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Quick Honey Garlic Butter Shrimp Recipe for Easy Cilantro Lime Rice Dinner

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A fast, flavorful dish featuring sweet honey garlic butter shrimp served over bright and tangy cilantro lime rice. Perfect for weeknight dinners and crowd-pleasing meals.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound (450g) large shrimp, peeled and deveined (fresh or thawed frozen shrimp works best)
  • 3 tablespoons honey (natural, raw honey preferred)
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 cup (200g) long-grain white rice or jasmine rice, rinsed
  • ¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
  • 1 large lime, zest and juice
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 cups (480ml) water or chicken broth for cooking rice

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Rice: Rinse 1 cup (200g) of long-grain white rice under cold water until the water runs clear. In a medium saucepan, combine the rinsed rice with 2 cups (480ml) water or chicken broth and a pinch of salt. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes or until water is absorbed. Remove from heat and let it rest, covered, for 5 minutes.
  2. Make the Cilantro Lime Mix: While the rice cooks, zest and juice 1 large lime. Chop ¼ cup fresh cilantro. Once the rice is ready, fluff it with a fork and gently stir in the lime zest, lime juice, and cilantro. Taste and add a little more salt if needed. Keep warm.
  3. Cook the Shrimp: Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. When hot, add 1 pound (450g) shrimp in a single layer. Cook for 1-2 minutes per side until pink and just cooked through. Remove shrimp and set aside.
  4. Prepare the Honey Garlic Butter Sauce: Lower the heat to medium. In the same skillet, add 3 tablespoons unsalted butter and 4 minced garlic cloves. Sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant but not browned. Stir in 3 tablespoons honey and cook for another 1-2 minutes, letting the sauce thicken slightly. Season with salt and pepper.
  5. Combine Shrimp and Sauce: Return the cooked shrimp to the skillet, tossing them in the honey garlic butter sauce until fully coated and warmed through, about 1 minute. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
  6. Serve: Spoon the cilantro lime rice onto plates and top generously with the honey garlic butter shrimp. Garnish with extra cilantro or lime wedges if desired. Enjoy immediately.

Notes

Do not overcook the shrimp to avoid rubbery texture. Keep heat medium to low when making the sauce to prevent burning the honey and garlic. Rinsing rice before cooking improves fluffiness. Let rice rest covered after cooking to steam and avoid clumping. For more sauce, add a splash of water or broth. Variations include adding red pepper flakes for heat or substituting rice with cauliflower rice for a low-carb option. Dairy-free version can use coconut oil or vegan butter and maple syrup instead of honey.

Nutrition

Keywords: honey garlic shrimp, cilantro lime rice, quick dinner, easy shrimp recipe, weeknight meal, butter shrimp, seafood dinner

Find it online: https://lyrafeast.com/quick-honey-garlic-butter-shrimp-recipe-for-easy-cilantro-lime-rice-dinner/