Close-up of a gourmet shrimp dish served on a stylish blue plate, perfect for seafood lovers.

Stovetop~20 minComplexity

Gambas Al Ajillo (Spanish Garlic Shrimp)

Name: Gambas Al Ajillo (Spanish Garlic Shrimp)
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: middle_eastern
Ingredients: Shrimp, raw; fine sea salt and freshly-cracked black pepper; Olive oil; Garlic, raw; Chili peppers, dried, red; 2 tablespoons dry sherry (or any dry white wine)

Gambas Al Ajillo delivers 34g protein and 896 calories per serving, combining shrimp's lean protein profile with fat-dense preparation. Four servings cook quickly on the stovetop, working well as an appetizer or light main course within your daily macros. Useful for hitting fat targets on training days without relying on meat prep.

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Ingredients

4 servings

•
Shrimp(454g)
•
fine sea salt and freshly-cracked black pepper
•
Olive oil(240g)
Regular (not extra-virgin) olive oil for high-heat cooking. EVOO for dressings.
•
Garlic(720g)
•
Chili Peppers, Dried, Red(1g)
•
2 tablespoons dry sherry (or any dry white wine)

Instructions

1Pat the shrimp dry with paper towels, then season generously on both sides with salt and pepper. Set aside.
2Heat the olive oil in a large sauté pan over medium-high heat until shimmering and a small piece of garlic sizzles immediately upon contact, about 2–3 minutes.
3Add the minced fresh garlic and dried red chili peppers to the hot oil and cook for 30–60 seconds, stirring constantly, until the garlic turns light golden and fragrant—do not let it brown.
4Add the shrimp to the pan in a single layer and cook over medium-high heat for 1–2 minutes per side, stirring occasionally, until the shrimp turn opaque pink and curl slightly; check that the internal flesh is white and no translucent center remains.
5Remove the pan from heat immediately. The shrimp will continue to cook slightly in the residual heat—do not overcook.
6Divide the shrimp and garlic oil evenly into 4 airtight containers while still hot, then cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
7When ready to eat, reheat gently in a small pan over low heat for 1–2 minutes, stirring occasionally, until warmed through.
8Serve with crusty bread for dipping.

Nutrition — Per Serving

896

calories

34g

protein

61g

fat

Carbohydrates: 60g
Saturated fat: 8.6g
Sodium: 167 mg
Dietary fiber: 3.9g

4 servings per batch · ~354g each

Macro data sourced from USDA FoodData Central

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Common questions

How much protein does Gambas Al Ajillo have per serving?

Each serving provides 34g of protein alongside 896 calories, 61g fat, and 60g carbs. This is a higher-calorie appetizer with balanced macros that includes significant carbohydrate content from the preparation.

How long does Gambas Al Ajillo take to prep?

Quick prep time on the stovetop yields 4 servings in a single batch. Shrimp cooks fast, making this one of the quickest high-protein recipes to execute for meal prep.

Is Gambas Al Ajillo good for muscle gain?

At 34g protein and 896 calories per serving with 60g carbs, this recipe is well-suited for muscle-gain phases when you need carbohydrates for training energy and recovery. The carb content makes it particularly useful around workout timing.