Broiled shrimp is cooked inside an oven using hot burners or coils that are located above the broiler pan. This dish can be cooked with simple seasonings, such as salt and pepper, and then bathed in a smothering of rich sauces. In the alternative, the dish may sit in sauce as it is cooking, or the shrimp can be marinated in a sauce before it cooks. Although broiled shrimp offers many health benefits, the dish should be eaten sparingly by people attempting to lower their cholesterol levels, as shrimp is considered high in cholesterol.
There are several tips that can help make a dinner of broiled shrimp successful. For example, preheating the broiler pan in the oven, without any food on it, while the oven is reaching the desired temperature, is often recommended. Many cooks believe that doing so allows the food to cook more uniformly, both on the top and bottom. In addition, some ovens tend to cool off when they reach the high temperatures associated with broiling. As a result, one suggestion is to leave the oven door slightly ajar, as doing so may keep the oven running at a constant temperature, and again, allow the food to cook evenly.
Typically, prior to broiling the shrimp, it should be peeled from its shell. In addition, the vein running down its back should be removed. Although the vein is not believed to be harmful for human consumption, many people believe it is unsightly and prefer to have it removed. The vein is typically more visible in large shrimp and is often unseen in small shrimp.
Once the shrimp has been prepped, the recipes for broiled shrimp vary widely. Sometimes, the shrimp is broiled with only a light sprinkling of salt and pepper. Other times, it is broiled as it sits in a more complex mixture, such as with a blend of lemon, butter, garlic, and white wine. The shrimp can be marinated for several hours ahead of time as well. Some popular marinades include a combination of beer, Worcestershire sauce, and garlic, or a combination of lemon, brown sugar, garlic, and oregano. The shrimp can be broiled loose, or they can be skewered on a wooden or metal stick, creating individual serving sizes.
As long as heavy ingredients, such as butter and oil, are kept to a minimum, broiled shrimp can be quite a healthful dish. Shrimp is high in selenium and protein, and as a result, it is believe to fight cancer and allow bones and muscles to maintain their strength. It also contains high amounts of omega-3 fatty acids. These are thought to be beneficial for preventing certain types of cancers and reducing the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease.
Some people should eat only small amounts of broiled shrimp or avoid it altogether. Specifically, people who are trying to reduce their cholesterol levels should monitor the amount of shrimp they eat, particularly since it is a high-cholesterol food. In addition, people with allergies to iodine or shellfish should avoid broiled shrimp to prevent a reaction.