• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Greedy Gourmet | Food & Travel Blog
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Restaurants
    • Where To Eat in England
      • London
      • Berkshire
      • Essex
      • Surrey
    • Ireland
    • Italy
    • Montenegro
      • Ireland
    • Netherlands
    • Serbia
    • Spain
  • Places to Visit
    • Places to Stay in England
    • France
    • Italy
    • Netherlands
    • Norway
    • Portugal
    • Spain
  • Work With Me
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Snapchat
    • Twitter
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Tips & Tricks
  • Places to Visit
  • Restaurants
  • About
  • Work With Me
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×
    You are here: Home / Courses / Main Course / Pan-fried Garlic Butter Prawns

    Pan-fried Garlic Butter Prawns

    28 February 2016 - By Michelle Minnaar
    This post may contain affiliate links.

    Facebook60TweetPin311YummlyShares371
    Jump to Recipe

    Celebrating Greedy Gourmet’s 9th birthday with a beautiful prawn dish, laced with garlic and butter. Something super simple to make at home!

    Fried shrimp in pan

    Love seafood? Check out these cookbooks!

    • My Kitchen Table: 100 Fish and Seafood Recipes
    • Fish & Shellfish
    • Rick Stein’s Seafood
    • Nathan Outlaw’s Fish Kitchen
    • Rick Stein: From Venice to Istanbul

    Just how exactly do you establish the birthday of a blog? Is it when you register its domain name? Installed the software?

    Or only when you published the first post? For me these steps were a few months apart so I’ve settled on the first post published which happened to be in February 2007.

    Shell on shrimp with heads

    A lot of people are put off by the shells and the prospect of getting their hands dirty. Their loss, I say.

    Just like meat on the bone has much more flavour than their boneless counterparts, the same counts for shell on and off seafood. I’ve bought boiled up prawns from the shop that tasted worse than cardboard.

    Shrimp on a serving dish

    Raw, frozen shelled prawns don’t fare much better in the flavour department either. Do yourself a favour and try the shelled version because you’ll never look back again.

    As for getting your hands dirty… if you have soap and water close by then there is no issue.

    Shellfish lunch

    Tiger prawns have this somewhat unappealing blue, grey hue about them. Once they get cooking they turn pink. Before cooking, you will need to devein them – a handy tutorial.

    That’s it, folks. I look forward to another year of blogging!

    What is your favourite way of enjoying prawns?

    Print
    clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
    Heads Cooked Prawns

    Pan-fried Butter & Garlic Prawns


    ★★★★★

    4.7 from 15 reviews

    • Author: Michelle Minnaar
    • Total Time: 30 mins
    • Yield: 2
    Print Recipe
    Pin Recipe

    Description

    In this garlic butter prawns recipe you’ll learn how to prepare shell-on prawns before pan frying them. It is an easy and quick dinner to prepare any time of the week!


    Ingredients

    Scale
    • 20 whole shell-on prawns, weighing about 800g (2 lb)
    • 30ml (2 tbsp) butter
    • 5ml (1 tsp) vegetable oil
    • rock salt
    • 2 cloves garlic, crushed
    • 1 lemon, cut into wedges

    Instructions

    1. With a sharp knife, score down the back of the shrimp. Remove the thin, digestive tract with the tip of the knife. Repeat with the rest of the prawns. Rinse the prawns under running water and pat dry with paper towels.
    2. Melt the butter, add the oil and generously grind salt in a large frying pan. Add the garlic and prawns, and fry over a high heat, stirring, for 3 – 4 minutes until the prawns are pink. Serve immediately with lemon wedges.

    Notes

    Serve on a bed of rice, with green salad and a glass of white wine. To serve more people, simply multiply the ingredients accordingly.

    • Prep Time: 20 mins
    • Cook Time: 10 mins
    • Category: Dinner
    • Method: Fry
    • Cuisine: South African

    Keywords: how to cook prawns, garlic butter prawns, pan fried prawns recipe, how to prepare prawns, how to cook prawns in shell

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @greedygourmet on Instagram and hashtag it #greedygourmet

    Facebook60TweetPin311YummlyShares371

    DON’T MISS A THING!

    New recipes, tips & tricks, reviews and giveaways every week!

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Ann Hawley

      November 28, 2007 at 8:16 pm

      Hi Michelle
      I googled South Africans in Southend and your very interesting website came up! I’ll definitely try the Chinese shop in York Road!
      The reason for my search is to find other South Africans / Namibians / Zims to arrange a get-together for the better weather in the new year.
      Are you interested in meeting other South Africans?
      Kind regards
      Ann

      Reply
    2. Michelle

      November 28, 2007 at 8:35 pm

      Definitely, Ann! 🙂

      Reply
    3. Shelagh

      December 09, 2007 at 2:55 pm

      Im definately going to track this shop down. Im dying for some decent prawns. I want to laugh when I see the word ‘prawns’ on a menu because what you get are shrimps.

