Gambas Al Ajillo, aka garlic shrimp, is one of my all-time favorite Spanish tapas dishes. It is a very simple dish of juicy, plump shrimp gently cooked in fragrant garlic and chili-scented oil. Dishes like these always remind me how some of the best things (and foods) in life are the simplest.
Within 30 minutes, you can make this restaurant-worthy dish that will have you and everyone you make this for absolutely salivating. Highly recommend, and nearly a must, is serving this along side warm toasted bread to dunk and soak up the aromatic oil that accompanies it.
Best of all? SAVE THE OIL even after you’ve finished eating and use it at the base of fried eggs, pasta sauces and more!

Table of Contents
How to Make It
Ingredients:
- 1lb shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 12 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
- 1 cup olive oil
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp chili pepper flakes
- 2 tsp lemon juice
- Fresh parsley, chopped
- Toasted Bread
- Salt
Steps:
Prepare the Shrimp
- Peel and devein all of the shrimp. Season with salt and set aside.
Start Cooking the Sauce
- Add oil and garlic to a medium-sized saucepan, then turn the heat to medium low. Allow the garlic to slowly cook in the oil until soft and fragrant, about 15-20 minutes.
- Add the paprika and chili pepper flakes to the garlic oil and stir well.
Cook the Shrimp
- Place the shrimp into the garlic chili oil and turn the heat to medium. Allow to gently cook on each side for 2-3 minutes, until opaque and cooked through (no color; the goal is to cook them until just done so they remain plump & juicy.)
- Turn off the heat, add in the lemon juice & a pinch of salt. Taste for seasoning.
Garnish & Serve
- Transfer to a plate and garnish with fresh chopped parsley and serve with warm toasted bread for dunking.


Gambas Al Ajillo

Ingredients
- 1 lb shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 12 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
- 1 cup olive oil
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp chili pepper flakes
- 2 tsp lemon juice
- Fresh parsley, chopped
- Toasted Bread
- Salt
Instructions
Prepare the Shrimp
- Peel and devein all of the shrimp. Season with salt and set aside.
Start Cooking the Sauce
- Add oil and garlic to a medium-sized saucepan, then turn the heat to medium low. Allow the garlic to slowly cook in the oil until soft and fragrant, about 15-20 minutes.
- Add the paprika and chili pepper flakes to the garlic oil and stir well.
Cook the Shrimp
- Place the shrimp into the garlic chili oil and turn the heat to medium. Allow to gently cook on each side for 2-3 minutes, until opaque and cooked through (no color; the goal is to cook them until just done so they remain plump & juicy.)
- Turn off the heat, add in the lemon juice & a pinch of salt. Taste for seasoning.
Garnish & Serve
- Transfer to a plate and garnish with fresh chopped parsley and serve with warm toasted bread for dunking.
- ENJOY!
Tried It? Let Me Know!
I’d love to see your creations! Tag me @flavorsbyalessandra on Instagram and share your thoughts in the comments below. ❤️ Buon Appetito!