Treating your taste buds to an unmatched thrill of delicious seafood is a worthy experience. Prawns are a treasured seafood in kitchens all over the world thanks to their delicate sweetness, sensitive texture, and capacity to absorb a variety of flavours.
There are diverse prawn recipes promising a symphony of flavours that will fascinate even the most discriminating palate. Here are 5 amazing prawn recipes for you to explore.
How to Cook Prawns
Prawns can be prepared in numerous ways, each bringing out their unique flavours and textures. Here are some popular cooking methods for prawns:
● Sautéing: Sautéing prawns in a pan with a bit of oil or butter is a quick and simple way to cook them. Season with salt, pepper, and any desired herbs or spices.
● Grilling: Marinate prawns in your favourite marinade or seasonings, then grill them on a barbecue or stovetop grill pan until they're pink and slightly charred.
● Frying: Breaded or coated prawns can be deep-fried or shallow-fried until crispy and golden brown. This method is used for dishes like prawn tempura.
● Boiling: Bring a pot of water to a boil and briefly cook prawns until they turn pink and opaque, usually just a few minutes. Great for dishes like prawn cocktails.
● Steaming: Steam prawns with aromatics like garlic, ginger, and herbs until they're cooked through and tender. This method retains its delicate flavour.
● Stir-Frying: Quickly cook prawns with vegetables in a hot wok or skillet. Use a flavorful sauce, such as soy sauce, oyster sauce, or teriyaki sauce.
● Baking: Arrange prawns on a baking sheet, season with herbs and spices, and bake in the oven until they're pink and cooked through.
Prawn Recipes
1. How to make Thai Prawn Curry
Thai prawn curry, also known as "Tom Yum Goong" or "Gaeng Kung," is a popular and flavorful dish that combines the delicate sweetness of prawns with the aromatic spices and herbs of Thai cuisine. Here's a basic recipe for making Thai prawn curry:
Ingredients
For the curry paste:
● 2-3 shallots, chopped
● 3-4 cloves garlic, minced
● 1-2 red chili peppers, chopped (adjust for spiciness)
● 1 lemongrass stalk, sliced (use only the bottom part)
● 1 thumb-sized piece of galangal or ginger, sliced
● 1 teaspoon shrimp paste (optional)
● 1 teaspoon ground coriander
● 1 teaspoon ground cumin
● Zest of 1 lime
● Salt
For the curry:
● 1 can (14 oz) coconut milk
● 1 cup seafood or vegetable broth
● 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
● 1 teaspoon brown sugar or palm sugar
● 2 kaffir lime leaves, torn
● 1-2 tablespoons fish sauce (adjust to taste)
● 1 cup mixed vegetables (such as bell peppers, snap peas, and mushrooms)
● 1 pound (450g) large prawns, peeled and deveined
● Fresh cilantro leaves for garnish
● Lime wedges for serving
● Cooked jasmine rice
Instructions
In a mortar and pestle or a food processor, grind together shallots, garlic, red chili peppers, lemongrass, galangal (or ginger), shrimp paste (if using), ground coriander, ground cumin, lime zest, and a pinch of salt. Grind until you have a smooth paste.
In a large pan or wok, heat the vegetable oil over medium heat. Add the curry paste and cook for a couple of minutes until fragrant.
Pour in the coconut milk and seafood or vegetable broth. Stir well to combine with the curry paste.
Add brown sugar, torn kaffir lime leaves, and fish sauce. Taste and adjust the seasoning as needed. The flavors should be balanced between salty, sweet, and tangy.
Add the mixed vegetables to the curry and let them cook for a few minutes until slightly softened.
Add the peeled and deveined prawns to the curry. Cook until the prawns turn pink and opaque. Be careful not to overcook them, as they will become tough.
Once the prawns are cooked, remove the curry from the heat. Serve the Thai prawn curry over cooked jasmine rice.
Garnish the curry with fresh cilantro leaves and serve with lime wedges on the side. Squeeze lime juice over the curry before eating for an extra burst of flavor.
2. How to make Prawn Linguine
Prawn linguine is a delightful pasta dish that combines succulent prawns with linguine noodles and a flavorful sauce. Here's a recipe to make prawn linguine:
Ingredients
● 8 ounces (225g) linguine pasta
● 1 pound (450g) large prawns, peeled and deveined
● 2 tablespoons olive oil
● 3 cloves garlic, minced
● 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
● 1/4 cup dry white wine (optional)
● 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
● 1/4 cup chicken or vegetable broth
● 1/4 cup heavy cream
● Juice of 1 lemon
● Salt and pepper to taste
● Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish
Instructions
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the linguine and cook according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the prawns and cook for about 2-3 minutes on each side until they turn pink and opaque. Remove the prawns from the skillet and set them aside.
In the same skillet, add the remaining tablespoon of olive oil. Add the minced garlic and red pepper flakes. Sauté for about 1 minute until the garlic is fragrant.
If using white wine, pour it into the skillet to deglaze the pan. Allow it to simmer for a minute or two to reduce slightly.
Add the halved cherry tomatoes to the skillet and sauté for a few minutes until they start to soften.
Pour in the chicken or vegetable broth and heavy cream. Let the mixture simmer for a couple of minutes to combine and thicken slightly. Squeeze in the juice of one lemon and stir to incorporate the flavors.
Return the cooked prawns to the skillet and stir them into the sauce.
Add the cooked linguine to the skillet. Use tongs to toss the linguine and prawns in the sauce until everything is well coated and heated through.
