Best Air Fryer Prawns Recipe (Ready in 13 Minutes)

Look who's craving some delicious air fryer prawns! You've come to the right place, my friend, because I'm about to drop some serious knowledge bombs on how to make the tastiest prawns in air fryer.

Now, I know what you're thinking. "Air fried prawns? Is that even a thing?" Oh, it's definitely a thing, and it's a game-changer. Not only does the air fryer give your prawns that crispy texture that we all love, but it also cuts down on the oil and calories. So, you can indulge in your favorite seafood dish during busy weeknights without feeling guilty about it.

But wait, there's more! This air fryer shrimp recipe is also super easy and quick. You don't have to fuss around with pans and stoves and all that jazz. Just pop those little crustaceans into the air fryer basket, add some seasoning, and let the machine work its magic. In no time, you'll have a plate of succulent, perfectly cooked and juicy shrimp in air fryer.

So, whether you're a seafood aficionado or just looking for a tasty and healthy meal option, air fryer prawns are the way to go for an easy dinner. Let's get air fryin'!

Jump to:

• Ingredients
• How to Make Air Fryer Prawns
• Top Tips for Success
• Substitutions
• Variations
• Equipment
• Storage
• Best Air Fryer Prawns Recipe - FAQ
• Related
• Pairing
• Air Fryer Prawns

Ingredients

Tiger prawns (16-20 bag)

Potato starch

Turmeric

Black pepper 

Salt

Spicy Mayo Sauce

Kewpie mayo

Sriracha

Honey

See recipe card for quantities.

How to Make Air Fryer Prawns

• PRAWNS: Remove the shell and devein the prawns. 
• In a large bowl, combine the potato starch, turmeric, black pepper, and salt. Mix well. 
• Add the prawns to the bowl and lightly coat it. Remove excess coating and set aside.
  
• AIR FRY: Preheat the air fryer to 350 degrees. 
• Spray the bottom of the pan with a little bit of oil. 
• Arrange the prawns in the air fryer basket. Space them out. Do not overcrowd. Spray the top of the prawns with a little bit more oil. 
• Air fry at 350 degrees for 8 minutes, turning them halfway so both sides get crispy.
  
• SPICY MAYO SAUCE: In a bowl, combine the sauce ingredients and mix well. That's it. 
• Serve this dish with rice, avocado, and a salad, and drizzle spicy mayo on top! 

Top Tips for Success

Here are some top cooking tips to keep in mind when making air fryer prawns:

1. Preheat your air fryer: Just like with an oven, it's important to preheat your air fryer before cooking. This helps ensure that your prawns cook evenly and get crispy on the outside.
   
2. Don't overcrowd the basket: Make sure to cook your prawns in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Overcrowding the basket can prevent the prawns from cooking evenly and getting crispy.
   
3. Spray or brush with oil: To end up with crispy prawns in the air fryer, it's important to spray them with cooking oil or brush them with a little bit of melted butter before cooking.
   
4. Flip halfway through cooking: To ensure that both sides of the prawns get crispy, flip them over halfway through cooking. This also helps ensure that the prawns cook evenly.
   
5. Check for doneness: To make sure your prawns are fully cooked, use a meat thermometer to check that the internal temperature has reached 145°F (63°C). The prawns should be pink and opaque throughout.
   
6. Season after cooking: While you can season the prawns before cooking, it's a good idea to wait until after they come out of the air fryer to add any additional seasoning. This helps ensure that the seasoning doesn't burn during cooking. Hence the spicy mayo at the end.
   
7. Serve immediately: For best results, serve the prawns immediately after cooking while they are still warm and crispy.

Following these tips can help you make delicious and perfectly cooked air fryer prawns every time!

Substitutions

• Prawns - you can use other types of fresh shrimp or prawns, such as jumbo shrimp, rock shrimp, or white shrimp. You can also try using other types of seafood, like scallops or calamari.
  
• Potato Starch - If you don't have potato starch, you can use cornstarch or tapioca starch instead. These starches are great for coating the prawns and making them crispy in the air fryer.
  
• Spices - Turmeric and black pepper give the prawns a nice flavor and color, but you can also use other spices and herbs to season the prawns. Some good options include garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, cumin, chili powder, cayenne pepper, parsley, and Italian seasoning.
  
• Spicy Mayo Sauce
  • Instead of Kewpie mayo, you can use regular mayonnaise or a homemade aioli. If you want to make it spicy, you can add some chili flakes or hot sauce to the mayo.
    
  • Sriracha is a great condiment to use with air fryer prawns, but if you don't like spicy food, you can use sweet chili sauce or teriyaki sauce instead.
    
  • Honey is a great sweetener to balance out the spiciness of the sauce, but you can also use maple syrup or brown sugar. If you prefer a tangy sauce, you can add some lemon juice or rice vinegar to the mix.

Remember to adjust the amounts of these ingredients based on your personal taste preferences and the size of the shrimp you are cooking. Have fun experimenting with different flavors and enjoy your air fryer prawns!

Variations

This air-fried shrimp recipe is easy. But you can always customize the recipe to your liking by adding different spices, sauces, or seasonings. Here are some simple air fryer recipes to get you started:

1. Spicy Thai-style prawns: Instead of Kewpie mayo and honey, mix together some Thai red curry paste, coconut milk, and lime juice to make a spicy and creamy coconut shrimp. Coat the prawns with potato starch, turmeric, black pepper, and salt, then air fry until crispy. Serve the prawns with the spicy sauce and some chopped cilantro on top.
   
2. Honey mustard prawns: Mix together some honey, Dijon mustard, and a splash of apple cider vinegar to make a sweet and tangy sauce. Coat the prawns with potato starch, turmeric, black pepper, and salt, then air fry until crispy. Serve the prawns with the honey mustard sauce and some lemon wedges on the side.
   
3. Garlic butter prawns: Melt some butter and minced garlic together, then coat the prawns with the mixture. Season the prawns with salt and black pepper, then air fry until golden brown. Serve the prawns with some chopped parsley and lemon wedges on the side.
   
4. Panko-crusted prawns: Instead of using potato starch, coat the prawns with panko breadcrumbs mixed with some turmeric and black pepper. Dip the prawns in beaten egg, then coat them in the bread crumbs mixture. Air fry until crispy and golden brown, then serve with your favorite dipping sauce.

Equipment

• Air Fryer
• Mixing bowls
• Measuring spoons

Storage

To store leftover air fryer prawns, let them cool completely to room temperature and then transfer them to an airtight container. Store the container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

To reheat the prawns, you can use the air fryer again to help restore their crispy texture. Simply preheat the air fryer to 350°F (180°C), arrange the prawns in a single layer in the basket, and air fry for 3-5 minutes or until they are heated through and crispy.

Alternatively, you can reheat the prawns in the oven or microwave. To reheat in the oven, preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C), arrange the prawns on a baking sheet, and bake for 5-10 minutes or until heated through. To reheat in the microwave, arrange the prawns on a microwave-safe plate and heat for 30 seconds to 1 minute or until heated through.

** Remember that reheated prawns may not be as crispy as freshly cooked prawns, but they should still be delicious and flavorful.

Best Air Fryer Prawns Recipe - FAQ

Related

Pairing