JALAPENO-STUFFED BACON-WRAPPED SHRIMP WITH CHERRY COLA BARBECUE SAUCE

Jalapeno-Stuffed Bacon-Wrapped Shrimp with Cherry Cola Barbecue Sauce image

Provided by Food Network

Time 55m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 15

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2 tablespoons bacon grease or vegetable oil
1 cup finely diced red onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon mustard powder
Pinch freshly ground black pepper
2 cups cherry cola
1/2 cup red wine vinegar
1 cup ketchup
16 extra-large shrimp (about 12 ounces), peeled and deveined, tails on
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 jalapeno, stemmed and seeded, cut lengthwise into 16 thin strips
8 slices center-cut bacon, halved crosswise

Steps:

For the barbecue sauce: Heat the bacon grease in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the red onions, and sweat until translucent. Add the garlic; cook an additional minute. Add the garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, mustard powder and black pepper, and toast the spices until fragrant and deep maroon in color, 1 minute. Whisk in the cherry cola, red wine vinegar and ketchup until combined. Bring to a boil and cook until the sauce has reduced to 2 cups and coats the back of a spoon, about 10 minutes. Remove from the heat, let cool slightly, and then puree in a blender until smooth. (Extra sauce can be kept refrigerated up to 1 week.)
For the shrimp: Preheat a cast-iron skillet or griddle over medium heat.
Sprinkle the shrimp with salt and pepper. Insert a jalapeno slice into the "spine" of each shrimp (where it's been deveined) and then wrap tightly with a half piece of bacon to keep the jalapeno in place. Secure with toothpicks.
Place the shrimp, seam-side-down, in the skillet and cook, turning occasionally, until the bacon is crisp and the shrimp are just cooked through, 5 to 6 minutes.
Serve the shrimp with the barbecue sauce for dipping.