Camarones Al Ajillo – Shrimp In A Garlic Sauce

Looking for a go-to shrimp recipe that’s quick, flavorful, and perfect for any occasion? Meet your new culinary secret weapon: Camarones al Ajillo, or garlic shrimp. This classic Latin dish is bursting with bold, garlicky flavor—and with my signature twist, it becomes unforgettable.

What makes this version stand out? I use Domestic Gourmet Organic Annatto Oil – Aceite de Achiote to sauté the shrimp. Not only does it add a vibrant, golden hue, but it brings subtle earthy notes that beautifully balance the savory garlic and spice. It’s an effortless way to elevate the dish and infuse it with tradition and depth.

How to Serve Camarones al Ajillo

The beauty of this dish is in its versatility:
🍤 Serve over white rice or buttery pasta for a satisfying main.
🥗 Pair with roasted vegetables or a crisp salad for a lighter option.
🍞 Spoon over creamy grits for an elevated brunch, or plate it tapas-style with toasted bread or tostones.

Whether you’re planning a romantic dinner, feeding the family on a busy weeknight, or entertaining friends, this dish fits right in. Fast to make, endlessly flexible, and full of flavor—Camarones al Ajillo with Annatto Oil is a must-have in your kitchen rotation.

iBuen provecho!

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Camarones al Ajillo

Servings 2 personas

Prep Time 2 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Equipment

• Cutting board
• Chef's Knife optional replacement: garlic press
• Fry Pan
• Kitchen Spoon
• Tongs

Ingredients

• ½ lb shrimp (shelled and deveined)
• ⅓ cup aceite de achiote (annatto oil) can be substituted with a neutral cooking oil
• 5 cloves minced garlic
• 1 tsp adobo (all-purpose seasoning salt)
• 1 tbsp dry sherry can be substituted with vino seco or a dry white wine

Optional:

• 2-3 tsp red pepper flakes
• 2 tbsp chopped cilantro

Instructions

• Begin by generously seasoning the shrimp with adobo.
• Using a Chef's Knife, mince the garlic cloves and set aside.
• Over medium-low heat, add the aceite de achiote to a hot pan, followed by the minced garlic. Stir well to cook, but be careful not to burn the garlic, approximately 1 minute.

  If the pan is too hot, remove from the heat and continue to stir the garlic.
• Add the sherry and stir for another minute.
• Once the sherry has cooked off a bit, add in the shrimp.
• When the middle of the shrimp turns opaque, use the tongs to flip it over. Depending on the size of the shrimp, each side takes approximately 2-3 minutes to cook.

  *This time estimate is for colossal shrimp.
• Once you have flipped the shrimp, sprinkle in the optional red pepper flakes, followed by the chopped cilantro.
• Serve immediately.

Pro tip:

• This recipe can easily be multiplied to suit the amount of guests you're serving.
• Serve this dish in a multitude of ways! As a main course, it can be served with oven-roasted vegetables or over rice, pasta, salad, or grits. You can also serve it tapas style with toasted bread or fried tostones.

Notes

Notes on including your child(ren): 

Develop your little chef(s)’ critical thinking by tasking them with peeling the garlic. How will they peel it? Will they crush it with their fists or peel it with their fingernails? Give them the autonomy to problem solve on their own and help them build their independence and self-confidence by allowing them to strengthen their critical thinking. In the end, it’s just garlic, right? The reward, on the other hand, is so much more.

For your older chef(s), have them practice their knife skills and sharpen their fine motor skills by tasking them with mincing the garlic and cilantro.

Do you need to peel and clean the shrimp you bought? What a fun scientific sensory activity for your budding chef(s)! Have them do the menial task of ripping off the legs, peeling the shells, and cleaning out the dorsal tract (aka the back or sand vein). What a loaded lesson! Some questions to ask your critical thinker: How many legs do they have? What does the exoskeleton feel like? Is it hard or soft? What does it sound like? Sharpen those fine motor skills by having them cut a line down the back, followed by using their pinching grasp to remove the sand vein.

 

Calories: 430kcal

Course: Appetizer, brunch, Dessert, Main Course, Pasta

Cuisine: Caribbean, Caribeño, Latin, Latin America, Puerto Rican, Spanish

Keyword: Al Ajillo, Camarones, Gambas, Garlic, Shrimp, Tapas

Nutrition

Calories: 430kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 38g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 21g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 143mg | Sodium: 677mg | Potassium: 223mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 0.3g | Vitamin A: 825IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 84mg | Iron: 1mg

Did you make this recipe?

Please let me know how it turned out for you! Leave a comment below, tag @domesticgourmet on Instagram, and hashtag #domesticgourmet.

About the Author: Ciji Castro

Ciji Castro is the CEO and Executive Chef behind Domestic Gourmet, a premium food and lifestyle brand rooted in honoring ancestral cooking and Latin traditions. With a deep love for bold, heritage-inspired flavors and clean ingredients, Ciji leads the vision and culinary direction of Domestic Gourmet’s product line.

Her flagship product, 🌿 Domestic Gourmet Organic Annatto Oil – Aceite de Achiote, brings vibrant color and flavor to every dish—celebrating the flavors of her Cuban and Puerto Rican roots while meeting the standards of today’s health-conscious kitchens.

Through Domestic Gourmet, Ciji is on a mission to share the richness of cultural cooking with a modern and convenient twist—one thoughtfully crafted product at a time.

Follow along at @domesticgourmet for recipes, cooking tips, and more.

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