      I am most definately interested in meeting other South Africans. I live in Rochford. How do we go about it?

      Reply
    4. Shelagh

      December 09, 2007 at 2:55 pm

      Im definately going to track this shop down. Im dying for some decent prawns. I want to laugh when I see the word ‘prawns’ on a menu because what you get are shrimps.

      I am most definately interested in meeting other South Africans. I live in Rochford. How do we go about it?

      Reply
      • fred

        January 06, 2011 at 7:36 am

        YES that is so TRUE….for over 15 years I’ve said the same. don’t shops and resturants know between prawns and shrimps????
        Go to south India, they are the best

        Reply
    5. Michelle

      December 09, 2007 at 10:48 pm

      Whoa, more South Africans!

      I need a prawn-fix again, so I’ll have to visit the Chinese shop soon. You’re right about the menus with their “prawns”. When Americans say “shrimps”, they actually mean prawns though. Quite confusing.

      Reply
    6. belle

      February 02, 2008 at 9:18 am

      Good

      Reply
    7. belle

      February 02, 2008 at 9:18 am

      Good

      Reply
    8. James

      September 25, 2008 at 9:58 pm

      Ag Ja, how did you end up there anyway?? Anyway for you Saffa prawn addicts in London try Sheperds Bush market. They are not farmed and huge!! Just add garlic, chili, corriander and little ginger and butter and then swicth on the rugby!

      Reply
    9. James

      September 25, 2008 at 9:58 pm

      Ag Ja, how did you end up there anyway?? Anyway for you Saffa prawn addicts in London try Sheperds Bush market. They are not farmed and huge!! Just add garlic, chili, corriander and little ginger and butter and then swicth on the rugby!

      Reply
    10. Charles

      December 20, 2008 at 11:52 pm

      Hi y’all. I am a Rhodie/South African who misses home and our wonderful food big time. I now live in Houston but can not get garlic butter prawns as you can guess. I am glad to find your recipe and will cetainly try it. Found another one a while back but it was not very good, but yours looks just like we used to get in Salisbury and of course Pretoria, CT and Joburg.
      Sleep warm y’all.

      Reply
    11. Chris

      April 24, 2009 at 6:55 pm

      This is amazing – I look up a garlic prawn recipe and the first one that comes up is from a local!
      I know what you mean about Southend – it’s not the best, but I’ll check out that shop in York Road and who knows what other goodies I’ll find.

      If you want a more charming place to buy prawns, make a trip over to Leigh-on-Sea(Old Town)- there’s a Fisherman’s Co-op on Bell Wharf where they sell all sorts of seafood, all freshly caught and not too expensive. There’s also a chip shop nearby to make the trip complete.
      I’m an Aussie and need a prawn-fix fairly often too.
      Cheers,
      Chris

      Reply
    12. Drew

      June 16, 2011 at 11:55 am

      I’m also a saffa who really enjoys sea food and a braai is not complete without decent tiger prawns for me .

      For those saffa’s who are london based like me I can highlly recommend the fishmongers in borough market as they have a very good selection of prawns and other sea food at decent prices with practiclly any size of prawn Your looking for right up to indonesian tiger giants . I’ve also found that though pricey the quality of the meat at the ginger pig butchery which is also at that market is exceptionally good and is one of the few places You can get Tbone from 😀

      Reply
    13. kate

      December 18, 2011 at 2:19 pm

      Howzit!!!! I lived in the UK for about 3 years before coming back to sunny South Africa. We went to Mediterranean Fish market yesterday and bought a big box of prawns – the big juicy south african kind! It’s weird to be home this christmas, swimming and braaing and about to put a few prawns onto the skottle!!

      Reply
    14. Duncan gohl

      June 02, 2013 at 3:59 pm

      Sadly you haven’t been to Knysna lately…….
      Run down and a pot smokers haven.
      Most of the houses on the Eastern Heads are for sale.
      Very sad as it was our hometown.