Taste the dish and season with salt and pepper as needed. Sprinkle chopped fresh parsley over the linguine for added freshness and color.
Divide the prawn linguine among serving plates. Drizzle with a bit of olive oil if desired. Serve immediately.
3. How to make Prawn Stir-fry
Prawn stir-fry is a quick and flavorful dish that combines succulent prawns with a variety of vegetables and aromatic sauces. Here's a simple recipe for making prawn stir-fry:
Ingredients
For the stir-fry:
● 1 pound (450g) large prawns, peeled and deveined
● Assorted vegetables (bell peppers, broccoli, carrots, snap peas, etc.), sliced
● 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
● Salt and pepper
For the sauce:
● 3 tablespoons soy sauce
● 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
● 1 tablespoon hoisin sauce
● 1 teaspoon sesame oil
● 1 teaspoon cornstarch
● 1/4 cup chicken or vegetable broth
For serving:
● Cooked rice or noodles
Optional garnishes:
● Sliced green onions
● Sesame seeds
● Red pepper flakes
Instructions
In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, oyster sauce, hoisin sauce, sesame oil, cornstarch, and chicken or vegetable broth. Set the sauce aside.
Heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil in a wok or large skillet over medium-high heat.
Add the prawns to the wok and stir-fry for about 2-3 minutes until they turn pink and opaque. Remove the prawns from the wok and set them aside.
In the same wok, add another tablespoon of vegetable oil if needed. Add the sliced vegetables and stir-fry for a few minutes until they start to soften but remain slightly crisp.
Return the cooked prawns to the wok with the vegetables.
Pour the prepared sauce over the prawns and vegetables. Stir-fry for another 1-2 minutes to coat everything evenly with the sauce and heat through.
Taste the stir-fry and adjust the seasoning if needed with a pinch of salt, pepper, or additional sauces to your preference.
Serve the prawn stir-fry over cooked rice or noodles.
Sprinkle sliced green onions, sesame seeds, and red pepper flakes over the stir-fry for extra flavor and visual appeal.
4. How to make Prawn Risotto
Prawn risotto is a creamy and flavorful dish that combines the delicate sweetness of prawns with the rich and comforting texture of risotto. Here's a recipe to make prawn risotto:
Ingredients
● 1 cup Arborio rice
● 1/2 pound (225g) large prawns, peeled and deveined
● 4 cups chicken or vegetable broth
● 1/2 cup dry white wine
● 1 small onion, finely chopped
● 2 cloves garlic, minced
● 2 tablespoons butter
● 2 tablespoons olive oil
● 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
● Salt and pepper to taste
● Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish
● Lemon wedges for serving
Instructions
In a saucepan, heat the chicken or vegetable broth over low heat. Keep it warm while you prepare the risotto.
In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the prawns and cook for about 2-3 minutes on each side until they turn pink and opaque. Remove the prawns from the skillet and set them aside.
In the same skillet, add the remaining tablespoon of olive oil. Add the chopped onion and sauté until it becomes translucent. Add the minced garlic and sauté for another minute until fragrant.
Add the Arborio rice to the skillet and sauté for a couple of minutes, stirring frequently, until the rice is lightly toasted and coated with the oil.
Pour in the dry white wine and stir until the wine is mostly absorbed by the rice.
Begin adding the warm broth to the rice, one ladleful at a time. Stir the rice constantly and allow the liquid to be absorbed before adding more broth. Continue this process until the rice is cooked al dente and has a creamy consistency. This usually takes about 18-20 minutes.
About halfway through cooking the risotto, add the cooked prawns back to the skillet. Stir them into the rice to heat through.
Once the rice is cooked to your desired consistency, remove the skillet from heat. Stir in the butter and grated Parmesan cheese until they melt into the risotto and create a creamy texture.
Taste the risotto and season with salt and pepper as needed. Stir in chopped fresh parsley for added flavor and color.
5. How to make Creamy Prawn Pasta
Creamy prawn pasta is a comforting and indulgent dish that combines the sweetness of prawns with a rich and creamy sauce. Here's a recipe to make creamy prawn pasta:
Ingredients
● 8 ounces (225g) pasta (linguine, fettuccine, or your choice)
● 1/2 pound (225g) large prawns, peeled and deveined
● 2 tablespoons butter
● 2 tablespoons olive oil
● 3 cloves garlic, minced
● 1/2 cup heavy cream
● 1/2 cup chicken or vegetable broth
● 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
● Salt and pepper to taste
● Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish
● Red pepper flakes (optional)
● Lemon wedges for serving
Instructions
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of butter and 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the prawns and cook for about 2-3 minutes on each side until they turn pink and opaque. Remove the prawns from the skillet and set them aside.
In the same skillet, add the remaining tablespoon of butter and olive oil. Add the minced garlic and sauté for about a minute until fragrant.
Pour in the heavy cream and chicken or vegetable broth. Let the mixture simmer for a couple of minutes to combine and thicken slightly.
Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until it melts into the sauce and creates a creamy texture.
Return the cooked prawns to the skillet and stir them into the sauce. Add the cooked pasta to the skillet as well.
Use tongs to toss the prawns, pasta, and sauce together until everything is well coated and heated through.
Taste the dish and season with salt and pepper as needed. Sprinkle chopped fresh parsley and red pepper flakes (if using) over the pasta for added flavor and color.
Divide the creamy prawn pasta among serving plates. Serve with lemon wedges on the side for squeezing over the dish.
Would you be trying any of these recipes? Let us know in the comments.
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