Jerk Shrimp & Avocado Bites #SundaySupper

Spicy shrimp sit atop tortilla chips and guacamole for a quick but fancy appetizer. 

Today the #SundaySupper crew is getting ready for awards shows with fancy finger foods. Now I don’t usually watch the awards shows – I’d rather watch the recaps afterward on who won as well as recaps focused the fashion – but I LOVE entertaining. Any time I have an excuse to make an appetizer – be it a finger food or dip – I jump on it. So when close friends came for dinner a couple of weeks ago, I seized the opportunity to create a new appetizer that would compliment our main meal, tacos.

That meal was going to be simple because there would be 4 children under the age of 5 running around while the adults tried to play a board game. (Anyone else into legacy board games? After finishing Pandemic Legacy, our little group has moved onto Charterstone.) The plan was for me to make a big batch of tacos for the adults, and quesadillas for our picky children.

While taco night doesn’t usually call for appetizers, other than maybe chips, salsa, and guacamole, but that didn’t stop me. In fact, it’s a question I see frequently in some of the cooking/foodie groups I’m in. What’s an good appetizer to serve for taco and/or Mexican night? Usually the answer is chips and dip, or that an appetizer is unnecessary. While I agree, as a hostess, sometimes I want to serve something anyway.

I created these Jerk Shrimp & Avocado Bites to that little something extra. A bite that is a little fancier than chips and dip, but still easy and quick. And fairly light, so that guests don’t fill up on appetizers instead of a meal. These little bites feature both Caribbean flavors in the shrimp seasoning as well as a traditional guacamole that you’d expect to see with tacos.

Recipe Notes: This recipe can be as simple or as complicated as you’d like it to be. I use homemade jerk seasoning (it only takes a few minutes to make from pantry staples) and homemade guacamole (again, super easy, recipe coming Wednesday!), but you can certainly use store-bought seasoning and/or guacamole to speed things up even more. I used store-bought tortilla chips in this recipe, but you can certainly make your own chip or tostada if you’d like.

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Jerk Shrimp & Avocado Bites

Spicy shrimp sit a top tortilla chips and guacamole for a quick but fancy appetizer. 

Course Appetizer

Cuisine Caribbean

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 6 minutes

Total Time 16 minutes

Servings 4

Calories 165 kcal

Author Liz

Ingredients

• 2 Tbs. extra virgin olive oil
• 2-3 Tbs. jerk seasoning
• 12 large shrimp deveined and peeled
• 6 Tbs. guacamole
• 12 tortilla chips

Instructions

1. Heat a heavy, cast-iron skillet over medium heat. When hot, add olive oil.
2. While skillet is heating, coat shrimp with jerk seasoning. Place in hot skillet and sautee for 1-2 minutes per side, until shrimp are cooked through.
3. Place 1/2 Tbs. guacamole on each tortilla chip. Top with a seared shrimp.
4. Serve immediately.

Recipe Notes

I used homemade jerk seasoning in this recipe, although you can certainly use store-bought, if preferred. 

This recipe makes 12 bites, enough for 4-6 as an appetizer.

Calories per serving: 165 calories/served 4; or 55 calories per bite.

A Books n’ Cooks original. 

Don’t forget to check out what other fancy finger foods the #SundaySupper crew have created for you – for awards shows or simply weekend entertaining. 

Fancy Finger Food for Awards Show Parties

Best Meat Finger Food

• Blini with Smoked Salmon by Caroline’s Cooking
• Crab Stuffed Pastry Cups by Our Good Life
• Greek Shrimp Skewers by Jersey Girl Cooks
• Jerk Shrimp & Avocado Bites by Books n’ Cooks (above!)
• Mini Fried Chicken and Waffles by Tara’s Multicultural Table
• Tempura Chicken Nuggets by A Day in the Life on the Farm

Visual Effects in a Veggie Finger Food

• Butternut Squash Squares by Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
• Mushroom Chevre Crostini by A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
• Prosciutto Wrapped Asparagus with Boursin by That Skinny Chick Can Bake
• Stuffed Cheese Puffs by The Freshman Cook
• Vegetarian Stuffed Mushroom Recipe by Sunday Supper Movement

Supporting Role Sweet Finger Food

• Classic Shortbread Cookies by Wild Wild Whisk
• Pistachio Financiers by Pies and Plots

The Sunday Supper Movement is committed to bringing our readers delicious recipes that encourage them to gather and eat together around the family table. Search for your favorite ingredients on our Sunday Supper website. Also check out the Sunday Supper Pinterest boards for plenty more ideas and inspiration.

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