      Reply
    15. Richard Eldred Hawes

      February 28, 2016 at 4:19 pm

      Grilled on the barbecue and with a big pot of mayonnaise

      Reply
    16. Alexis Law

      February 29, 2016 at 12:20 am

      Garlic and chilli

      Reply
    17. Tracy Nixon

      February 29, 2016 at 11:00 am

      Bbq’d and served with garlic!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    18. Angie Hoggett

      February 29, 2016 at 11:27 am

      I love them in a sweet chilli jam marinade, I’ve also subscribed via email

      Reply
    19. Marion Smith

      February 29, 2016 at 12:58 pm

      I love a good old prawn cocktail or I like to make Prawn stir fry, these recipes look fab and I would love to be able to try them:), thanks for giving away such a good prize!

      Reply
    20. Iris W

      February 29, 2016 at 2:26 pm

      In a stirfry or grilled with sweet chilli

      Reply
    21. Lucy Major

      February 29, 2016 at 2:33 pm

      As prawn pil pil with garlic oil and chilli on a beach in Spain!

      Reply
    22. kellie@foodtoglow

      February 29, 2016 at 2:34 pm

      Wow, it looks like you are getting a lot of love from fellow South Africans! These prawns look wonderful, and I’m sure they were just as nice as when you were making them 9 years ago. Happy 9th Blogiversary! I recently celebrated 5 years. No post, but a glass of fizz instead. Long may you keep posting such gorgeous recipes. 🙂

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Caroline MANAMELA

        December 31, 2021 at 3:03 pm

        These prawns coomed and taste deluciously like in the popular restaurants, mouth watering and tasty

        Reply
    23. amy bondoc

      February 29, 2016 at 2:34 pm

      I love prawns in pasta

      Reply
    24. Lorna Ledger

      February 29, 2016 at 3:07 pm

      I love them with chilli, and garlic, yum!!!!

      Reply
    25. Gilla01

      February 29, 2016 at 4:34 pm

      I’ve never had prawns in a restaurant. Are they the same as scampi?

      Reply
    26. darren hay

      February 29, 2016 at 4:38 pm

      Tempura prawns with a sweet chilli dipping sauce

      Reply
    27. Simon tutthill

      February 29, 2016 at 4:44 pm

      It has to be in a gorgeous prawn salad.

      Reply
    28. Emily Knight

      February 29, 2016 at 5:17 pm

      Just like your recipe – sauteed in garlic butter! I love them coated with a coconut panko crumb too…

      Reply
    29. Kristy Brown

      February 29, 2016 at 5:24 pm

      I love them pan seared with garlic and a soon of tomato puree then tossed in wholewheat spaghetti and shredded spinach

      Reply
    30. C Kennedy

      February 29, 2016 at 6:00 pm

      In a prawn cocktail. It’s my favourite starter of all time!

      Reply
    31. Freya Johnson

      February 29, 2016 at 6:12 pm

      For me it would have to be either on the bbq or in a garlicy butter… yum!

      Reply
    32. Freya Johnson

      February 29, 2016 at 6:12 pm

      For me it would have to be either on the bbq or in a garlicy butter… yum!

      Reply
    33. Christine Dodd

      February 29, 2016 at 6:14 pm

      Gambas pil pil

      Reply
    34. Jaelin Farrow

      February 29, 2016 at 6:31 pm

      I love prawns in a chilli and tomato sauce with pasta, or in a curry! But, when I went on holiday to South Africa I had prawns with garlic butter and rice…so good!

      Reply
    35. Becca @ Amuse Your Bouche

      February 29, 2016 at 7:03 pm

      I think there are very few things that aren’t improved by garlic and butter. Happy blog birthday, 9 years is a real achievement! 🙂

      Reply
    36. Becca @ Amuse Your Bouche

      February 29, 2016 at 7:03 pm

      I think there are very few things that aren’t improved by garlic and butter. Happy blog birthday, 9 years is a real achievement! 🙂

      Reply
    37. laura banks

      February 29, 2016 at 8:17 pm

      on a BBQ

      Reply
    38. laura banks

      February 29, 2016 at 8:17 pm

      on a BBQ

      Reply
    39. laura banks

      February 29, 2016 at 8:18 pm

      already subscribed

      Reply
    40. Camilla Hawkins

      February 29, 2016 at 9:27 pm

      Many congratulations on your blog birthday Michelle, here’s to the next 9 yrs and beyond! These prawns are so up my street and I have to admit I have never cooked whole ones but do enjoy eating them when I’m out:-)

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    41. Camilla Hawkins

      February 29, 2016 at 9:27 pm

      Many congratulations on your blog birthday Michelle, here’s to the next 9 yrs and beyond! These prawns are so up my street and I have to admit I have never cooked whole ones but do enjoy eating them when I’m out:-)

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    42. Claire Blaney

      February 29, 2016 at 10:34 pm

      in a prawn cocktail

      Reply
    43. Ruth Tesdale

      February 29, 2016 at 11:59 pm

      In a stir fry

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    44. Janice Mackin

      March 01, 2016 at 8:31 am

      Prawn Cocktail

      Reply
      • michelle

        April 02, 2017 at 10:16 am

        Currently I can’t get enough of prawn cocktail!

