Juicy Citrus and Rum Marinated Shrimp Skewers

Craving a new way to make shrimp? Just give these Citrus and Rum Shrimp Skewers a try. Succulent shrimp take on a Puerto Rican vibe by tossing them in a flavorful marinade of citrus, rum, garlic and oregano. Served with a side of white rice and red beans, you can have a completely satisfying meal in just 30 minutes.

I informally named this recipe my “Puerto Rican Shrimp” since I adapted it from a recipe I found from an advertisement for Puerto Rican rums some 20 years ago. Yikes! How time flies. My nephews were in high school when I first made this recipe and now they have kids of their own starting middle school. And speaking of nephews, I remember they couldn’t get enough of these shrimp skewers, so I know even your finickiest teenager will love them too.

The original recipe called for grilling the skewers and if you are like me and don’t have a grill, the next best option is broiling.

Broiling vs. Grilling

It’s hard to find recipes that use broiling as the main cooking method. I’m not sure if it’s because grilling has become so popular, but for those of us who don’t have a grill, broiling is the perfect alternative. I even like to think of broiling as reverse grilling. Instead of the heat cooking your meat from below, broiling uses heat from above. Just like grilling, you still have to turn the meat over to cook the other side and by placing your food close to the heat source, you get that caramelized browned exterior that adds another flavor dimension to your food.

Ingredients for Citrus and Rum Shrimp Skewers

• Orange and Lime – using both the zest and juice of the citrus will provide maximum flavor. Citrus fruits are acidic, so don’t marinate longer than 30 minutes or the shrimp can become tough.
• Sugar – brings a sweetness to the marinade and helps caramelize the edges of the shrimp.
• Light Olive Oil – Or any neutral oil (avocado, canola, and grapeseed are a few other neutral oils)
• Dark Rum – Adds additional flavor to the marinade and compliments the citrus. You can substitute with white rum.
• Garlic – everything tastes better with garlic.
• Fresh Oregano – herb that is used in many Mediterranean dishes and especially popular in Puerto Rican cooking. You can substitute with dried oregano but you will want to decrease the amount to 3/4 teaspoon since dried herbs have a more concentrated flavor.
• Salt and Pepper – Enhances the flavors.
• Shrimp – Peeled and deveined. You can leave the tails on for presentation, but I usually take them off so they are easier to eat. I also prefer to use large (21-25 per lb) or extra large shrimp (16-20 per lb) for easy skewering.

How to Make Citrus Shrimp Skewers

• Place 8-10 wooden skewers in a long dish or rimmed sheet pan and cover with water. Soak for 30 minutes. This helps the skewers from burning.
• In a large bowl whisk together orange and lime zest, juice, sugar, oil, rum, garlic, oregano, salt and pepper. Add peeled shrimp and stir to combine. Cover and place in the refrigerator for 20-30 minutes to marinate. Don’t marinate longer than 30 minutes or the shrimp may become tough and rubbery.

• Place the oven rack on the top position, about 4-6 inches below the heating element and preheat the oven on Broil.
• Prepare a broiler pan or a baking sheet with a wire rack on top. Cover the bottom of pan with aluminum foil and spray the top rack with cooking spray for easy clean up.
• Thread about 6 shrimp on each skewer, piercing through top and bottom of shrimp, making a “C” so they are secure. Place skewers on the broiler pan and brush with additional marinade.
• Place in oven and broil for 5 minutes turning each skewer over half way through. Shrimp are done when they turn pink or orange and the edges have curled and they reach an internal temperature of 145°F (63°C).
• Alternatively, you can place the shrimp on a preheated grill and cook for 4-5 minutes turning each skewer over half way through.

What to serve with Citrus and Rum Shrimp Skewers?

Shrimp skewers can go with just about anything. They can also be served as an appetizer or on top of a salad for that added protein. I’ve listed a few other menu ideas that will pair well with the shrimp.

Oh, and let’s not forget a cocktail. Check out my recipe for a Shaken Piña Colada.

Storage and Reheating

• Store – Place shrimp, on or off the skewers, in an air tight container and store in the refrigerator up to 4 days.
• Reheat – The shrimp can be reheated in the microwave, air fryer, or skillet.
  • Microwave – place shrimp on a microwave safe plate, and heat on high for 30 seconds at a time until warmed.
  • Air fryer – preheat air fryer to 400°, place shrimp in basket and heat for 4-5 minutes or until warmed through.
  • Skillet – Place unskewered shrimp in a pan and heat on medium until warm.

Try it…I think you’ll love it!

The beauty of this recipe is how versatile and easy it is to get the shrimp skewers on the table. Perfect for a 30 minute week night meal but also impressive enough for a family dinner party. You can even serve them as an appetizer by using small decorative skewers that hold about 3-4 shrimp. And if you happen to have any leftovers, they become a great protein source for a lunch salad the next day. I can’t wait for you to try it and let me know in the comments what you love about this recipe.