Grilled Bacon Wrapped Shrimp with Sweet Tamarind BBQ Sauce

Appetizer, Breakfast & Brunch Bacon, Fish & Seafood Comfort Food, Grill, Sauce, Small Plate Game Day, Gatherings

By Chris Grove

What’s better than shrimp and bacon on the grill?! With a little bit of work, this bacon wrapped shrimp appetizer pays off big time in the flavor department, and is a crowd pleasing favorite!

This recipe from nibblemethis.com is inspired by Big Bob Gibson’s BBQ Book by Chris Lilly.

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Ingredients

1 lb shrimp 16/20 count, peeled, deveined and butterflied
8 slices thin bacon, cut in half¹
1 Tbsp McCormick’s crystallized ginger²
4 large leaves fresh basil, stemmed and cut into quarters
1.5 Tbsp Dizzy Pig® Tsunami Spin
1.5 tsp black pepper
1-2 Tbsp sesame seeds
1 6″ x 15″ cedar plank, soaked in water for 1 hour (I used Fire & Flavor brand planks)

Sweet Tamarind BBQ Sauce

1/2 cup sweet soy sauce
1/3 cup barbecue sauce
4 tsp tamarind paste
1/4 tsp Black Pepper
1/4 tsp Garlic Powder

¹ Thin Bacon – use the cheapest, thinnest bacon you can get. Thick bacon will be not done before the shrimp is fully cooked.

² Crystallized Ginger – This is a key ingredient. Don’t try to substitute ground ginger. You might be able to get away with using a sliver of fresh ginger but I haven’t tried it that way.

Directions

Preheat a charcoal fire to 400°F (Medium-High) for a direct heat cook.
Mix the sauce ingredients in a small sauce pan and simmer for 5 minutes.
Season the shrimp with some of the pepper and Tsunami Spin.
Roll a piece of crystallized ginger in a quarter leaf of basil. Stuff into the butterflied shrimp and wrap with bacon. Place tail side up on the cedar plank and gently press down on the base of the shrimp to stabilize it so it will stand. Repeat with other shrimp. Sprinkle the entire plank with any leftover seasoning.
Place the plank on the grill, close the lid, and grill for 15 minutes.
Remove the plank from the grill, dip each shrimp into the Sweet Tamarind BBQ Sauce, place back onto the plank and return the plank to the grill. Cook for 3-4 more minutes.
Remove plank from grill and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Serve on a bed of shredded lettuce.

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