        ★★★★★

        Reply
    45. Jo Carroll

      March 01, 2016 at 10:17 am

      I really enjoy a lovely Prawn Salad…you just can’t beat it. Prawns, avocado, tomatoes, spring onions and lettuce drizzled with the olive oil and lemon juice. x

      Reply
    46. kellyjo walters

      March 01, 2016 at 12:49 pm

      I just love them pan fried in garlic than I let cook a bit and dip generously in thousand island sauce

      ★★★★

      Reply
    47. Hester McQueen

      March 01, 2016 at 12:58 pm

      I’ve enjoyed reading all the comments. Garlic, butter, and loads of crusty bread; prawn cocktail, risotto, and the other half makes an amazing curry with them.

      Reply
    48. Alex Halliday

      March 02, 2016 at 2:16 pm

      Such a tasty recipe and so simple too! Looking forward to trying out the others in the book.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    49. Scott

      March 02, 2016 at 2:26 pm

      Prawn curry, cant beat it.

      Reply
    50. Scott

      March 02, 2016 at 2:26 pm

      Prawn curry, cant beat it.

      Reply
    51. Scott

      March 02, 2016 at 2:26 pm

      Prawn curry, cant beat it.

      Reply
    52. Scott

      March 02, 2016 at 2:26 pm

      Prawn curry, cant beat it.

      Reply
    53. Kat Lucas

      March 02, 2016 at 4:38 pm

      Butterflied prawns in panko crumbs

      Reply
    54. Meeta

      March 02, 2016 at 7:13 pm

      Ok you celebrate 9 and I am celebrating 10 … so happy blog birthday to us. I like your style with these gorgeous looking prawns! Michelle keep up the great work and here’s to many more great images and blog birthdays!

      Reply
    55. Melanie Pugh

      March 02, 2016 at 8:57 pm

      we love a nice paella with prawns, chicken and chorizo.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    56. Maxine G

      March 03, 2016 at 8:12 am

      In a vodka, tomato and chilli sauce!

      Reply
    57. clair downham

      March 03, 2016 at 11:26 am

      with lots of garlic thankyou

      Reply
    58. Christine Constable

      March 03, 2016 at 9:36 pm

      I love prawns fried simply but with a good aioli to dip them in.

      Reply
    59. Richard Tyler

      March 04, 2016 at 12:46 am

      I love them in Chili for that kick 🙂

      Reply
    60. Richard Tyler

      March 04, 2016 at 12:46 am

      I love them in Chili for that kick 🙂

      Reply
    61. Lynsey Buchanan

      March 04, 2016 at 5:09 am

      I like my prawns in a salad

      Reply
    62. Lynsey Buchanan

      March 04, 2016 at 5:09 am

      I like my prawns in a salad

      Reply
    63. Andrew

      March 04, 2016 at 9:01 am

      still looking and sounding so tempting after all these years (well two years in the case of this post, but you know what I mean…)

      ★★★★

      Reply
    64. Barbara Handley

      March 04, 2016 at 1:58 pm

      Prawn cocktails at 60’s nostalgia parties.

      Reply
    65. Barbara Handley

      March 04, 2016 at 1:58 pm

      Prawn cocktails at 60’s nostalgia parties.

      Reply
    66. Elspeth MacMillan

      March 04, 2016 at 9:19 pm

      I just love prawn cocktail

      Reply
    67. Solange

      March 05, 2016 at 1:48 am

      Grilled on the barbecue with garlic

      Reply
    68. Lindsey Jones

      March 05, 2016 at 9:58 am

      I love prawn cocktail with home made crusty bread

      ★★★★

      Reply
    69. Lindsey Jones

      March 05, 2016 at 9:58 am

      I love prawn cocktail with home made crusty bread

      ★★★★

      Reply
    70. Jade Hewlett

      March 05, 2016 at 12:07 pm

      I like prawns in a stir fry

      Reply
    71. Viv

      March 05, 2016 at 2:29 pm

      Paella, for sure!

      Reply
    72. Viv

      March 05, 2016 at 2:29 pm

      Paella, for sure!

      Reply
    73. Viv

      March 05, 2016 at 2:29 pm

      Paella, for sure!

      Reply
    74. Viv

      March 05, 2016 at 2:29 pm

      Paella, for sure!

