Garlic Shrimp with Pancetta Olive Oil

Garlic Shrimp with Pancetta Olive Oil is a Spanish style tapas appetizer full of delicious flavors. The shrimp is cooked in a pancetta olive oil combination with garlic and red chili peppers. The finished dish is served with crispy pancetta tossed in with the shrimp.

This Garlic Shrimp cooked in pancetta olive oil is lick your bowl clean good, or better yet, swab it with a piece of crusty bread to soak up all that flavor! Perfect for parties and holiday gatherings.

Jump to:

• ❤️ Why I Love Spanish Tapas
• 🥘 Ingredients
• 🍽 Equipment
• 🔪 Instructions
• 💭 Top Tips
• 🥄 Serving Suggestions
• More Tapas/Appetizer Recipes
• 📖 Recipe
• 💬 Comments

❤️ Why I Love Spanish Tapas

Tapas are a large variety of appetizers and snacks being of Spanish origin, which in my language are a wonderful way to enjoy delicious bites of food! I am a huge fan of small plates. I love them so much, I've been known to make a meal of an assorted appetizers!

Tapas are known to be the fuel to keep you going in the late afternoon and hold you off until the main meal is served later in the evening (which is usually 10pm or later in Spain). Here in the US, I don't mind enjoying a meal of assorted tapas dishes, this Garlic Shrimp with Pancetta Olive Oil being one of them!

🥘 Ingredients

Medium sized raw shrimp that has been peeled and deveined.

Pancetta is an Italian bacon from pork belly that is dry cured and never smoked, it is similar to jamón only less salty. It lends a depth of flavor to this dish.

Fresh garlic cloves are added for flavor.

Whole dried chili peppers, these pack the heat punch in this shrimp dish.

Flat leaf parsley, fresh herb to sprinkle on the shrimp dish when done cooking (optional).

Extra virgin olive oil

🍽 Equipment

Large Skillet, I like to use at least a 10.5"sized skillet and cast iron is preferred.

Knife for chopping the pancetta and mincing the garlic and parsley.

Spatula for stirring and tossing the ingredients while cooking and for removing the shrimp from the pan.

Serving Bowls and tapas plates, these are fun!

🔪 Instructions

Step 1:

1. In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the pancetta for 5 minutes, or until well browned. Remove pancetta from pan and set aside.

Step 2:

1. Add the olive oil to the pancetta fat in the skillet. Cook the garlic, dried red chili peppers and parsley in the oil mixture for 10 seconds.

Step 3:

1. Add the shrimp and cook for 3 minutes, stirring often, or until shrimp are no longer opaque.
2. Remove the shrimp from pan and toss with pancetta. Serve with bread if desired.

💭 Top Tips

• Get the oil hot enough to sizzle but not burn the garlic. Garlic burns easily, so watch it very closely.
• The shrimp should be cooked until it's just turned pink.
• Strain the shrimp from the fat as soon as it is cooked and place in a serving bowl.

🥄 Serving Suggestions

• Oven Roasted Tomatoes, just toss a few grape tomatoes in a hot oiled skillet and season with salt and pepper. Roast for about 5 minutes or until tomato skins begin to burst. These are a delicious side to this Garlic Shrimp with Pancetta!
• Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts
• Cashew Breaded Baked Zucchini Chips
• Buttery Garlic Bread Chips
• Homemade Soft White Bread Recipe

More Tapas/Appetizer Recipes

• Apple, Chorizo, and Manchego Crostini by Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
• Chorizo and Sweet Potato Spanish Tortilla Bites by Cupcakes & Kale Chips
• Citrus & Fennel Marinated Olives by Go Epicurista
• Gambas al Ajillo (Garlic Shrimp) by Pook’s Pantry
• Roasted Bell Pepper Goat Cheese Bites by She Loves Biscotti
• Smoked Sardine Crostini by Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
• Spanish Garlic Shrimp by Life Tastes Good
• Tomato Gazpacho With Fried Avocado Bites by Nik Snacks

*If you made this Garlic Shrimp with Pancetta Olive Oil, please give it a star rating*

📖 Recipe