Steak and shrimp is one of my favorite meals – simple and classic in a supper-clubby kind of way. There’s very little prep involved and everything cooks fast on a hot grill, so just throw in an obligatory salad or baked potato and you’ve got a really nice dinner cheap and fast.
Spicy Asian Shrimp
I’m working on a base sauce for Kung Pao recipes, and these fiery shrimp are part of that experiment.
1 pound raw large shrimp, pealed and deveined
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon whole Sichuan peppercorns
1 teaspoon chili paste with garlic
1 tablespoon black bean chili sauce
1 tablespoon Hoisin sauce
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons Shaoxing rice wine or dry sherry
4 bamboo skewers
Soak the skewers in water for at least 30 minutes. While the skewers are soaking, combine the salt and peppercorns in a food processor and give them a whirl until the peppercorns break apart and combine with the salt. Add the chili paste, black bean sauce, Hoisin sauce, soy sauce, brown sugar, vinegar, and wine. Pulse to combine.
Put the shrimp in a resealable bag and pour in the marinade. Toss to coat, then squeeze the air out, seal, and stash in the fridge while you get the grill set up.
Set your grill up for direct cook at a roaring 700°+F. While the grill is heating up, season the steak. For this nice, thick ribeye I used just a little kosher salt and some fresh-ground black pepper. Now is also the time to thread the shrimp onto the skewers.
When the charcoal looks like a pool of lava, toss the steak on for 90 seconds of undisturbed searing. Flip it, and let it go another 90 seconds on other other side. Flip again and check the internal temperature. I was looking for a nice medium-rare – 130°F with a hint of red at the center. It only took another 30 seconds a side to get there.
If the steak is looking good and you are getting close to your desired degree of doneness, flip the steak one more time and check again. If the steak is getting too blackened, but isn’t done yet, pull the steak from the grill while you reduce the heat (on the Big Green Egg I just shut the lower vent down). When the heat has dropped into the 500°F range, return the steak for another minute or so a side and check again.
Move the steak to a warm plate, cover with another plate, and let it rest while you grill the shrimp.
Cook the shrimp for about 2 minutes a side – just until they start to curl up and turn pink.
The Verdict: 
The ribeye was perfect with a nice char on the outside and a tender, medium-rare interior. The shrimp really stole the show – sweet and spicy with a great depth of flavor. Black bean sauce can be tough to find, but it’s what makes the dish. I had to turn to Amazon to find a gluten-free version, but you can find jars of the non-GF at your friendly, local Asian market.
The Nutrition
The ribeye is 2 Weight Watcher’s points per ounce. The shrimp are only 1/2 a point per ounce. We split the steak and had about 6 shrimp a piece. Add a small salad and the whole meal was only about 12 points.
ONE YEAR AGO – The Best French Onion Soup
TWO YEARS AGO – Pork in Adobo
This has been in the back of my mind for a Valentines evening meal. I’ll probably just do shrimp cocktail however. I have seen that black bean sauce and didn’t know what to do with it, so never picked it up. Great looking meal.
Surf and turf always is good. Great flavor profile that you’ve built up on that shrimp.
Dave, while this is offtopic; a while back you posted your Honey Hog BBQ sauce of the BGE forum. I made that sauce and brought it to a party as a condiment for some wings my friend made. Over the weekend, my buddy made ribs for the Super Bowl and of course he used your recipe for his BBQ sauce. I asked him how it went. He said his ribs turned out OK, but the BBQ sauce was money. Really good stuff and I have your blog on my favorites. Keep up the great insightful posts.
Thanks! I appreciate the good words. I do like that Honey Hog sauce and am glad you guys do to. Got to make another batch up here soon. Thanks again and happy grilling!