You’re about to discover a mouthwatering combination that’ll transform your grilling game forever! The marriage of creamy grilled avocados and garlicky butter shrimp creates a dish that’s both sophisticated and simple to prepare. This California-inspired recipe takes just 15 minutes to make, yet delivers restaurant-quality results with its smoky flavors and rich textures. Want to know the secrets behind achieving that perfect char while keeping the avocados buttery-smooth?
Key Takeaways
- Grill halved avocados cut-side down on medium-high heat until char marks appear, creating a smoky, buttery vessel for shrimp.
- Cook shrimp in garlic butter until pink and tender, ensuring not to overcrowd the pan for even cooking.
- Total preparation and cooking time takes just 15 minutes, making it perfect for quick weeknight dinners or special occasions.
- Serve immediately while both avocados and shrimp are warm, garnishing with fresh herbs or lemon for added flavor.
- Recipe combines healthy fats from avocados with lean protein from shrimp, offering a nutritious and satisfying meal option.
History
While the exact origins of grilled avocados aren’t well documented, this innovative dish emerged from the creative fusion of California cuisine and traditional Latin American cooking techniques in the early 2000s.
You’ll find that modern chefs began experimenting with grilling avocados as part of the farm-to-table movement, which celebrated fresh, local ingredients in new ways.
The addition of garlic butter shrimp to grilled avocados became popular in coastal restaurants, where chefs wanted to elevate the simple avocado into an elegant appetizer.
What started as a creative way to serve California’s abundant avocado crop quickly spread across the country’s fine dining scene.
Today, you’ll see this dish featured on menus from food trucks to upscale establishments, proving that sometimes the best culinary innovations come from simple experimentation!
Recipe
Grilled avocados paired with garlic butter shrimp create an elegant dish that combines smoky, creamy, and savory flavors in every bite. The natural oils of the avocado intensify when grilled, producing a buttery vessel that perfectly complements the succulent seafood.
This recipe transforms simple ingredients into a sophisticated meal that works equally well as an appetizer or light dinner. The warm, grilled avocado provides a rich base for the garlic-infused shrimp, while the remaining sauce adds an extra layer of indulgent flavor.
- 2 ripe but firm avocados, halved and pitted
- 12 large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 4 tablespoons butter, divided
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Preheat grill to medium-high heat. Brush avocado halves with melted butter and season with salt and pepper. Place avocados cut-side down on the grill for 3-4 minutes until grill marks appear.
Meanwhile, melt remaining butter in a skillet over medium heat, add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Add shrimp to the pan and cook for 2-3 minutes per side until pink and opaque. Remove avocados from grill, fill each half with three shrimp, and drizzle with the remaining garlic butter from the pan.
For best results, select avocados that yield slightly to pressure but aren’t too soft. Keep the grill lid open while cooking the avocados to prevent them from becoming too mushy. If using a grill pan indoors, ensure it’s properly preheated to achieve similar grill marks.
The dish should be served immediately while the avocados and shrimp are still warm, and can be garnished with fresh herbs or a squeeze of lemon for added brightness.
Cooking Steps
You’ll start by preheating your grill to medium-high heat while preparing a fragrant garlic butter sauce in a small pan.
Next, you’ll carefully halve and pit your avocados, brushing them with melted butter before placing them cut-side down on the hot grill grates for that perfect smoky char.
While your avocados are grilling, you’ll cook your shrimp in the remaining garlic butter until they’re pink and perfectly tender, ready to nestle into those warm avocado boats!
Step 1. Preheat Grill to Medium-High
The first essential step in preparing perfect grilled avocados is preheating your grill to medium-high heat, around 375-400°F.
You’ll want to give your grill at least 10-15 minutes to reach the ideal temperature. During this time, you can prep your other ingredients!
While the grill heats up, make sure your grates are clean and well-oiled to prevent the delicate avocados from sticking.
