• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Eat With Carmen
menu icon
go to homepage
  • My Recipes
  • About Me
  • Contact Me
  • Shop
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • My Recipes
    • About Me
    • Contact Me
    • Shop
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Mains

    Spanish Garlic Prawns

    Published: Dec 9, 2022 · Modified: May 20, 2023 by Carmen Spillette · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

    Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe

    Enjoy a classic Spanish seafood dish that will tantalize your taste buds with this easy and delicious Spanish Prawns recipe. This traditional dish, also known as Gambas al Ajillo, features prawns cooked in a garlicky sauce made with olive oil, but I used brown butter to make my version extra rich!

    Typically served as tapas (also known as appetizers), Spanish prawns are best enjoyed with a glass of white wine and some crusty bread to soak up all that delicious sauce. It’s a perfect way to start any party or dinner during the holiday season, and it’s surprisingly easy to make at home. Make this dish the best part of your week!

    garlic prawns recipe

    Why you will love this Garlic Prawns recipe

    • One of my favorite tapas dishes! The combination of garlic, butter, and fresh prawns creates a mouthwatering experience that will have you coming back for more!
    • This easy tapas recipe comes together in minutes, making it perfect for busy weeknight dinners and last-minute entertaining.
    • Great for a crowd! The best thing about this Spanish-style prawns recipe is that it can be easily doubled or tripled to serve larger groups of friends and family.
    • Adjust the ingredients to suit your taste by adding more garlic, lemon juice, or chili peppers if you like.
    spanish prawns

    Ingredients and substitutions

    Prawns – Fresh prawns like king prawns and tiger prawns are best for this recipe, but you can use frozen or raw shrimp.

    Butter – Although not traditional, I like to use butter to give this dish a richer flavor. Feel free to use extra virgin olive oil instead, but make sure to choose a high-quality one.

    Garlic – You’ll need lots of garlic for that classic taste! Always use freshly minced garlic for the best flavor.

    Fresno chili – This adds some mild heat, but you can substitute it with red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper or omit it altogether.

    Smoked paprika – A classic in Spanish recipes, smoked paprika adds a delicious smoky flavor to the dish. If you don’t want a smoky flavor, use sweet paprika.

    Baguette – Don’t waste all that delicious sauce! Serve it with a crusty baguette to mop it up or any good loaf of crusty bread.

    Parsley – To finish off the dish, freshly chopped parsley gives it a nice pop of color. You can use any other fresh herbs like cilantro or basil here as well! You can even add lemon wedges.

    Lemon juice – A few tablespoons of lemon juice brighten up all the flavors in the dish. You can also add sherry vinegar for a complex, nutty flavor.


    Equipment

    • Knife
    • Cutting board
    • Large bowl
    • Cast iron pan or large frying pan

    garlic butter prawns recipe
    melt the butter
    garlic prawns recipe
    brown your butter
    chili garlic prawns
    add the garlic
    butter prawns
    add the chili
    spanish garlic prawns
    saute your prawns
    gambas prawns
    squeeze some lemon for brightness and flavor

    Instructions for making Spanish Prawns

    1. Prep your prawns. Devein and remove the shell. Leave a tail for aesthetic.
    2. On medium heat in a cast iron pan, brown the butter.
    3. Add the garlic once the butter is browned.
    4. Add the julienned chili. For more heat, add more red chili flakes.
    5. Saute the prawns for 5 minutes, flipping frequently. It should be cooked when the prawns are pink and not translucent.
    6. Serve with a French baguette, and enjoy!

    garlic prawns

    Tips for making the best Spanish garlic prawns

    • Use large fresh prawns for the best flavor and texture.
    • Make sure to use enough garlic, as it’s the key ingredient of this dish.
    • To make this dish extra rich, use brown butter instead of the typical olive oil. If you’re using olive oil, you can add a few tablespoons of butter.
    • Don’t forget to season your prawns with a pinch of salt and black pepper before cooking.
    • Cook the prawns until they’re just done to preserve their delicate flavor.
    • Add a few tablespoons of fresh lemon juice at the end for a bright burst of flavor.
    • Don’t be afraid to add a pinch of chili flakes if you like some heat.

    WHAT TO SERVE WITH GAMBAS AL AJILLO

    • Nice crusty bread such as baguettes and bottle of white wine.
    • Spicy Carbonara
    • Chicken and Chorizo Paella

    MORE RECIPES

    • Miso Glazed Black Cod
    • Gochujang Chicken Thighs
    • Asian Beef Short Ribs

    butter garlic prawns recipe
    What is the meaning Gambas al Ajillo?

