Description
Garlic Sautéed Shrimp (Spanish Style) is a quick and flavorful tapas dish featuring succulent spot prawns cooked in olive oil with garlic, dried chillies, and smoked paprika. Enhanced with a splash of white wine and fresh parsley, this classic Spanish recipe is perfect for a light meal or appetizer served with lemon wedges and crusty bread.
Ingredients
Scale
Seafood
- 1 pound raw spot prawns (with heads and shells on)
Seasonings & Spices
- 6-8 garlic cloves, lightly crushed and thinly sliced
- 2 dried Cayenne chillies (optional)
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- A pinch of sea salt
Liquids
- 4 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons white wine or sherry
Garnish & Serving
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- Lemon wedges
- Crusty bread
Instructions
- Sauté the garlic and chillies: Heat a wide frying pan over medium heat. Add the olive oil, sliced garlic, and dried chillies. Gently fry for about 1 minute until the garlic softens but does not brown.
- Cook the prawns: Increase the heat to high and arrange the prawns in a single layer in the pan. Sprinkle with smoked paprika and sea salt. Fry for 1 minute.
- Add wine and finish cooking: Pour in the white wine or sherry, flip the prawns, and cook for another 2 minutes until the prawns turn a vibrant pink color.
- Serve immediately: Transfer the prawns to serving plates, sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley, and add extra salt and lemon wedges to taste. Serve with crusty bread and be cautious of the hot oil when eating.
Notes
- Gambas al ajillo is a classic Spanish tapas dish that is quick to prepare with minimal ingredients.
- You can omit the dried chillies if you prefer a milder flavor.
- Using fresh green parsley enhances the freshness and color of the dish.
- Serve immediately to enjoy the best texture and temperature.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approx. 4 oz prawns with sauce)
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 320 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 3 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 23 g
- Cholesterol: 190 mg
