Description
This BBQ Grilled Prawns recipe offers a flavorful and quick seafood dish marinated with garlic, lemon, chilli, and a touch of smoky paprika. Perfectly grilled to achieve a tender, juicy texture with a hint of citrus zest and spice, this recipe is ideal for summer barbecues or quick weeknight dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
Marinade and Prawns
- 1 lb (450g) large prawns, peeled and deveined (with tails on)
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 red chili, deseeded and finely chopped (or more for extra heat)
- Zest and juice of 1 lemon
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon honey or brown sugar (optional, for a touch of sweetness)
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika (optional for extra smoky flavor)
- Salt and pepper to taste
To Serve
- Fresh parsley or coriander, chopped (for garnish)
- Lemon wedges (for serving)
Instructions
- Prepare the Marinade: In a large bowl, mix together minced garlic, chopped chili, lemon zest, lemon juice, olive oil, honey or brown sugar if using, smoked paprika if using, and salt and pepper. Stir until all ingredients are well combined to create a flavorful marinade.
- Marinate the Prawns: Add the peeled and deveined prawns to the marinade and toss well to coat them evenly. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for 15-20 minutes, or up to 1 hour for more intense flavor. Avoid marinating longer to prevent the lemon juice from cooking the prawns prematurely.
- Prepare the Grill: Preheat your grill to medium-high heat. For charcoal, ensure coals are glowing with steady heat; for gas, set burners accordingly. If using wooden skewers, soak them in water for about 10 minutes to prevent burning during grilling.
- Thread the Prawns: Thread the marinated prawns onto skewers if using. If not using skewers, you can place the prawns directly on the grill or a grill pan.
- Grill the Prawns: Place prawns on the grill and cook for about 2-3 minutes per side until they turn pink and opaque with clear grill marks. Be attentive to avoid overcooking, as prawns cook quickly and can become tough.
- Alternative Cooking Method: If using a grill pan or stovetop, cook prawns similarly by turning once to ensure even cooking until they are fully opaque and cooked through.
- Serve: Remove cooked prawns from heat, transfer them to a serving platter, and garnish with freshly chopped parsley or coriander. Serve alongside lemon wedges to add extra citrus zest as desired.
Notes
- Do not marinate the prawns for more than 1 hour to avoid the lemon juice “cooking” the seafood and altering its texture.
- Adjust the amount of chili based on your preferred spice level.
- Soaking wooden skewers before grilling prevents them from burning.
- Ensure prawns are cooked just until opaque for the best tenderness.
- This recipe works well for grilling, but can be adapted for stovetop grill pans.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: BBQ, Seafood
