Few cuisines tug at me the way the foods from Spain do.
If it weren't for the fact that my parents assure me that there is no 'foreign' blood flowing through my veins, I'd have thought that I may have a smidgen of Spanish heritage.
There is something about the honest ingredients, market fresh produce, intense love for good food and wine and age old culinary traditions that makes me love it all. Not to mention the Moorish influences that introduce rich spices into the cuisine like cinnamon & saffron.
And of all the foods I love, I love the way Spain does seafood. Fresh, local market ingredients, un-messed with. So on a weeknight like this, when I have some lovely large prawns, a warm crusty loaf and succulent asparagus, is it any wonder that I should fix some Spanish styled baked prawns?
Best part of it is that dinner's on the table in 15 minutes flat! So what are you waiting for?
You will need - large, raw prawns, garlic cloves, good quality olive oil, hot red pepper flakes, salt & fresh parsley.
Preheat the oven to broil - the highest setting.
Prepare the ingredients -
Prawns - Shell the defrosted prawns, de-vein and leave the tail intact.
To butterfly the prawns, holding each prawn in your hand, slice along the back without cutting all the way through.
Garlic cloves - Peel, discard skin and finely slice.
Parsley - Separate the leaves from the stalks and finely chop.
In a baking dish, layer the prawns in a single layer.
Sprinkle the salt all over.
Sprinkle the garlic cloves and the crushed red pepper. Drizzle the olive oil over the prawns.
Bake the prawns in the hot oven for about 8-10 minutes. Do not overcook the prawns. As long as they've turned pink they're cooked.
Remove from the oven and while the oil is still sizzling, garnish with chopped fresh parsley and serve immediately.
This is good stuff! The best kind of stuff in fact.
Succulent prawns with the slight heat from the red chilly peppers and sizzling garlic. The flavored oil is perfect is mop up with thick slices of crusty bread.
I served this with some asparagus tossed with olive oil, salt and pepper grilling in another pan sitting right next to the prawns. And in a jiffy dinner is done. Now this is my idea of fast food!
Recipe for
Spanish Style Baked Prawns
Preparation time - 5 minutes
Baking Time - 8-10 minutes
Serves 4
Shopping list
1-1/2 lbs large fresh prawns
5 cloves garlic
1/2 tsp hot red pepper flakes
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup good quality olive oil
1/3 cup fresh parsley
Preparation -
Preheat the oven to broil - the highest setting.
Prawns - Shell the defrosted prawns, de-vein and leave the tail intact.
To butterfly the prawns, holding each prawn in your hand, slice along the back without cutting all the way through.
Garlic cloves - Peel, discard skin and finely slice.
Parsley - Separate the leaves from the stalks and finely chop.
Baking Method -
In a baking dish, layer the prawns in a single layer.
Sprinkle the salt all over the prawns.
Sprinkle the garlic cloves and the crushed red pepper. Drizzle the olive oil over the prawns.
Bake the prawns in the hot oven for 8 minutes. Do not overcook the prawns. As long as they've turned pink they're cooked.
Remove from the oven and while the oil is still sizzling, garnish with chopped fresh parsley and serve immediately.
Enjoy!
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