Pepper Shrimp

Name: Pepper Shrimp
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 8 min
Total time: 18 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Jamaican
Ingredients: 500g small shrimp, shell-on; 6 Scotch bonnet peppers, chopped; 4 cloves garlic, minced; 2 stalks scallion, chopped; 2 tbsp vegetable oil; 1 tsp allspice; 1 tbsp white vinegar; Salt to taste; 1 tsp black pepper

Pepper Shrimp (PEP-ah SHRIMP)

Fiery Scotch Bonnet Shrimp

⏱ Prep Time 20 min

📈 Difficulty Easy

👥 Servings

🔥 Calories 176 kcal

Tiny pink shrimp cooked in their shells with an intense Scotch bonnet pepper sauce, a legendary roadside snack from Middle Quarters.

Nutrition & Info

Protein 22.0g

Carbs 4.0g

Fat 8.0g

Protein Carbs Fat

Dietary

dairy-free gluten-free nut-free

Allergen Warnings

⚠ shellfish

Equipment Needed

large skillet or wok wooden spoon serving bags

Presentation Guide

Vessel: paper bag or small bowl

Garnishes: pepper flakes, scallion

Accompaniments: cold beer, water crackers

Ingredients

500g small shrimp, shell-on
6 Scotch bonnet peppers, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 stalks scallion, chopped
2 tbsp vegetable oil
1 tsp allspice
1 tbsp white vinegar
Salt to taste
1 tsp black pepper

Instructions

1
Clean shrimp but leave shells on for maximum flavor. The shells crisp up during cooking and are eaten along with the shrimp.
2
Heat oil in a large skillet over high heat. Add garlic and scallion, cooking for thirty seconds until fragrant.
3
Add chopped Scotch bonnet peppers and allspice. Stir-fry for one minute, letting the peppers release their fiery oils.
4
Add shrimp to the pan in a single layer. Cook without stirring for two minutes until shells turn pink on one side.
5
Flip shrimp, add vinegar and salt. Cook another two minutes until shrimp are fully pink and coated in pepper sauce.
6
Serve hot in paper bags or small bowls. Eat the whole shrimp, shell and all, as is traditional in Middle Quarters.

💡

Did You Know?

At Middle Quarters in St. Elizabeth parish, vendors line the road selling pepper shrimp through car windows to passing motorists.

Chef's Notes

Equipment Tips

large skillet or wok
wooden spoon
serving bags

Garnishing

pepper flakes, scallion

Accompaniments

cold beer, water crackers

The Story Behind Pepper Shrimp

Pepper shrimp is synonymous with Middle Quarters, a small town in St. Elizabeth parish where the Black River provides a steady supply of freshwater shrimp. Roadside vendors have sold this fiery snack for generations, creating a food pilgrimage destination. The dish embodies the Jamaican love of intense heat, with Scotch bonnet peppers providing a searing but flavorful burn that keeps customers coming back for more.

🕐 Traditionally enjoyed roadside snack, anytime 📜 Origins: Middle Quarters, St. Elizabeth parish tradition

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