The Secret Ingredient for the Best-Ever Garlic Shrimp

Who doesn’t love an easy recipe that comes together in minutes? One of our all-time favorites is garlic shrimp , and there’s no better time of year than the summer to enjoy its garlicky, herbaceous flavors. There’s just something about a plump and juicy prawn that's well-seasoned and pan seared to perfection.

Related: How to Store Garlic to Keep It Fresh

All you need to make garlic shrimp is oil, butter , garlic, red pepper flakes, parsley, lemon and shrimp, plus 20 minutes of your time. And because we can’t get enough of a good summer recipe twist, subbing out the classic lemon zest for orange zest might just be the best garlic shrimp upgrade we’ve seen yet. We ran across the tip on @taylormakes YouTube channel and can't wait to try it at home.

Related: 25 Best Orange Juice Recipes

The Secret to the Best-Ever Garlic Shrimp

Just like lemon zest, orange zest is a magical ingredient capable of adding loads of flavor to any number of things, including sweet stuff like frosting, cookies and candy and savory dishes, like garlic shrimp.

Related: This Easy Orange Chicken Recipe Is Just the Dish to Liven Up Your Dinner Table

What makes orange zest so great with garlic shrimp is it's citrusy punch that's tempered with a bit of sweetness. The trick is to add the zest from the orange (plus its juice) after the shrimp has been seasoned and cooked. The citrusy flavors flavor the shrimp and the sauce and add a fresh summery vibe to the dish.

Related: The Secret Ingredient for Better Banana Bread

How to Make the Best-Ever Garlic Shrimp

Add oil or butter to a large skillet and heat on high. Add the shrimp to the pan in a single layer, making sure not to overcrowd the pan. (You might need to cook the shrimp in batches, depending on the size of your skillet.) Cook the shrimp over high heat until the bottom is a nice golden brown, which should take 1 to 2 minutes. seer is present. Season with salt, then flip each shrimp and repeat the process, seasoning with salt and adding extra oil to the pan if needed.

Add some chopped garlic and red pepper flakes to the skillet and then cook until the sauce is nice and fragrant about 30 seconds. Turn off the heat and grate the zest of half of a medium orange directly into the pan. This will ensure the oils from the zest make their way into the dish. Cut the orange in half and squeeze in the juice from one half of the fruit. Mix until the shrimp are completely coated. Add in a bit of butter and let it melt and swirl in the pan, then sprinkle in some freshly chopped parsley. Give it all a good mix and serve with rice or pasta .

Up next: We Just Learned How to Make Chick-fil-A's Fan-Favorite Frosted Lemonade and We'll Be Sipping It All Summer Long