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    Home » Recipes » Appetizer

    Caramelized Shrimp with 7 UP

    Published: Mar 3, 2019 · Modified: Jan 31, 2022 by Jocelyn | JOZmahal· This post may contain affiliate links and generates income via ads · 3 Comments

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    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    3 ingredients (shrimp, 7 Up, and olive oil) are all you need to make this Delicious Caramelized Shrimp with 7 Up, and is ready to eat in 15 minutes! This dish can be served as an appetizer or a light lunch or dinner served with Garlic Fried Rice and Chili Cucumber Salad.

    Caramelized Shrimps with tomato and duck egg relish on a bed of garlic fried rice. this recipe for later
    Delicious Caramelized Shrimps with 7 Up served with tomato and duck egg relish and garlic fried rice!

    Jump to:

    • Why We Love This Dish
    • What Does Caramelize Mean
    • Why Caramelized Shrimp with 7 UP
    • Ingredients Needed
    • Key Ingredients Notes
    • How To Make This Dish
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Other Seafood Recipes To Try

    Why We Love This Dish

    • The simple combination of sweet and salty flavors of the caramelized shrimps takes me to a time when we would swim by a waterfall, yes, I said waterfall (see Pagsanjan Falls). Growing up in the Philippines as a young girl, I remember my Mom and Dad would take us on a day trip and Mom would pack up a lunch and after swimming, we would pick at these succulent shrimps and enjoy eating them with our bare hands. You should try that too!
    • And if it's "crispy on the outside but juicy and tender on the inside" is what you're going for, then this, my friend, will do it for you!
    • You can enjoy these caramelized shrimps as an appetizer, or as a main course lunch or dinner. And if you have day old rice, make Garlic Fried Rice, and slice up some tomatoes and red onions for your relish. Yummmm!

    What Does Caramelize Mean

    “Caramelize” means to change the flavor and color of the sugar in foods to a more nutty and golden brown color, respectively, by cooking the shrimps over low heat. 

    Shrimps typically have a very delicate flavor which is why you’d always see shrimps paired with sauces that have a more robust flavor like you would have Shrimp with Cocktail Sauce, or Shrimps with Teriyaki Sauce, or Shrimps with Garlic Butter Sauce, well you get the picture. And this could be a clue to upcoming blog posts.

    Why Caramelized Shrimp with 7 UP

    I wanted to make a quick appetizer using shrimps and make it simple by using only 5 ingredients that most people readily have available in their pantry. 

    The use of regular 7 UP contributes to the caramelization of the shrimp due to the sugar in the lemon-lime soda. Cooking 7 UP over low heat will help achieve that sweet lemony taste that will complement the shrimp and impart a nice golden color which will make for a very inviting and tasty shrimp dish. 

    Other than 7 UP you can use any lemon-lime soda like Sprite, Sierra Mist, Mountain Dew, or Slice, to caramelize the shrimp. Note that since you need regular sugar to caramelize the shrimps I would not recommend using a diet drink. You need the natural sugars to make this delicious Caramelized Shrimp dish. And no, mixing in sugar will not work, because you need the liquid in the lemon-lime soda.

    And this Caramelized Shrimp recipe would work best if you cook the shrimps with the head and shells intact, cleaned, and deveined of course. Since you will be caramelizing the shrimps over low heat the shells help to protect the delicate flesh of the shrimps and keep it from getting overcooked. Instead, will delight you with a very succulent dish and you wouldn’t be able to stop at just one. I promise! 

    Caramelized Shrimp with shells on gives the overall dish its golden color and nutty flavor of caramel. And that is the long and short of why I recreated this Caramelized Shrimp using 7 Up just like what my Momma used to make. 

    Ingredients Needed

    Ingredients for Caramelized Shrimps with 7Up, Salt, Black Pepper and Olive oil in dishes on top of a wooden board.
    Ingredients for Caramelized Shrimp with 7 Up | Olive oil, salt and pepper
    Raw shrimps on a wooden dish for Caramelized Shrimp with 7 UP.
    Shrimps with heads and shells are cleaned and deveined for Caramelized Shrimp with 7 Up recipe

    Note: Exact measurements can be found in the recipe card. So please continue to scroll down.

    • Olive Oil
    • Shrimp with Tails and Heads (cleaned and deveined)
    • 7 Up
    • Salt + Pepper to taste

    Key Ingredients Notes

    While I highly recommend you use shrimps with head and tails on for superb flavor, as an option you can use shrimps (either fresh or frozen) already peeled. You'll trade (just some of) the flavor for ease and convenience. So it's totally up to you.

    Caramelized Shrimps on a black plate.
    Caramelized Shrimps with 7Up

    How To Make This Dish

    This Caramelized Shrimp dish is very simple to make and can be done in three easy steps:

    Collage showing three steps for cooking Caramelized Shrimp with 7 Up.
    • STEP 1: Place shrimps in a single layer on a pan, and add 7 Up.
    • STEP 2: Let it simmer for about 5 minutes until the shrimps turn bright orange. Add olive oil, and stir occasionally to prevent it from burning.
    • STEP 3: Once the shrimps have caramelized and the liquid has evaporated, remove from heat and serve! Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Enjoy!

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Can I use frozen shrimps?

    Yes, frozen shrimps would work fine to make this Caramelized Shrimp recipe.

