Recipes

Turkish Shrimp Kebabs with Urfa Biber Butter

Serves 4

| Prep Time: 15 mins

| Cook Time: 10 mins

| Total Time: 25 mins

You may need: Urfa Biber

Discover The Recipe

Elevate your grilling prowess with these tantalizing Turkish Shrimp Kebabs, generously drizzled with a piquant Urfa Biber butter sauce. Prepare to embark on a culinary adventure as you savor the bold flavors of Turkish cuisine. Originating from the sun-kissed lands of Southeastern Turkey, Urfa Biber takes center stage in this delightful dish. Picture a pepper resembling an overgrown bell pepper, carefully dried under the warm Turkish sun until it transforms into a deep, rich burgundy hue. Unlike its sun-dried counterparts in other culinary traditions, Turkish farmers employ a unique method called "sweating" to preserve the natural oils of the Urfa peppers. This meticulous process involves covering the dried peppers with fabric or plastic overnight, capturing their essence and enhancing their flavor. Ground to a coarse texture, the resulting Urfa Biber showcases a dark, purplish color and an irresistible smoky flavor profile.

Our ingenious chefs have ingeniously used this premium Urfa Biber chili to season succulent shrimp, infusing them with a medley of subtle chocolate, red wine, and tobacco notes, culminating in a gentle yet satisfying heat. But fear not, vegetarian and vegan enthusiasts, for you can easily transform this recipe into a plant-based delight by substituting shrimp with extra firm tofu or mushrooms. Make a lasting impression at your summer cookout by adding these Turkish Shrimp Kebabs to your lineup. Brace yourself for a culinary fiesta that will leave your taste buds yearning for more.

Ingredients

  • Urfa Biber Butter

  • ⅓ cup butter, softened

  • 3 cloves garlic, minced or grated

  • ¼ tsp salt

  • ½ tsp Piquant Post Urfa Biber + more to taste

  • 2 Tbsp lemon juice, ~1 large lemon

  • Shrimp Kebabs

  • 1 lb Shrimp, peeled and deveined

  • 1 Tbsp olive oil

  • ½ tsp salt

  • 1 tsp Piquant Post Urfa Biber

  • 6-8 skewers (if using wooden skewers, soak at least 15 mins to prevent them from catching fire)

  • Garnish with chopped cilantro and lemon wedges 

  • To serve: your favorite greens or fluffy couscous

Notes

Be sure to soak the wooden skewers before placing them on the grill so that they won’t burn or catch on fire during cooking. 

You can add even more depth of flavor by grilling the lemon wedges. Brush them with a bit of olive oil and place cut side down on the grill and cook untouched for 3 minutes. 

Instructions

Melt the butter in a small pot over Med heat. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant. Turn off the heat and season with salt, Piquant Post Urfa Biber and lemon juice, stir well and set aside.  

Preheat your grill to High. Place shrimp in a small bowl and drizzle with olive oil. Season with salt and Piquant Post Urfa Biber. Thread four or five shrimp per skewer and set aside on a plate, repeat until all shrimp are skewered. (if using an oven broiler, heat broiler to Med or Low)

Place shrimp kebabs over direct heat and grill for 2-3 minutes on each side until they turn pink and opaque. (for the broiler, place skewers on a foil-lined pan 6 inches under broiler. Cook for 3 mins, flip and cook for another 3 mins or until pink). 

Remove shrimp kebabs from grill (or oven). Drizzle the urfa biber butter over skewers and garnish with chopped cilantro and lemon wedges.

Alternatives & Substitutions

  • This recipe for Turkish-style Shrimp Kebabs is simple and perfect for grilling season. Enjoy them on their own, alongside your favorite greens or some fluffy couscous. Our Urfa Biber spice lends a unique, smoky flavor to the dish with a mild heat. 

  • You can use frozen shrimp for this recipe, just make sure that you thaw them properly before cooking. To thaw frozen shrimp, place them in a bowl with cold water and allow them to sit for 20-30 minutes.

  • Urfa Biber is a versatile spice that can be used for both sweet and savory recipes much like our Urfa Biber Brownies.

  • For our plant-based friends, check out our recipe for Vegan Manti – Turkish meat-stuffed dumplings served with a smooth and buttery tomato sauce and garlicky yogurt. 

  • Interested in more Urfa Biber recipes? Try our Urfa Biber Honey Glazed Lamb Chops and Turkish Menemen – a classic dish featuring eggs baked in a savory tomato sauce.

  • Be sure to leave comments and feedback on your meals and experiments in the comments for others to read.

  • Post pictures of your masterpiece meal on social media and tag us. We repost! 

Turkish Shrimp Kebabs with Urfa Biber Butter

Serves

4

Prep Time

15 mins

Cook Time

10 mins

Total Time

25 mins

Piquant Post spice you'll need: Urfa Biber

Ingredients

  • Urfa Biber Butter

  • ⅓ cup butter, softened

  • 3 cloves garlic, minced or grated

  • ¼ tsp salt

  • ½ tsp Piquant Post Urfa Biber + more to taste

  • 2 Tbsp lemon juice, ~1 large lemon

  • Shrimp Kebabs

  • 1 lb Shrimp, peeled and deveined

  • 1 Tbsp olive oil

  • ½ tsp salt

  • 1 tsp Piquant Post Urfa Biber

  • 6-8 skewers (if using wooden skewers, soak at least 15 mins to prevent them from catching fire)

  • Garnish with chopped cilantro and lemon wedges 

  • To serve: your favorite greens or fluffy couscous

Instructions

  1. Melt the butter in a small pot over Med heat. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant. Turn off the heat and season with salt, Piquant Post Urfa Biber and lemon juice, stir well and set aside.  

  2. Preheat your grill to High. Place shrimp in a small bowl and drizzle with olive oil. Season with salt and Piquant Post Urfa Biber. Thread four or five shrimp per skewer and set aside on a plate, repeat until all shrimp are skewered. (if using an oven broiler, heat broiler to Med or Low)

  3. Place shrimp kebabs over direct heat and grill for 2-3 minutes on each side until they turn pink and opaque. (for the broiler, place skewers on a foil-lined pan 6 inches under broiler. Cook for 3 mins, flip and cook for another 3 mins or until pink). 

  4. Remove shrimp kebabs from grill (or oven). Drizzle the urfa biber butter over skewers and garnish with chopped cilantro and lemon wedges.

Notes

  • Be sure to soak the wooden skewers before placing them on the grill so that they won’t burn or catch on fire during cooking. 

  • You can add even more depth of flavor by grilling the lemon wedges. Brush them with a bit of olive oil and place cut side down on the grill and cook untouched for 3 minutes. 

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