The name, vodka, comes from the Russian phrase zhiznennaia voda, or "water of life". It can be made from everything from potatoes to beets. It's considered to be fairly flavorless which makes it a great liquor for mixed drinks.


Shrimp are marinated and grilled with a glaze made from garlic, fresh ginger, sherry, soy sauce, honey, sesame seeds, Thai chili sauce, five spice powder and sesame oil
2 cloves garlic, crushed with garlic press
2 slices (1/4-inch thick each) fresh ginger
1/4 cup coarsely onions
3 tablespoons dry sherry
3 tablespoons soy sauce
1 1/2 tablespoon honey
1 1/2 tablespoon sesame seeds
1 tablespoon Thai sweet chili sauce
1/2 teaspoon chinese five-spice powder
5 tablespoons sesame oil, divided
1 1/2 pound jumbo shrimp, peeled and deveined
Smash the garlic cloves and place in a bowl. Peel the ginger and bruise it with a mallet. Add to the bowl.
Add the chopped onion, sherry, soy sauce, honey, sesame seeds, chili sauce, five-spice powder, and about half of the sesame oil to the bowl. Mix well.
Add the shrimp to the bowl. Stir well to coat the shrimp in the marinade. Cover the bowl and refrigerate the shrimp in the honey sesame mixture for 30-60 minutes.
Preheat the grill to high heat.
Remove the shrimp from the marinade. Place the marinade in a small saucepan. Discard the garlic, ginger, and onion. Cook the marinade over medium-high heat for 2-3 minutes or until thick and syrupy. Remove the pan from the heat and set aside.
Baste the shrimp with the remaining sesame oil. Place the shrimp on the grill - either on skewers or in a grill basket. Cook for 8-10 minutes, turning as needed, until the shrimp is opaque and cooked. Brush the shrimp with the marinade during the last 2 minutes of cooking.
Remove the shrimp from the grill and serve.
If using wooden skewers, soak them in water for at least 30 minutes before grilling to prevent burning.
You can also use this marinade for other proteins like chicken or tofu. Grill the chicken as desired or pan-fry the tofu.
Jumbo shrimp are recommended for grilling, but you can use medium or large shrimp if you prefer.
Fresh ginger is recommended for the best flavor, but you can substitute with 1/2 teaspoon of ground ginger if needed (and obviously do not need to remove it after marinating).
Dry sherry adds a unique flavor, but you can substitute it with white wine or chicken broth.
Thai sweet chili sauce will keep a long time in the fridge, but you can use a mixture of red pepper flakes and honey or a mild hot sauce as a substitute.
It adds a unique flavor, but you can omit it or use a pinch of ground star anise, cloves, and cinnamon as a substitute.
We don't recommend marinating seafood longer as it can start to break down and become mushy.
Yes, you can prepare the marinade up to a day in advance and store it in the refrigerator.
These are used to infuse the marinade with flavor but don't work well in the sauce once it's used for basting as the ingredients can burn quickly in the sweet sauce.
Yes, you can use a grill pan over medium-high heat if you don't have an outdoor grill or even in a skillet or wok.
Yes, but make sure to cook it thoroughly to kill any bacteria from the raw shrimp.
Steamed rice, grilled vegetables, or a light salad would complement the shrimp well.
This makes a great appetizer. Serve the honey sesame shrimp on small skewers.
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
It's best to cook the shrimp fresh, but you can freeze the marinated shrimp for up to a month. Thaw in the refrigerator before cooking. This only applies if you are using fresh shrimp (never frozen). If you are using previously frozen shrimp it is not recommended to re-freeze them as the texture will become mushy.
The name, vodka, comes from the Russian phrase zhiznennaia voda, or "water of life". It can be made from everything from potatoes to beets. It's considered to be fairly flavorless which makes it a great liquor for mixed drinks.
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reviews & comments
June 23, 2009
We knew as soon as we assembled the marinade that this recipe would be a winner. This is quite possibly one of the best shrimp recipes we've ever had. And the bonus? It's easy! There just isn't much more to say - it was outstanding!