay Leaf
- Shrimp – cleaned, peeled and butterflied with the tail left on
- Light Olive Oil – or an olive oil blend will work as well
- Dry Sherry
- Salt
How To Make Gambas al Ajillo
- Saute. Heat the oil in a saute pan over medium heat with the whole clove of garlic skin on, just until the skin on the garlic starts to brown.
- Slice Shrimp. Meanwhile salt the shrimp with a half a teaspoon of salt. Once the whole garlic clove has started to brown, add the sliced garlic, and as soon as the sliced garlic just barely begins to brown, add the arbol chili, bay leaf, and the shrimp.
- Add and Saute Again. Toss everything together in the saute pan cooking the shrimp. When the shrimp is halfway cooked (still raw in the center), remove from the heat and add the sherry, mix well, and return to the stove over medium heat.
- Remove Shrimp. As soon as the shrimp is just cooked through, remove the shrimp from the pan with tongs and place on the serving dish. Return the sauce to the stove and reduce a little bit, tasting and adjusting the seasoning for salt.
- Plate and Serve. Pour the hot sauce over the shrimp and serve immediately.
Get the Complete Printable Gambas al Ajillo (Spanish Garlic Shrimp Recipe) Below. Enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Store Leftover Garlic Shrimp In The Fridge?
Yes you can! Make sure to store it in an airtight container after it has fully cooled down, and just like other seafood leftovers you would want to eat it within 48 hours.
Can I Freeze This Spanish Garlic Shrimp?
Yes, again make sure that it is completely cool before putting it in a small airtight container with all the oil in the recipe. It can last for up to 3 months in the freezer.
Other Great Spanish Recipes
- Pan con Tomate (Tomato Bread Recipe)
- Spanish Paella Sheet Pan Dinner Recipe
- Easy Spanish Rice Recipe (4 ingredients)
- One-Pot Shrimp Black Bean Rice Skillet Recipe
- Guatemalan Fiambre Salad Recipe
- Paella Stuffed Peppers Recipe
- Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Peppers Recipe
- Fluffy Yellow Rice Recipe (Arroz Amarillo)
Famous Gambas Al Ajillo (Spanish Garlic Shrimp)
Video
Ingredients
- 1 clove garlic whole, with peel on
- 1 clove garlic sliced thin
- 1 dried arbol chili (sub. pinch of chili flakes)
- 1 bay leaf
- 8 shrimp cleaned, peeled and butterflied with tail left on
- 2 tablespoons light olive oil or an olive oil blend
- 2 tablespoons dry sherry
- Salt
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a saute pan over medium heat with the whole clove of garlic skin on, just until the skin on the garlic starts to brown.
- Meanwhile salt the shrimp with a half a teaspoon of salt. Once the whole garlic clove has started to brown, add the sliced garlic, and as soon as the sliced garlic just barely begins to brown, add the arbol chili, bay leaf, and the shrimp.
- Toss everything together in the saute pan cooking the shrimp. When the shrimp is halfway cooked (still raw in the center), remove from the heat and add the sherry, mix well, and return to the stove over medium heat.
- As soon as the shrimp is just cooked through, remove the shrimp from the pan with tongs and place on the serving dish. Return the sauce to the stove and reduce a little bit, tasting and adjusting the seasoning for salt.
- Pour the hot sauce over the shrimp and serve immediately.
Rope makers are inclined to enjoys confusing us with science
and/or extraordinary polysyllabic names. I can try to cut through the guff a little.
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undoubtedly enjoying your blog and look forward to new updates.
Wow, what a story..I wish Austin, TX had the food that Asheville has….
Very much enjoyed reading this post and all the great pics! I have family in Asheville & surrounding areas and get up there quite often. My father in law is right in the historic area of downtown AVL. This restaurant is on my MUST TRY list now!! Thanks for sharing!!
I been dying to look at this recipe but life’s kept me hopping for the last few weeks so it’s sat in my box. But now I’ve seen it and printed it and can’t wait to make it. I also look forward to heading to Asheville sooner than later so I can visit the restaurant myself. Thanks for sharing the story of Katie (and Felix).
Mmh, can I say I love you right now? Not only you have 12 Bones Corn pudding recipe. But now the gambas al ajillo. We ate at Curate last night and had the pan con tomate (could have had more garlic for me but it was a good filler), the eggplant dish (oh so tasty) and the gambas, so good that I drank the broth and ate all the garlic.
So thank you, thank you, can’t wait to try it at home and can’t wait to go back to curate.
Great post – makes me want to visit Asheville!
Would go read the rest of your blog posts now.
Would go read the rest of your blog posts now.
This is a wonderful story. It takes real guts to leave a solid career to follow your passion. These dishes remind me of my trip to Spain and look delicious.