Oh, the delight of crispy bacon, its aroma wafting through the kitchen like a siren’s call—who could resist? Add shrimp to the equation, and you have a pairing as perfect as peanut butter and jelly, only saltier and more luxurious. Imagine the crunch, the savory embrace, the ocean’s whisper wrapped in a smoky hug; it’s enough to make any seafood lover’s heart flutter like a butterfly caught in a gentle breeze.
Steps
- Preheat your oven to 425°F. Slice bacon strips in half across their width and place them on an oven-safe rack set over a baking sheet. Cook the bacon for 5 to 10 minutes, depending on how thick it is, ensuring it remains flexible.
- While the bacon is cooking, put peeled and deveined shrimp, keeping the tails on, in a bowl. Drizzle with olive oil, then season with salt and pepper, and mix until the shrimp are well coated.
- Once the bacon is partially cooked and cool enough to handle, wrap a piece around each shrimp, securing it with a toothpick. Arrange the wrapped shrimp back on the oven-safe rack.
- Bake for an additional 10 minutes until the shrimp are pink and the bacon is cooked through and crispy. Serve immediately.
Ingredients
- 8 slices of bacon, cut in half crosswise
- 16 large shrimp, peeled with tails left on and deveined
- 1 tablespoon of olive oil
- 1/4 teaspoon of fine sea salt or 1/2 teaspoon of kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper
Nutritional Values
Calories: 1904kcal | Protein: 80g | Fat: 168g | Saturated Fat: 48g | Cholesterol: 1424mg | Sodium: 4984mg | Potassium: 848mg | Vitamin A: 120IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 280mg | Iron: 5.6mg
FAQ
- Why should the bacon be partially cooked before wrapping around the shrimp?
- Partially cooking the bacon ensures that it becomes crispy without overcooking the shrimp. Raw bacon takes longer to cook, which can result in either overcooked shrimp or undercooked bacon. Pre-cooking the bacon gives it a head start, helping achieve the perfect texture for both ingredients.
- What seasoning should be used for Bacon Wrapped Shrimp?
- For Bacon Wrapped Shrimp, it’s best to keep the seasoning simple. Olive oil, salt, and pepper are sufficient to enhance the natural flavors of the shrimp and bacon. Over-seasoning can overshadow the delicate taste of the shrimp.
- How can you prepare Bacon Wrapped Shrimp in the oven?
- First, cut the bacon strips in half and pre-cook them on a baking sheet in a 425?F oven for 5 to 10 minutes. Then, coat the shrimp with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Wrap each shrimp with a piece of bacon, secure it with a toothpick, and return to the oven for another 10 minutes until both the shrimp and bacon are cooked through.
- What adjustments should be made for thicker bacon?
- If using thick-cut bacon, increase the initial cooking time by a few minutes until the bacon begins to crisp but remains pliable. This ensures that the bacon wraps around the shrimp without being too stiff.
- What should you do if the bacon strips are too long?
- If the bacon strips are very long, cut them into thirds instead of halves. The strips should be long enough to wrap around the shrimp but not so long that they overlap excessively.
Tips
- Partially Cook the Bacon: To ensure the bacon is crispy without overcooking the shrimp, partially cook the bacon before wrapping it around the shrimp. This will give the bacon a head start and help achieve that perfect texture.
- Use Minimal Seasoning: Enhance the natural flavors of the shrimp by using only a little olive oil, salt, and pepper. This simple seasoning allows the taste of the shrimp and bacon to shine.
- Adjust Bacon Length: If your bacon strips are particularly long, cut them into thirds instead of halves. The strips should be just long enough to wrap around the shrimp without too much overlap.
- Thick Cut Bacon Consideration: If using thick cut bacon, extend the pre-cooking time slightly until the bacon starts to crisp but remains flexible enough to wrap around the shrimp.
Equipment
- Oven-safe rack
- Baking sheet