    Can this dish be made in advance?

    Absolutely! Just reheat the Caramelized Shrimp in the microwave before serving, being careful not to overdo it as this will make the shrimps tough and chewy.

    Can I serve this cold?

    Yes, it can be served cold as an appetizer! The Caramelized Shrimp will taste great served with cocktail sauce!

    Can this be stored and for how long?

    Promptly place the cooked Caramelized Shrimp in the refrigerator in a sealed container within 1 to 2 hours of serving. Any leftovers can be stored in the coldest part of the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days.

    Can the Caramelized Shrimps be frozen?

    While it is safe to do so, I cannot promise that the texture and flavor of the shrimps will be the same as when it was freshly made. Besides, whenever I make this dish, I never had any leftovers.


    Other Seafood Recipes To Try

    • Shrimp sinigang with vegetables on a wooden bowl.
      Quick and Easy Shrimp Sinigang
    • Garlic Butter Shrimp with Sprite on a black plate.
      The Best Garlic Butter Shrimp With Sprite Recipe
    • Opo squash with shrimp, onions and tomatoes on a bed of steamed white rice.
      Sautéed Opo Squash
    • Grilled salmon on cedar plank with maple dijon glaze on a brown plate.
      Grilled Salmon on Cedar Plank with Maple Dijon Glaze
    Did you make this recipe? Please leave a rating below. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Let's be taste buds and follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.

    Cooked shrimp with tomato and duck egg relish on a bed of garlic fried rice.

    Caramelized Shrimp with 7 UP

    Quick and easy-to-make Caramelized Shrimp recipe using only 3 ingredients and is ready to eat in 15 minutes! This dish can be served as an appetizer or a light lunch or dinner meal served with Garlic Fried Rice and Chili Cucumber Salad.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Add to Collection Go to Collections
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes
    Total Time: 15 minutes
    Course: Appetizer, Main Course
    Cuisine: Philippine
    Keyword: Caramelized Shrimp
    Servings: 6
    Calories: 93kcal
    Author: Jocelyn | JOZmahal
    Cost: $10
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    • 1 lb Shrimp with heads and tails (cleaned & deveined)
    • 4 oz 7 UP
    • 1 T Olive Oil
    • Salt and Pepper to taste

    Instructions

    • Place shrimps in a single layer with 7 Up, in a skillet, over medium-high heat
      1 lb Shrimp, 4 oz 7 UP
    • Let it simmer until the shrimps turn bright orange, about 5 minutes. Add olive oil and stir occasionally to prevent from burning.
      1 T Olive Oil
    • Once the shrimps have caramelized and the liquid has evaporated, remove it from heat. Season with salt and pepper. Enjoy!
      Salt and Pepper

    Notes

    1. You want to use large-sized shrimps for a more enjoyable treat, like 21-25 count.
    2. Get the shrimps already cleaned and deveined for quick prep work.
    3. Any lemon-lime soda will work for this recipe.
    4. Fresh shrimps yield the best flavor, however, frozen shrimps (already peeled or shell-on) will work!
    5. Any leftover shrimps should be promptly stored covered and refrigerated and must be consumed within 4 days.
    6. While it's completely acceptable to freeze the cooked shrimps within a day or two if you're not able to eat them right away, I will not recommend freezing this dish as the flavors and texture are at its best when consumed right away. 
    7. This recipe goes great with Garlic Fried Rice and Cucumber Chili Salad.
    8. You may also want to try my recipe for Garlic Butter Shrimp with Sprite

    Nutrition

    Calories: 93kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 122mg | Sodium: 92mg | Potassium: 200mg | Sugar: 2g | Calcium: 49mg | Iron: 1mg
    Did you make this recipe?Please give a star rating below and tag us on Instagram! We'd LOVE to see your photo @JOZmahal / #JOZmahal

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Leigh

      January 09, 2022 at 7:02 am

      5 stars
      It was delicious! It's not as sweet as I thought it would be. Absolutely perfect! I love recipes that are quick and easy.

      Reply
    2. Jonalyn

      April 26, 2019 at 5:01 pm

      5 stars
      I have been wanting to try this recipe and it was super easy and super yummy! I don’t consider myself a great cook but if I served this to my guest, they would think otherwise! Thanks Joz Mahal for inspiring my inner chef! Can’t wait to see what else I can try!!! Love this!!!

      Reply
      • Joz

        April 27, 2019 at 4:20 pm

        Thank you Jonalyn for the review! I'm glad you gave it a try and found it to be easy and super yummy! I'll have more super easy and yummy recipes to post.

        Reply

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    Hello and Welcome! I'm Jocelyn, Joz for short. I am the recipe creator, food photographer, and food stylist here at JOZmahal ❤️ a Filipino-American kitchen. My passion for cooking earned me a college degree in Food & Nutrition. I love to cook all types of food, and you’ll see many Filipino-inspired recipes here. My goal is to create recipes that are healthy without sacrificing flavors and with easy-to-follow instructions. Living in the States for many, many, years, I have learned to get creative with cooking and use ingredients that are easy to find, (thank you Amazon!) So bookmark my site, subscribe to my newsletter, and I will help you create quick, easy, tasty, healthy, and delicious meals that you, your family, and your friends will LOVE. ❤️ Get to know me and my style of cooking! And thank you for being here!

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