Happy Fourth of July Grilled Shrimp with Firecracker Sauce (plus a fireworks food display)

Grilled Shrimp with Firecracker Sauce
Peggy Lampman | Contributor

Today I'm posting a recipe I made last Fourth of July for Grilled Shrimp with Firecracker Sauce.

Fried Broccoli
Peggy Lampman | Contributor
I love grilling (and recently oven-roasting) shrimp with the shell on. The shell adds a great deal of flavor to the crustacean. The shell also protects the flesh, yielding a plumper, juicier and more succulent bite. Just remember to have plenty of napkins or damp cloths on hand.

Grilled Calamari Tentacles
Peggy Lampman | Contributor
When grilling shrimp, I strongly recommend purchasing the biggest crustacean your purse will allow; small shrimp fall easily through the grates and dry out quickly.

Dandelion-Lollypop
Peggy Lampman | Contributor
I took these images last year at a lovely display of pyrotechnical brilliance, and some of the images reminded me of food. (Yes, lollypops are food — ask any kid on the street.)
Yield: 16-20 jumbo shrimp and dipping sauce

Thaw time (if using frozen shrimp): 24 hours

Active time: 35 minutes (including time to devein shrimp)

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Chocolate-Cherry Bomb Ice Cream with Vanilla Bites
Peggy Lampman | Contributor
Ingredients
1/2 cup tomato ketchup

1/4 cup hoisin sauce*

2 teaspoons-2 tablespoons chili sauce (paste) with garlic*

1 1/2 teaspoons grated ginger

1 tablespoon chopped cilantro

2 pounds (16-20) jumbo frozen, raw shrimp (prawns), with shell on

1/4 cup olive oil
*Flavor-packed condiments found in the Asian section of most grocery stores and in Asian markets.
Directions
1. To make Firecracker Sauce, combine ketchup, hoisin sauce and 2 teaspoons chili paste with garlic, ginger and cilantro. Add additional chili paste to taste. (May be made up to 48 hours in advance.)
2. Prepare a gas or charcoal fire to high heat. Toss shrimp, coating both sides, with olive oil. On a well-oiled grill grate, grill shrimp 2-3 minutes on each side or until shrimp are pink, opaque and just cooked through. Do not overcook the shrimp; they will continue to cook when removed from the heat. Serve shrimp, when cool enough to peel, with Firecracker Sauce.