When it comes to satisfying and quick meals, creamy garlic prawns will never go out of style. This dish combines succulent prawns and a garlicky, rich cream sauce to create something special. The creamy garlic prawns will impress whether you serve them with rice, pasta or mashed potatoes. This recipe is easy enough to make for a weeknight meal, yet elegant enough to serve guests.
Ingredients
You will need the following ingredients to make four servings of creamy garlic prawns:
- 500g prawns raw (peeled, deveined with tails optional).
- Use 2 tablespoons of olive oil or butter
- 4 cloves of garlic, minced finely
- Finely chop 1 small onion (optional to add depth).
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 cup white wine or chicken stock
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Lemon juice, 1 tablespoon
- Taste salt and pepper
- Fresh parsley chopped (for garnish).
- Serve crusty bread, pasta, rice or other grains
Method
1. Prepare the prawns by first cleaning and deveining them. If frozen, make sure they have thawed completely and are dried with paper towels. Prawns that are dry sear better, and the excess liquid will not water down the sauce.
2. Cooking the Prawns: Heat the butter or olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the prawns to a pan in one layer. Season with salt and pepper and cook them for 1-2 minutes per side, until they turn pink and are slightly golden. To avoid overcooking, remove them from the pan.
3. Reduce heat in the same pan to medium. If needed, add a little more butter or oil and sauté the onion for 2-3 minutes. Add the garlic mince and cook it for 30 seconds to a minute until fragrant. Take care not to burn your garlic.
4. Pour the white wine or chicken stock into the pan and scrape any brown bits. Allow it to simmer for one minute, reduce the heat, and then add the cream that has thickened. Continue to stir the ingredients.
5. Pour a richer flavour, add the parmesan and stir until it melts and is well incorporated. The cheese thickens the sauce, and gives it a salty-savoury depth. Lemon juice will balance out the richness of the sauce with some acidity.
6. Finishing the dish: Add the prawns back to the sauce, and gently simmer for 2 to 3 minutes. This is just long enough to warm them up and cover them with the creamy mixture. If necessary, add more lemon juice, salt or pepper to the dish.
7. Sprinkle chopped parsley on top to give it a vibrant, fresh finish. Serve the garlicky prawns with a fluffy bed of rice, pasta or mashed potatoes.
How to make the perfect creamy garlic prawns
- For the best taste and texture, use fresh prawns. Frozen prawns are fine as long they’re thawed properly.
- Do not overcook prawns. The prawns should be opaque and pink, but no more. Too much heat will make them rubbery.
- The key to a good sauce is balance. If it becomes too thick add a little extra cream or stock. A squeeze of lemon can help cut through creaminess if the sauce is too rich.
- Add some spice If you enjoy heat, a little chilli or hot sauce will do the trick.
Variations
- For colour and nutrition, add vegetables like baby spinach, cherry tomatos, or mushrooms.
- Replace the protein. The sauce is delicious with chicken, scallops or tofu.
- Lighten the sauce using half milk and half cream, but it may result in a thinner consistency.
Final Thoughts
The dish of garlic prawns is a delicious combination of simplicity and indulgence. This is a recipe that you can adapt to your tastes and always deliver on flavour. You can make a gourmet meal with just one pan and some simple ingredients in less than 30 minutes. This recipe is perfect for a dinner party, or a quiet night at home.