Last Updated on April 21, 2025
Cilantro lime shrimp with paprika is a perfect combination of flavors. It is surprising how good some simple ingredients can be on shrimp.
I love shrimp and I hope you do too. I’ve been meaning to post this recipe for cilantro lime shrimp with paprika for some time now. I made it back in November 2014 and took a photo with my old Panasonic Lumix point and shoot and it has gotten huge amounts of views and shares on Pinterest. I love my Pinterest! Check out my Pinterest boards. The photo above is the one that has gotten lots of re-pins on Pinterest.
Well, I knew at the time that I made this shrimp, that it was a killer recipe. It tastes sooo good! On Pinterest, I shared the basics for the preparation, but there are some steps to make it the best shrimp you have ever had! And I don’t think that I am exaggerating. Prepared like this, the shrimp is sweet, juicy, and totally delicious.
Making The Cilantro Lime Shrimp
I made this yesterday at my daughter Amy’s, and it was really good…but…I forgot to sprinkle the paprika on at the end! I couldn’t believe it when I went to write this post last night and looked at the photos….no paprika?!! This is Cilantro lime shrimp with paprika.
That shrimp was moist and delicious but didn’t have paprika. I know now that I should write down what I’m doing otherwise these memory lapses are apt to occur! Anyway, I got to eat lots more shrimp again tonight and it was glorious! Don’t forget the paprika.
The key to making moist shrimp is to not overcook it. By searing one side of the shrimp, then taking it off the heat to finish the other side is the key. After two minutes under a lid, the shrimp will be perfectly done. Moist and tasty.
I told Mary Jo that I thought this shrimp was about as good as the shrimp I had as a kid in Biloxi, Mississippi where I had breaded shrimp that was cooked straight out of a live well. Sweet and wonderful. She thought that this was probably better…Thank you dear!
Here are some more tasty recipes to try:
- Sauteed Shredded Sweet Potatoes
- Green Goddess Salad with Poached Shrimp
- Easy Vegetarian Minestrone Soup
- Perfect Shrimp Cocktail Recipe
- Tomato Spinach Pasta with Spicy Shrimp
- Shrimp Scampi Recipe
Cilantro Lime Shrimp with Paprika
Ingredients
- 1 lb peeled and deveined shrimp , 21 to 25 per pound
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil , divided
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/8 tsp granulated sugar
- 2 tbsp chopped cilantro
- juice of one large lime
- paprika to taste
Instructions
- Dry shrimp with paper towels.
- Place shrimp in a medium bowl and add salt, pepper and sugar, toss to coat.
- Heat 1 tbsp oil in heavy skillet on high, bring to shimmering or lightly smoking.
- Add 1/2 of the shrimp and sear for 1 minute on one side only.
- Remove shrimp from the skillet to a plate.
- Add 1 more tbsp oil to the hot skillet and sear the remaining shrimp for 1 minute on one side.
- Remove the pan from the heat. Turn each shrimp in the pan to the second side, and add the shrimp from the plate, on the second side.
- Add the juice of 1 lime, sprinkle with paprika and cilantro.
- Cover the skillet with a lid for two minutes.
- Serve hot.
MaryJo
We had this with Mexican rice and green Castelvetrano olives–so good!!