Ingredients
- 1 cup butter
- ½ cup minced garlic
- 1 small red onion, chopped
- 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning
- 1 tablespoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 pound uncooked shrimp, peeled and cut into pieces
- 1 ½ (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
- 1 teaspoon liquid smoke flavoring
- ½ cup chopped pecans
- 1 bunch fresh parsley, chopped
Why You'll Want This Again
Helpful Chef Tips
- Chill the mixture well before shaping to make it easier to handle.
- Add finely chopped herbs like dill or chives for extra freshness.
Step 1
Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Once it’s melted, add the garlic, onion, Cajun seasoning, cayenne pepper, and red pepper flakes. Cook everything together, stirring occasionally, until the onion softens and becomes translucent—this usually takes about 5 minutes. Next, toss in the shrimp and cook them until they turn bright pink and are no longer translucent in the center, about another 5 minutes. Drain any extra grease and set the shrimp aside to cool.
Step 2
In a big bowl, mix the cream cheese, liquid smoke, and lemon juice until smooth. Fold in the cooked shrimp along with half of the pecans, making sure everything is well combined. Shape this mixture into a ball, then wrap it in plastic wrap and pop it into the fridge for about 30 minutes to firm up a bit.
Step 3
While the cheese ball chills, mix the parsley with the remaining pecans in a small bowl. When the cheese ball is ready, roll it in the pecan and parsley mixture until it’s fully coated. Wrap it up again and refrigerate for at least 2 hours so it can set completely.
