8 Sauces for Grilled Shrimp

Kristin Donnelly
·1 min read
Grilled Shrimp with Miso Butter
Grilled Shrimp with Miso Butter

© Christina Holmes

Since grilled shrimp cooks in mere minutes, spend a little time making a spectacular sauce to toss with them or serve alongside.

Shrimp Butter

Blend shrimp paste and lime juice with butter for a Malaysian-inspired take on grilled shrimp.

Miso butter

Grilled Shrimp with Miso Butter
Grilled Shrimp with Miso Butter

© Christina Holmes

Mix butter with miso, lemon zest and juice, and scallions for a savory-tangy sauce you can toss with shrimp post grilling.

Oregano and lemon

Grilled Shrimp with Oregano and Lemon. Photo © John Kernick
Grilled Shrimp with Oregano and Lemon. Photo © John Kernick

© John Kernick

For Mediterranean-style shrimp, chop together capers, oregano, and garlic, then blend in olive oil and lemon juice to serve at the table.

Pesto

Forget that rule about mixing cheese with seafood. Make a lemony pesto, enriched with Parmigiano-Reggiano, to serve with grilled shrimp.

Harissa

Peel-and-Eat Grilled Shrimp with Harissa
Peel-and-Eat Grilled Shrimp with Harissa

© Christina Holmes

Toss shell-on shrimp with the North African-style chile paste known as harissa soon after it's grilled and serve with lime wedges; let people peel and eat at the table.

Aioli

Shrimp Cakes
Shrimp Cakes

© Con Poulos

Doctor aioli (or a cheater version with store-bought mayo) with citrus zest and serve with shrimp (or shrimp cakes!) for dipping.

Mango salsa

Make a sweet and spicy salsa with ripe mangoes, lime, Thai chile, and ginger to serve over grilled shrimp.

Romesco

Grilled Shrimp with Cocoa-Nib Romesco Sauce
Grilled Shrimp with Cocoa-Nib Romesco Sauce

© Edmund Barr

Spain's sauce of roasted peppers, almonds, and garlic is a natural with grilled shrimp. Serve a basic version or add cocoa nibs!

RELATED: Fast and Healthy Shrimp Recipes

Kristin Donnelly is a former Food & Wine editor and author of The Modern Potluck (Clarkson Potter, 2016). She is also the co-founder of Stewart & Claire, an all-natural line of lip balms made in Brooklyn.