If you’re using a gas grill, set all burners to medium-high. For charcoal grills, spread your hot coals evenly across the grate’s center.
You’ll know your grill is ready when you can hold your hand about 4 inches above the grates for 4-5 seconds before it feels too hot.
This temperature will give you those beautiful char marks while keeping the avocados creamy inside.
Step 2. Prepare Fresh Garlic Butter
While your grill reaches the perfect temperature, let’s create the rich garlic butter that’ll make your shrimp irresistible!
Start by finely mincing three plump garlic cloves until they’re incredibly fragrant.
Place 4 tablespoons of high-quality butter in a medium skillet over medium heat. Once the butter begins to melt and bubble gently, add your minced garlic.
Watch carefully as the garlic begins to turn golden and fills your kitchen with its mouthwatering aroma – this should take about 30 seconds.
Don’t let the garlic brown, as it’ll become bitter! For extra flavor, you can add a pinch of sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste.
Keep your garlic butter warm until you’re ready to cook the shrimp, but be careful not to let it burn.
Step 3. Halve and Prep Avocados
For perfectly grilled avocados, start by selecting two ripe but firm fruits that yield slightly when gently pressed. Using a sharp knife, carefully slice each avocado lengthwise around the pit, creating two equal halves.
Twist the halves in opposite directions to separate them, then remove the pit by gently tapping your knife into it and twisting.
Next, use a spoon to carefully score the flesh in a crisscross pattern, being sure not to pierce the skin. This helps the butter and seasonings penetrate deeper!
Season each half with a pinch of salt and fresh black pepper, then brush the cut sides with melted butter. Don’t remove the skin – it’ll help maintain the avocado’s shape while grilling and make a perfect serving vessel for your shrimp.
Step 4. Grill Cut-Side Down Avocados
Once your grill reaches medium-high heat (around 375-400°F), it’s time to transform those prepped avocado halves into smoky, charred perfection!
Brush each cut side with a light coating of melted butter and sprinkle with a pinch of salt.
Place your avocado halves cut-side down on the hot grill grates. You’ll want to leave them undisturbed for 3-4 minutes to develop those beautiful grill marks. Don’t be tempted to peek or move them around – patience is key here!
The natural oils in the avocado will intensify as they heat up. Watch for slight caramelization around the edges. When you see golden-brown grill marks forming, you’ll know they’re ready.
Using tongs, carefully remove the avocados from the grill – they’ll be hot and extra creamy inside!
Step 5. Cook Shrimp In Butter
The sizzle of melting butter signals it’s time to create the perfect garlic-infused shrimp! Place 4 tablespoons of butter in a large skillet over medium heat until it melts completely.
Once the butter starts to bubble, add your minced garlic and let it release its aromatic flavors for 30 seconds.
Now’s the exciting part – add your peeled and deveined shrimp to the fragrant garlic butter! They’ll start turning a beautiful pink color as they cook.
You’ll want to give them 2-3 minutes per side until they’re completely opaque.
Don’t overcrowd the pan – make sure each shrimp has enough space to cook evenly. As they cook, spoon some of that delicious garlic butter over them.
When they’re done, they’ll be perfectly tender and ready to nestle into your grilled avocado halves!
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re hosting an elegant dinner party or craving a restaurant-worthy meal at home, grilled avocados with garlic butter shrimp delivers impressive results with minimal effort.
You’ll love how the creamy avocado flesh becomes even richer when grilled, creating the perfect base for those succulent garlic-kissed shrimp!
Don’t hesitate to experiment with this versatile dish. Try adding a squeeze of lime juice, a sprinkle of red pepper flakes, or fresh cilantro for extra flair.
You can serve it as an upscale appetizer for four or combine it with a fresh salad for two hearty main courses.
Best of all, this recipe comes together in just 15 minutes, making it perfect for both special occasions and quick weeknight dinners. It’s a fantastic way to elevate simple ingredients into something truly extraordinary.