      Reply
    75. Annette Oliver

      March 05, 2016 at 4:02 pm

      I enjoy prawns best in a curry or stir fry

      Reply
    76. Annette Oliver

      March 05, 2016 at 4:02 pm

      I enjoy prawns best in a curry or stir fry

      Reply
    77. Annette Oliver

      March 05, 2016 at 4:04 pm

      Subscribed to news letter

      Reply
    78. Jenny Jones

      March 05, 2016 at 4:17 pm

      Love my prawns in a Tomato, garlic and herb sauce with pasta

      Reply
    79. GIllian McClelland

      March 05, 2016 at 4:25 pm

      I love to cook King Prawns in batter with a garlic mayo dip

      Reply
    80. Naz M

      March 05, 2016 at 4:40 pm

      I love prawns with rice, I’ve had a king prawn biryani once and it was amazing.

      Reply
    81. Lisa Wilkinson

      March 05, 2016 at 10:07 pm

      In a Laksa 🙂

      Reply
    82. Lisa Wilkinson

      March 05, 2016 at 10:07 pm

      In a Laksa 🙂

      Reply
    83. Joanna Sawka

      March 05, 2016 at 11:39 pm

      love them in paella

      Reply
    84. Emma

      March 06, 2016 at 11:20 am

      Breaded and quite spicy.

      Reply
    85. Julie Camm

      March 06, 2016 at 5:28 pm

      We make spicy breadcrumbed prawns….. lovely with potato wedges and a mayonnaise…

      Reply
    86. Dale Dow

      March 06, 2016 at 6:05 pm

      I love prawn cocktail on a bed of lettuce or in Special Fried Rice

      Reply
    87. Dawn Hull

      March 06, 2016 at 7:12 pm

      Usually in a yummy, spicy curry.

      Reply
    88. Ruth

      March 06, 2016 at 7:33 pm

      I love them with garlic and butter and homemade Rosemary bread

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Alison

        May 15, 2020 at 8:00 pm

        I wish I could give this recipe more than 5 stars!! This was my first try cooking prawns and all I can say is WOW! I doubled the recipe for 27 prawns and decided to keep the heads on while cooking… The prawns came out perfectly!! Thank you for sharing this recipe.

        ★★★★★

        Reply
    89. cheryl hadfield

      March 06, 2016 at 8:40 pm

      Prawn Cocktail

      Reply
    90. Caroline Blaza

      March 06, 2016 at 9:00 pm

      I love prawns in stir frys x

      Reply
    91. Catherine Gregory

      March 06, 2016 at 9:56 pm

      In a stir fry

      Reply
    92. Emma Rawlinson

      March 06, 2016 at 10:05 pm

      I like them in a paella

      Reply
    93. Jason Tolliss

      March 06, 2016 at 11:08 pm

      In a Thai green curry

      Reply
    94. Lisa Mauchline

      March 06, 2016 at 11:30 pm

      King prawns in a curry is my favourite

      Reply
    95. Lisa Mauchline

      March 06, 2016 at 11:30 pm

      King prawns in a curry is my favourite

      Reply
    96. Rosana @ Hot&CHilli Food and Travel Blog

      March 07, 2016 at 10:29 pm

      My best friend is based in Chelmsford too – lovely pictures.
      R

      Reply
    97. Jeanne Horak-Druiff

      March 09, 2016 at 2:11 pm

      Mmmm, garlicky prawns! We were in Plett 2 weeks ago where the Lookout Deck serves them packed tightly into a pint glass as their “pint o’prawns” – fab. Love the look of yours (although I am not a brain-sucker!!) 😉 Happy blogaversary!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    98. FridthjofKalberg

      March 21, 2016 at 3:37 pm

      I love prawns.

      Reply
    99. Heike

      March 22, 2016 at 3:55 pm

      Prawns are the food of the Gods!

      Reply

    Make my day! - Share your thoughts... Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

    Primary Sidebar

    Food Photographer & Blogger

    about michelle

    Welcome to my eclectic collection of recipes from all four corners of the world. I hope to inspire you to get into the kitchen and never eat a boring meal ever again. Want to know more?

    More about me →

    Join the
    Greedy Gourmet club!

    Latest Recipes

    • Green Mussels vs Black Mussels
    • Gooseberry Chutney
    • Can You Reheat Risotto?
    • Quince Chutney

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About
    • Copyright, Privacy & Disclosure Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Accessibility Policy
    • Cookie Policy

    Services

    • Food Photography
    • Recipe Development
    • Food Videography

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Work With Me
    • Media Kit

    As an Amazon Associate and affiliate marketer I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2022 Greedy Gourmet