Giovanni's Hawaiian Food Truck Garlic Shrimp

5m
Prep Time
15m
Cook Time
20m
Ready In


"This food truck can be found in the North Shore of Oahu. The garlic shrimp is famous! They serve it shell on, but I find I get more sauce on the shrimp if I cook it peeled and deveined. Prep time does not include peeling and deveining....I usually buy mine already peeled and deveined at the fish market."

Original is 3 servings
752 Calories. More Nutrition

As amazing as this Hawaiian food truck shrimp recipe is, these recipes are great too!

Shrimp Scampi with Linquini
Shrimp Chop Suey
Chilli Honey and Garlic Prawns
Hunan Shrimp

Step by Step Method

Step 1

Combine the flour, paprika, and cayenne pepper in a dish and toss the shrimp in the mixture to coat.

Step 2

Heat a large skillet over low heat. Add the butter, oil, and garlic. Allow the garlic to cook for 3 to 5 minutes.

Step 3

Raise the heat to medium and add the shrimp in a single layer. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes on one side, then turn the shrimp and cook for 3-4 minutes on the other side.

Step 4

Add salt, and cook for another minute or two. Squeeze a bit of fresh lemon juice over the shrimp.

Step 5

Serve immediately with a side of white rice and a lemon wedge.

Nutritional Facts
Serving Size: 1 (360.9 g), Calories 752, Total Fat - 51.5 g, Saturated Fat - 22.2 g, Cholesterol - 271.4 mg, Sodium - 1912.7 mg, Total Carbohydrate - 49.4 g, Dietary Fiber - 5.4 g, Sugars - 2.8 g, Protein - 28.5 g, Calcium - 207.2 mg, Iron - 3 mg, Vitamin C - 51.9 mg, Thiamin - 0.2 mg.

Tips


No special items needed.

Editorial Notes

The ingredient tips, suggestions, variations, facts, questions and answers below are not edits to the original author's recipe. They are not meant to imply any change would improve the recipe. They're offered for convenience, alternative ideas, and points of interest. If you have any comments about them, please post in the Help & Ideas forum.


  • Look for large shrimp that are already peeled and deveined for convenience.
  • Extra virgin olive oil adds a great flavor to the garlic shrimp.

  • Substitute the butter with coconut oil: Coconut oil is a healthier alternative to butter, and its mild flavor won't overpower the other ingredients in the dish. It also has a higher smoke point than butter, so it's better for high-heat cooking.
  • Substitute the all-purpose flour with chickpea flour: Chickpea flour is a gluten-free alternative to all-purpose flour, and it will give the shrimp a light and crispy texture. It also has a nutty flavor that pairs nicely with the garlic and lemon.

Garlic Chili Shrimp Heat a large skillet over low heat. Add the butter, oil, and garlic. Allow the garlic to cook for 3 to 5 minutes. Raise the heat to medium and add the shrimp in a single layer. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes on one side, then turn the shrimp and cook for 3-4 minutes on the other side. Add 1/4 teaspoon of chili powder, 1 teaspoon of smoked paprika, and 1 teaspoon of sea salt. Cook for another minute or two. Squeeze a bit of fresh lemon juice over the shrimp. Serve immediately with a side of white rice and a lemon wedge.



Coconut Rice

RECOMMENDED DISH DESCRIPTION: Coconut Rice is the perfect side dish to go with Giovanni's Hawaiian Food Truck Garlic Shrimp. The sweetness of the coconut complements the spicy shrimp, and the texture of the rice is a great contrast to the shrimp. It's also a great way to add more flavor and texture to the dish.


Grilled Pineapple: Grilled Pineapple is a great accompaniment to Giovanni's Hawaiian Food Truck Garlic Shrimp. The sweetness of the pineapple contrasts the spicy shrimp, while the smoky flavor of the grilled pineapple adds another layer of flavor to the dish. The pineapple also adds a nice crunchy texture to the dish that pairs perfectly with the rice.




FAQ

Q: How do I prepare the shrimp?

A: The recipe calls for the shrimp to be peeled and deveined. You can buy pre-prepared shrimp at the fish market to save time.



Q: How long do I need to cook the shrimp?

A: The recipe calls for the shrimp to be cooked for about 3-4 minutes, or until they are pink and opaque. Be careful not to overcook the shrimp, as they can become tough and rubbery.

12 Reviews

Linky

We were at Giovanni's 4 days ago and it was wonderful! And messy! This version is terrific, too, but less messy b/c I used peeled shrimp. DH and I were both very happy how these turned out. Of course, I served them with a scoop of rice, drizzled with the extra sauce from the pan.

5.0

review by:
(6 Apr 2023)

WiggiesStickeyRibs

What a great shrimp dish. We loved it and then some! I made baked potato skins and salad to have with it. What a great combo!

5.0

(22 Sep 2021)

JCRisn

I didn't try this recipe, and I'm sure it is delicious, but as Ric stated, this is NOT the Shrimp Scampi from the famous Giovanni's Shrimp Truck of Oahu. My wife and I were there (Kahuku location) in March 2020 and the in-the-shell shrimp is smothered in a butter-garlic goo. Yummmmm! "A dozen shrimp marinated in olive oil, fresh chopped garlic, and lemon butter, served with two scoops of rice all drizzled with a garlic lemon butter and caramelized chunks of tangy garlic".

0.0

review by:
(9 Jun 2021)

Marie Nixon

Delicious! I followed the cooking instructions. I chopped 7 cloves of garlic to approximate 1 garlic bulb. Unfortunately, my garlic did burn by the time the shrimp were done. Maybe it was because the garlic was chopped quite small. I wonder how small Giovannis chops his garlic for the recipe. I dumped all of the breading ingredients into a plastic freezer bag and then tossed the shrimp in the bag to evenly coat them. Worked well. I'm attempting to salvage the leftover in the pan garlic flavored butter. I strained out the burnt garlic and put the remaining butter in the refrigerator.

5.0

review by:
(16 May 2021)

Frankiebaby77

Good recipe, To comment on what "Ric" said, I believe the flour is used to help bind the flavors of the seasoning to the shrimp. It should say to dust the leg area and not to coat the whole shrimp (it shouldn't be used to batter and fry). With that being said, the whole family really enjoyed it.

5.0

review by:
(13 Mar 2021)

Ric

This may be a good garlic shrimp recipe, but it is NOT like Giovanni’s. They don’t coat the shrimp in flour. Butter and garlic coats the shrimp, and they do some kind of magic with the rice (seriously—that is some excellent rice) and that’s it.

3.0

review by:
(20 Feb 2021)

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Fun facts:

The Hawaiian Garlic Shrimp dish is said to have been popularized by the late celebrity chef, Giovanni Pastrami. He was a regular at the North Shore of Oahu and served the famous dish at his food truck.

The recipe for Hawaiian Garlic Shrimp has been featured in several cookbooks, including the iconic "Hawaiian Regional Cuisine" by Roy Yamaguchi, a James Beard award-winning chef and restaurateur.