Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck Scampi

Giovanni’s is an enormously popular shrimp truck located in Kahuku, a few miles north of the Polynesian Cultural Center. It is typically mobbed with eager customers, both locals and tourists, who often wait nearly an hour for their orders.

Giovanni's Shrimp Truck Giovanni's Shrimp Truck

The truck offers shrimp three ways, cooked in lemon and served with butter; boiled in hot sauce (“No refunds” the menu warns next to this one) and their version of scampi, Giovanni’s specialty. A dozen shrimp with two scoops of white rice costs $12.IMG_1203

  • Serves 1 or 2, easily doubled

Ingredients

  • 12 shell-on large or extra large shrimp, preferably wild and fresh, deveined and rinsed
  • 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon sweet Spanish paprika
  • 2 teaspoons hot Spanish paprika
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt, plus more to taste
  • 4 tablespoons clarified butter
  • 8 to 12 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1/4 cup dry sherry
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • Steamed white rice

Directions

  1. Use a clean tea towel to pat the shrimp dry.

  2. Put the flour into a brown paper bag, add the paprika and salt and shake the back to mix well.

  3. Add the shrimp and, holding the bag tightly closed, shake several times. Remove the shrimp from the bag and shake off excess flour.

  4. Melt the clarified butter into a heavy sauté pan over medium high heat, add the garlic and sauté for 1 minute. Add the shrimp and sauté for 90 seconds on both sides.

  5. Add the sherry, toss and cook until it is nearly completely evaporated.

  6. Add the butter, swirl the pan as the butter melts and cook for a minute or two, until the butter just begins to take on some color.

  7. Serve immediately with the rice alongside.

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