Home / Baja Kitchen / Camarones Zarandeados

Camarones Zarandeados

A traditional Baja California dish — Camarones Zarandeados are butterflied shrimp marinated in a smoky chile-garlic adobo and grilled on a wire rack, or zaranda, over live coals.

⏱ 25 minPrep time
🔥 10 minCook time
🍽 4Servings
🏷 Baja KitchenCategory
☆☆☆☆☆No ratings yet
Camarones Zarandeados - Baja cuisine

A traditional Baja California dish — Camarones Zarandeados are butterflied shrimp marinated in a smoky chile-garlic adobo and grilled on a wire rack, or zaranda, over live coals. The open fire chars the marinade into a sticky, savory glaze that Baja and Sonora cooks have perfected. They are served straight off the grill with lime, salsa, and tortillas — pure coastal barbecue.

Step by stepInstructions

  1. Toast the guajillo chiles in a dry skillet until fragrant, about thirty seconds per side, then soak them in hot water for ten minutes.
  2. Blend the softened chiles with the garlic, lime juice, olive oil, Worcestershire, oregano, cumin, salt, and pepper into a smooth adobo.
  3. Toss the butterflied shrimp in the adobo and marinate for thirty minutes at room temperature or up to two hours chilled.
  4. Light a hot charcoal or gas grill and oil a wire rack or the grill grate well.
  5. Grill the shrimp for two to three minutes per side, until charred at the edges and just opaque through.
  6. Serve immediately with lime wedges, salsa, and warm tortillas.

💡 Chef tips & storage

Butterflying the shrimp lets the adobo penetrate and keeps them from curling on the grill. Keep the heat honest — a true zarandeado should have a gentle, smoky warmth, not a burn.

Rate this recipe

☆☆☆☆☆No ratings yet
Sign in to rate this recipe.

Recipe details

Prep25 min
Cook10 min
Servings4
CategoryBaja Kitchen
PublishedAugust 17, 2026
Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes

Hi, I'm Emily 🧡

Hi, I'm Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes. Simple, tested comfort food for real weeknights, written down the way grandma would. Pull up a chair. More about me →