Serves 4 to 6
Garlic Barbecue Sauce
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
1 teaspoon chopped garlic
1 cup mild barbecue sauce
2 tablespoons Virgil’s Dry Rub (see below)
Shrimp
8 6-inch bamboo skewers
2 pounds fresh jumbo shrimp
1/2 cup olive oil
4 tablespoons Virgil’s Dry Rub (see below)
2 lemons, cut into wedges
1. In a small pot over medium-high heat, combine 1 tablespoon of butter and the garlic for the garlic sauce. Sauté the garlic for 1 minute, add the mild barbecue sauce and Virgil’s Dry Rub, and heat to a boil. Remove from the heat, whisk in the remaining butter, and set aside to use as needed.
2. Soak the skewers in water overnight.
3. Peel and devein the shrimp, leaving the tails on. Lay 4 shrimp out on a flat surface. Align them so that they are coiled with the tails on the same side, facing in the same direction.
4. Slide a skewer through the shrimp. Run another skewer through the shrimp, parallel to the first and about 1/2 inch apart. (This will prevent the shrimp from spinning on a skewer.) Repeat this process until all of the shrimp are skewered.
5. Brush one side of the shrimp on the skewers with olive oil, then dust with the dry rub. Flip the skewers over the repeat the process.
6. Place the seasoned skewered shrimp in a container, cover, and refrigerate overnight.
7. Preheat the grill to high heat.
8. Reduce to medium heat and position the skewers over direct heat. Grill for 2 minutes, then flip and grill for 1 to 2 minutes more.
9. Remove the skewers from the grill and brush each with 2 tablespoons of the garlic sauce. Serve with lemon wedges.
Virgil’s Dry Rub
Makes 5 to 51/2 cups
21/2 cups sweet paprika
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup Texas-style chili powder
1/2 cup minced onion
1/2 cup granulated garlic
1/4 cup dried parsley flakes
6 tablespoons kosher salt
Combine all of the ingredients in a medium bowl and whisk together until completely incorporated. Transfer to a covered bowl with a tight-fitting lid. Store in a cool, dry place.
Neal Corman, “Virgil’s Barbecue Road Trip Cookbook”
