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Garlic Prawn Pasta Recipe

This garlic prawn pasta recipe is not only easy to prepare, but is full of flavour, is a healthy source of protein / carbohydrates and can be created quickly making it a perfect choice for a weeknight dinner, an entre over the weekend or even to commemorate a special occasion. The combination of succulent prawns, aromatic garlic, and fresh parsley creates a delightful dish that is both satisfyingly tasty and refreshing. There’s only eight ingredients, so the preparation is not too overwhelming, and you don’t need to have any particular culinary expertise to pull it off. The choice of produce in a garlic prawn pasta recipe is very important because it as the hero piece of the meal the prawns that are used need to be of good quality. We recommend cutting your garlic into very fine pieces, so it covers literally everything. Be sure not to overcook the garlic as it will burn quickly when it is cut fine, and this will deliver a bitter aftertaste to everything – something you don’t want. A meal like this can be completed in less than 20 minutes including the preparation phase so it’s ideal when you want something tasty and hearty that won’t take hours to get to the table.

Garlic Prawn Pasta Recipe

Ingredients

  • 300g raw prawns, peeled and deveined
  • 250g dried spaghetti (or your favourite pasta, we recommend Angel hair!)
  • 3 cloves Australian garlic either cut very fine or minced
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil, with a little extra to garnish.
  • ½ cup fresh parsley, roughly chopped. Flat or continental is fine.
  • Juice of ½ lemon (about 1 tablespoon)
  • Fresh parmesan shavings.
  • Butter
Optional:
  • Fresh chilis or chili flakes.
  • Salt and pepper to taste.

Directions

  1. Marinate the Prawns:
    In a bowl, combine the prawns with the garlic, 1 tablespoon of olive oil, salt, and pepper. Let them marinate for about 5 minutes to absorb the flavours. Because the garlic is very fine (or minced) we recommend using pre-cooked prawns, so you do not need to cook them for a long period of time.
  2. Cook the Pasta:
    Whilst the prawns are absorbing all those yummy flavours, bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add the spaghetti and cook according to package instructions until al dente. (basically about 2 minutes prior to the pasta being ‘ready’) Reserve ½ cup of the pasta cooking water before draining to add back in later!
  3. Sauté the Prawns:
    In a large non-stick pan, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium-high heat and add the butter. Add the marinated prawns and sauté for about 1 minute. As you cook them, they will start to shrink in size. Toss the pan regularly to ensure the butter and oil coat the prawns and garlic nicely.
  4. Add Lemon Juice:
    Squeeze in the juice of half a lemon into the pan with the prawns, being careful as it may spit. Stir quickly to combine and give the pan a few extra tosses to coat the prawns.
  5. Combine Pasta and Prawns:
    Add the drained spaghetti to the pan along with the reserved pasta water. Toss everything together for about 1 minute until well mixed and heated through. You’re almost ready to start plating up.
  6. Finish with Parsley and Parmesan:
    Turn off the heat and mix in the chopped parsley. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper to taste and add the parmesan on top. Adding an extra dash of olive oil here is always a nice touch!
  7. Serve:
    Plate your garlic prawn pasta immediately, (garnishing with extra parsley if desired) and a wedge of lemon on the side for those who enjoy an extra citrus kick.

Tips for the Best Sauce

  • Consider doing the marination phase for this garlic prawn pasta recipe a few hours before cooking if you have the time. It will allow the prawns time to absorb more flavour.
  • Using minced Australian garlic can often provide more potent flavour notes than dicing up the bulbs (plus its faster!)
  • Chilli oil is a great substitute for chillis and can be used as a garnish at the end.