    Gambas al Ajillo literally translates to “prawns or shrimps with garlic.” The dish is popular throughout Spain and features prawns cooked in a sauce made with olive oil, garlic, red pepper flakes, and herbs like parsley.

    Where do gambas come from?

    Gambas (prawns) is one of the most popular seafood dishes in Spain. In Spanish cuisine, prawns are usually cooked with garlic and olive oil (or butter) to create a delicious garlicky sauce that pairs perfectly with crusty bread. It is believed to have originated in southern Spain, and it has become a staple in tapas bars all over the country.

    What does shrimp taste like?

    Prawns or shrimp should taste buttery, sweet and salty like the ocean. It is delicious and takes only minutes to cook.

    Print
    clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon

    Spanish Prawns

    Print Recipe
    Pin Recipe

    Enjoy a classic Spanish seafood dish that is sure to tantalize your taste buds with this easy and delicious Spanish Prawns recipe. This traditional dish, also known as Gambas al Ajillo, features prawns cooked in a garlicky sauce made with olive oil, but I used brown butter to make my version extra rich!

    • Total Time: 20 minutes
    • Yield: 2-4 1x

    Ingredients

    Scale

    1 pound of prawns (16–20 count)

    ½ cup of butter

    7 minced garlic cloves

    1 julienned Fresno chili (use a mild or as spicy as you want)

    1 tsp red chilli flakes

    ½ tsp of smoked paprika

    1 French baguette

    flat-leaf parsley for garnish

    1–2 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

    Instructions

    1. Prep your prawns. Devein and remove the shell. Leave a tail for aesthetic.
    2. On medium heat in a cast iron pan, brown the butter.
    3. Add the garlic once the butter is browned.
    4. Add the julienned chili. For more heat, add more red chili flakes.
    5. Saute the prawns for 5 minutes, flipping frequently. It should be cooked when the prawns are pink and not translucent.
    6. Serve with a French baguette, and enjoy!
    • Author: Carmen
    • Prep Time: 5 minutes
    • Cook Time: 15 minutes
    • Category: mains
    • Method: cast iron
    • Cuisine: spanish

    Keywords: garlic prawns, spanish garlic prawns, spanish prawns, garlic butter prawns, gambas al ajillo

    Did you make this recipe?

    PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW

    More Mains

    • chicken katsu air fryer
      Chicken Katsu Air Fryer with Homemade Tonkatsu Sauce
    • bbq chicken in air fryer
      The Best Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Recipe
    • cashew chicken with rice
      Cashew Chicken Recipe – Better Than Takeout
    • garlic cheese bread
      Best Homemade Garlic Cheese Bread Recipe

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

    Primary Sidebar

    Don't miss out on my latest recipes

    SUBSCRIBE NOW
    eat with carmen

    My name is Carmen and welcome to the place I like to store my recipes. I hope you enjoy trying out my recipes just as much as I did creating them!

    More about me →

    CHECK OUT MY
    AMAZON STORE

    FOR ALL MY FAVORITE PRODUCTS

    SHOP

    VIRAL RECIPES

    • Garlic Miso Chicken
      Garlic Miso Chicken Air Fryer
      Cook Time25 minutes
    • San Bei Ji
      Fast and Easy 3 Cup Chicken (San Bei Ji Recipe)
      Cook Time30 minutes
    • spicy sesame chicken
      Spicy Sesame Chicken – Air Fryer Boneless Chicken Thighs
      Cook Time20 minutes
    • braised cabbage
      Sesame Braised Cabbage
      Cook Time20 minutes

    AIR FRYER RECIPES

    • chicken katsu air fryer
      Chicken Katsu Air Fryer with Homemade Tonkatsu Sauce
    • bbq chicken in air fryer
      The Best Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Recipe
    • garlic cheese bread
      Best Homemade Garlic Cheese Bread Recipe
    • air fryer chicken sausage
      Air Fryer Chicken Sausage with Veggies – 20 minute meal
    See more Air Fryer →

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact

    Copyright © 2023 Eat With Carmen

    Manage Cookie Consent
    We use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. We do this to improve browsing experience and to show (non-) personalized ads. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
    Functional Always active
    The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
    Preferences
    The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
    Statistics
    The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
    Marketing
    The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
    Manage options Manage services Manage vendors Read more about these purposes
    View preferences
    {title} {title} {title}