The girls and I got together again. We meet every few months to host a beautiful little party, take plenty of photos, and share the details. Follow #friendswhofete for more.
This gathering was a bridal shower in honor of Aida’s elopement — an effortlessly elegant celebration. We met at my friend Moana’s studio, sipped champagne cocktails, and nibbled on small bites. Everything felt light, festive, and perfectly suited for summer entertaining. Over the next few days I’ll be sharing photos, recipes, and tips from the party for anyone planning a bridal or baby shower this season.
One of my contributions was these spicy papaya lime shrimp skewers. I marinated the shrimp ahead of time, threaded them with papaya, and grilled them just before serving. They’re easy to prepare in advance, travel well, and make excellent appetizing bites for a party.
Let’s talk shrimp
I prefer very fresh local shrimp with heads and shells left on for maximum flavor, but this recipe works wonderfully with headless, peeled, and deveined shrimp as well. Use what’s available to you. The key is a bright, citrus-forward marinade: lots of lime zest and juice, a touch of sugar to balance the acid, olive oil, and a bit of chili powder for warmth. This same marinade also makes an excellent dipping sauce for spring rolls or potstickers if you want a versatile flavor boost.
For appetizer-sized skewers, thread one shrimp between two papaya wedges. If you’re serving these as a main course, add more shrimp per skewer. Marinating time is short and effective — an hour in the refrigerator infuses the shrimp with lime and chili flavor without overpowering the delicate seafood.
Let’s talk papaya
Choose a ripe, sweet papaya that still holds its shape. If the fruit is overly soft or starting to break down it will fall apart when skewered. You want papaya that yields slightly to pressure but remains firm enough for cutting and threading.
Peel the papaya, halve it, scoop out the seeds (they look peppery and are edible if you’re curious), then cut into wedges that are easy to skewer. A sharp peeler or y-peeler speeds the process, but any peeler will do. Aim for uniform pieces so each skewer cooks evenly.
A light finishing sprinkle of a chile-flavored finishing salt adds a subtle heat and brightens the flavors, but it’s optional. Serve the skewers with lime wedges so guests can add extra citrus if they like. These skewers are equally lovely served warm from the grill or at room temperature, making them ideal for buffet-style entertaining or passed hors d’oeuvres.
Spicy Papaya Lime Shrimp Skewers
Ingredients
- 24 bamboo or metal skewers
- 2 tablespoons lime zest
- 6 tablespoons lime juice
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon ground California chili powder (or preferred chili powder)
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 pound shrimp (head-on or headless, shells on or off as you prefer)
- 2 pounds ripe papaya, peeled, seeded and cut into wedges
- Habanero or chile finishing salt, for garnish (optional)
- Lime wedges, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- If using bamboo or wooden skewers, soak them in water for at least 30 minutes to prevent burning on the grill.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together lime zest, lime juice, sugar, olive oil, chili powder, and salt until the sugar dissolves.
- Rinse shrimp and, if desired, peel and devein. Toss the shrimp in the marinade, cover, and refrigerate for about an hour.
- Preheat your grill to medium-high heat.
- Drain the skewers if soaked. Thread the shrimp and papaya onto skewers—one shrimp between two papaya pieces for bite-sized appetizers, or more shrimp for larger portions. Reserve any leftover marinade for brushing.
- Grill the skewers, brushing occasionally with the reserved marinade, until the shrimp turn pink and are cooked through. Cooking time will vary with grill temperature but typically takes around 6–10 minutes.
- Finish with a light sprinkle of chile or habanero salt if using, and serve with lime wedges.
One More Thing
Did you try this recipe? I’d love to see your version. Leave a comment and share a photo on Instagram—tag @holajalapeno so I can find your beautiful creations. If you have any questions or run into issues, message me on Instagram and I’ll help you troubleshoot.
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Thanks to the photographers and friends who helped make the shower so lovely, and to the producers who supplied fresh fruit for the event. These skewers were a favorite at the party: fresh, bright, and perfectly suited to warm-weather entertaining.