Hawaiian Shrimp Truck Recipe

This Hawaiian shrimp truck recipe is easy to make and has a lot of garlic! Serve the succulent shrimp with rice and drizzle the garlic butter sauce ALL over the dish. Don’t forget a squeeze of lemon too!

Hawaii shrimp trucks are known for their garlic shrimp, otherwise known as shrimp scampi. I miss Hawaii so much. I need to go back soon for a tropical vacation. It’s currently blanketed in snow where I am!

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Here’s Why You Will Love the Hawaiian Shrimp Truck Recipe

• Delicious: If you haven’t eaten from the shrimp trucks in Hawaii, you will still like this recipe! The shrimp is succulent and there is a nice lemon freshness to the dish.
• Simple: You can make this recipe regardless of your cooking skill level. It’s very easy to make.
• Great weeknight dinner: This quick and easy recipe is great for the busy weeknights. I know I am always looking to cook up something quick and easy.
• Nostalgic: This recipe will take you back to Hawaii.

Equipment and Tools to Make Hawaiian Shrimp Truck Recipe

Cutting board and knife: To cut the lemon and mince the garlic

Large bowl: To marinate shrimp in

Measuring spoon

Pan: To fry the shrimp and make the garlic butter sauce

Ingredients

Shrimp/Prawns: I use the 16/20 size

Garlic: 1 head of garlic. Yes, it is a lot but I love garlic!

Paprika: gives the shrimp a nice red colour

Salt: to taste.

Olive oil: to marinate the shrimp

Cornstarch: for frying the shrimp, gives a flavourful layer to the shell

Lemon: a squeeze for freshness

Salted Butter: needed for the garlic butter sauce, you cannot skip the sauce!

Hawaiian Shrimp Options and Substitutions

• This recipe calls for cornstarch. You can use all purpose flour or tapioca starch as a substitute.
• I use 1 head of garlic for every pound of shrimp. Feel free to use more if you are cooking more shrimp. Everyone in my household fights for the garlic butter sauce.
• Make it spicy! Use cayenne pepper instead of paprika if you want to heat things up.
• Use deveined, shell on shrimp. Typically, you are supposed to eat it with the shell on. My husband does but the kids and I don’t. Try it once and if you aren’t a fan, you must devour the crispy garlic bits off the shell and suck on the juices.

How to Make Hawaiian Shrimp Truck Recipe

Let’s make this dish!

Marinate Shrimp. After cleaning and drying shrimp with a paper towel, marinate the shrimp with 2 garlic cloves, 2 tsp paprika, 1/2 tsp coarse salt, 2 tbsp olive oil and a squeeze of lemon if you desire. Let the flavours come together for 15-30 minutes.

Coat in Cornstarch. Lightly coat the shrimp in cornstarch and shake off excess. Pan fry the shrimp in oil until fully cooked and pink. Do this in a single layer only. You may need to do this in 2 or 3 batches. Set aside cooked shrimp and put on paper towel lined bowl to absorb oil.

Make Garlic Butter Sauce. In a clean pan, saute garlic with butter just before it turns golden. The garlic will continue to cook. Be careful so that it does not burn. Toss cooked shrimp into garlic butter sauce. Squeeze some lemon.

Serve with rice. I put extra garlic over my rice. And to be healthy, I served the shrimp over a bed of greens. The shrimp trucks usually serve it over a rice only.

Storage and Reheating Tips

This Hawaiian shrimp truck recipe is best enjoyed fresh. Cover and store leftover shrimp in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. Reheat in the microwave. I do not recommend freezing leftovers.

Make Ahead Options

You could potentially make the garlic butter sauce ahead of time but one you store it in the fridge, it will solidify. Make the sauce for up to 2 days and your sauce is ready to go! Reheat in microwave.

The shrimp is great to serve with leftover rice.

Recipe Tips

Be careful when cooking the garlic. It can turn golden very quickly and it also continues to cook in residual heat. Stirring constantly cooks the garlic evenly.

Dry the shrimp well. Otherwise, the outer crispy coating will be clumpy.

If you have a dairy allergy and cannot consume butter, you can substitute with a butter infused olive oil.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are you supposed to eat the shell of the Hawaiian garlic shrimp? Yes! The shell is completely edible and is part of the whole experience. There is so much flavour and gives a nice crunchy effect.

Do I need to devein the shrimp? Personally, I do and I make sure it is all clean. It is the shrimp’s digestive tract. Some are noticeably darker than others. It is not harmful if consumed.

Where are the shrimp trucks located in Hawaii? The shrimp trucks in Hawaii, such as Giovanni’s shrimp truck, are located in the North Shore of Oahu. They are so popular that you might wait an hour or so! This recipe will come together faster. I promise.

What should I serve with the Hawaiian shrimp scampi? Traditionally, it is served over a bed of rice with additional garlic butter sauce on top with a squeeze of lemon. For a healthier option, you can serve it with your favourite vegetables like asparagus or over a bed of greens.

Is Hawaiian Shrimp Truck Recipe a Hawaiian dish? This is not a Hawaiian dish but rather, a local dish. Yes, the garlic shrimp dish is from Hawaii but Hawaiian food is typically a blend of different cultures such as Chinese, Japanese, Filipino, Korean and more.

Check out my Other Ethnic Recipes!

Chinese Mango Pudding

Cheesy Gochujang Star Bread

Vietnamese Grilled Chicken

Lastly, if you make my Hawaiian Shrimp Truck Recipe, be sure to leave a comment or give this recipe a star rating! I love to hear from you guys and respond to each and every comment. Also, don’t forget to tag me @cookwith.chopsticks and #cookwithchopsticks on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you have made makes me sooooo happy! You can also follow along on Facebook and Pinterest.