Super tasty barbecue prawns - Eat Well Recipe - NZ Herald (2024)

FAQs

How does Gordon Ramsay cook prawns? ›

There are many different varieties available, including banana prawns, tiger prawns and endeavour prawns. However, the king prawn is the most popular for cooking on the barbeque, as they are big and meaty and easy to handle with BBQ tongs.

Whether you leave the shell on and/or de-vein is a personal preference. The shell offers some protection from the heat of the BBQ and can keep the prawns from drying out, but de-shelled prawns are easier to skewer and marinate.

For superior quality, texture and taste, Spencer Gulf King Prawns (Melicertus latisulcatus) are renowned throughout the world as the premium species of prawn. Spencer Gulf King Prawns are wild caught straight from the cold clean waters of the Spencer Gulf, full of natural flavour.

Cook the prawns too long, though, and the moisture evaporates and the proteins start to meld to the shell, itself made of a tough but flexible protein called chitosan. Prawns do not take long to cook on the barbie – about three minutes on each side on a hot grill.

It's time to clean and prep! Rinse them thoroughly with cold water in a large bowl or colander. Make sure to give each prawn their moment under the water–rubbing their shell and underbelly. To pull or not to pull (the head) is entirely up to you and how you want to cook them or, as the recipe suggests.

Always preheat your pan or BBQ before adding your prawns and cook on medium-high heat. If boiling or simmering your prawns in sauce or broth, add prawns in the last few minutes of cooking and cook on a low simmer, use the cooking times below. Never boil rapidly or they will become rubbery.

Heat olive oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Add finely chopped garlic cloves and dried chilli flakes, and cook until garlic is soft. Add the pasta and peeled cooked prawns. Cook until the prawns are heated through.

After preparing raw prawns, you can cook them in a variety of ways. Boil them in water for 4 minutes, fry them in a pan or wok, or grill them on the barbecue, turning for 2-3 minutes, or until prawns turn opaque.

What's the difference between shrimp and prawn cooking? ›

Prawns and shrimp are similar in texture and taste, so it's difficult to distinguish between them. However, some may say that prawns are meatier and sweeter when compared to shrimp. There are many ways to cook prawns and shrimp. They can be fried, grilled, sauteed, steamed, or broiled.

Pre-cooked prawns are mostly cooked live on the boat or at the farm, then refreshed in brine ice. Handled this way, the prawns will always be firmer, crisper and sweeter than a dead, raw prawn put through the same process.