Impress your guests with this delicious and easy recipe for Simon Gault’s spicy oven-grilled prawns. Made with medium-sized prawn cutlets, a mix of spices, and lemon juice, this dish will surely be a hit at any dinner party. Serve hot with lemon wedges for a perfect finish.
Spicy Oven Grilled Prawns
Serves 6
Ingredients:
1 kg medium-sized prawn cutlets, peeled and deveined
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 teaspoon Sweet (Dolce) smoked paprika
1/4 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon cumin
Salt and pepper to taste
2 tablespoons lemon juice
Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 200°C.
Mix olive oil, garlic, paprika, chili powder, cumin, salt, pepper, and lemon juice in a large bowl.
Add prawns to the bowl and toss to coat with the spice mixture.
Arrange the prawns on a baking tray.
Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes or until the prawns are cooked through.
To cook the prawns using the De Dietrich oven, set the oven to “Expert Mode” and select the “Variable Grill” function. Place the baking tray with the prawns on the designated oven shelf, then press “Play” to start the cooking process.
Carefully remove the tray from the oven and serve the prawns hot with lemon wedges. Enjoy!
Note: If you need to delay the start of the cooking program, you can change the end of the cooking time.
Simon Says:
You can also cook these prawns on a grill or barbecue for a smoky flavour. Just preheat your grill to medium-high heat and cook the prawns for 2-3 minutes per side or until they’re cooked through.
Tips for selecting frozen uncooked prawns:
Check the labelling: Make sure to look for labels such as “IQF” (individually quick frozen), which indicates that the prawns were frozen right after being caught and packed, ensuring optimal freshness.
- Look for bright colour: Prawns should have a bright, vibrant colour before being frozen. If the colour is dull, it could signify that the prawns were not fresh when frozen.
- Avoid excessive ice crystals: Ice crystals on the prawns can indicate that they were thawed and refrozen, impacting their texture and flavour.
- Smell the prawns: Frozen prawns should have no odour or a slight sea-like smell. Suppose there’s an overpowering fishy or ammonia-like smell. In that case, the prawns may have been stored for too long.
- Packaging: Check for any signs of damage or punctures in the packaging, which could allow air and bacteria to enter.
- Size and species: Consider the size and species of prawns you want to use for your recipe. For this recipe, select medium-sized, uncooked prawn cutlets.
