Did you know that shrimp come in more than 300 variety? While there may be a general understanding of the types of shrimp being sold in the supermarket as cooked or raw, there are more labels that can be added to shrimp. However, these names are not specie, but are instead just synonyms. For instance prawn and scampi are synonyms for shrimp while gulf shrimp only indicates where the shrimp originated.

Prawns

Now, what is the distinction between a prawn and a shrimp? None, a prawn is a shrimp and vice versa. Some areas and even some countries call them prawns, while others refer to them shrimp. Some places use the word prawn to describe a really large shrimp. Other regions simply refer to them as large shrimp.

Scampi

This is another tricky term. The waters off Italy are home to a crustacean called scampi, and in Italian the word is actually one word for shrimp. But the dish we call shrimp scampi, refers to any type of shrimp cooked with garlic and butter or olive oil.

Enthusiastic fishing has made these crustaceans rare today and what is often caught as scampi are actually another type of shrimp called a Norwegian shrimp, or even a Dublin Bay prawn. True scampi are actually not even technically shrimp, since they have huge front pincers, making them lobsters.

So, really there are two main classifications of shrimp: freshwater shrimp and saltwater shrimp. The freshwater kinds of shrimp grow distinctively large and are usually treated like lobsters, that is, they are shipped live, and cooked like lobsters. Saltwater shrimp sub classify into cold water or warm water types depending on where they live.

Now that you know a bit about shrimp, it is time to take a look at a tasty way to cook it. Grilling shrimp is one of the easiest ways of cooking shrimp and ensures a tasty meal for you and your family.

Grilled Shrimp Recipe

Ingredients

2 lb. Fresh or frozen jumbo shrimp, shelled and deveined

1/2 cup olive oil

1/2 cup finely chopped onion

1/2 cup dry white wine

1/4 cup lemon juice

1/4 cup finely chopped parsley

1 tbs Worcestershire

1 tbsp dill weed

1/2 tsp salt

Directions

1.Thaw shrimp if frozen

2.Combine following 8 ingredients

3.Put shrimp in a plastic bag; set in a deep bowl

4.Pour marinade over shrimp, close bag

5.Marinate for 3 to 4 hours

6.Drain shrimp, reserve marinade

7.Put shrimp on skewers

8.Grill over hot coals for 10 minutes, turning and brushing with reserved marinade

9.When shrimp turns opaque, they are done.