Creamy Garlic Prawns are easier to make than you think. There not just for eating in restaurants atop your favourite surf and turf. With a few simple ingredients, and 20 minutes, this dish can be on the table. Plump, juicy prawns smothered in fragrant creamy garlic sauce. This is true comfort food and a classic that you can definitely make at home.
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Why Make This Recipe
- It works with either frozen or fresh prawns
- Its luscious, indulgent, and perfect for Date Night or when you’re having guests over
- Quick and easy to make
- Its got loads of flavour, with few ingredients
- Pairs well with these Garlic Butter Roasted Brussel Sprouts to break up the richness!
Ingredients
Ingredient Notes
- Prawns: Make sure to use the best quality prawns you can get – even if its frozen, which I used in this recipe because they’re easy and convenient. Frozen prawns worked great and the work is already done in terms of removing shells and heads so you don’t have to worry about discarding them. If you are using frozen prawns, thaw completely, drain excess moisture by straining them in a colander, then roughly pat dry before adding to pan.
- Cream: Full fat cream, or thickened cream is whats needed for this recipe to cream that nice full robust creamy flavour. However, this recipe will still work if you choose a light or low fat version of cream.
- Chicken Stock/Broth: This adds flavour and depth to the sauce. I like to use a low salt one so it doesn’t end up to salty.
- Garlic: Nothing beats fresh garlic, but minced garlic in the jar will work too!
- Cornflour: this is to thicken the sauce slightly.
How To Make This Dish
- Prepare prawns: Strain off any excess moisture if they’ve been frozen.
- Fry off onion and Garlic: In a large pan on medium high heat, add the oil, onion and garlic. Cook for 1 minute, until onion becomes translucent.
- Add Prawns: Add the prawns to the pan and cook for few minutes, until they start to change colour and turn pinky/orange.
- Add Greens: Add shallots and spinach and stir through to combine.
- Add mustard and cream: Whisk the Dijon mustard and cream together, then add to pan, along with salt and pepper. Stir gently through.
- Thicken: Add the cornflour to the chicken stock/broth and whisk together. Pour into pan and stir through.
- Add Tomatoes: Gently fold through sliced cherry tomatoes.
Serving Suggestions
- Steamed Jasmine Rice or Brown Rice
- Your favourite Pasta: spaghetti, fettucine
- Cous Cous: pearl cous cous, or instant cous cous
- Mashed Sweet Potato
Serving with a squeeze of lemon is also a must.
Low Carb Option
Cauliflower Rice or combination of Cauliflower and Broccoli Rice, even zucchini noodles. I buy the frozen cauliflower rice that you steam in the microwave. Its super easy and convenient if you're not into making it yourself.
Toppings
- Fresh chopped shallots
- Finely diced basil
- Dried red chilli flakes for a hit of heat
- A few fresh basil leaves
- Mixed mint and coriander finely chopped
My favourite way to enjoy this dish depends on my mood. If I really want to indulge, I’ll have it with steamed jasmine rice, but more often than not, I’ll eat it with steamed cauliflower rice and let me tell you it totally works. The cauliflower rice sucks up that creamy garlic sauce and it is delicious!
Your Questions Answered
I wouldn’t recommend freezing this dish once its been cooked. Its best eaten fresh, or you can store leftovers in the fridge for a day, but I’d reheat and eat them within 24 hours.
Any type of prawns will work if using fresh. Just make sure to buy uncooked, sometimes called “green” prawns (although they’re not green in colour). Remove the heads and shell, but keep the tail on as this adds to the flavour of the sauce.
A Final Tip
If you love cooking steaks, these creamy garlic prawns would be a great steak topper, and a sure way to impress dinner party guests! Just pile 3 or 4 prawns on top of your steak and you've got a homemade Surf and Turf!
More Prawn Recipes
- Korean Gochujang Prawns
- Simple and Easy Prawn Tacos with Slaw
- Thai Prawn Salad
- Garlic Prawn and Tomato Risotto
- Prawn Pizza
- Air Fryer Popcorn Prawns
Creamy Garlic Prawns
Ingredients
- 500 grams (1 pound) prawns/shrimp - raw, peeled, tails on (Note 1)
- 2 tablespoons Olive oil or vegetable oil
- 3 tablespoons Minced Garlic
- 1 ½ cups Thickened cream
- 2 tablespoons Dijon Mustard
- ½ cup chicken stock/broth
- 1 tablespoon Cornflour/Cornstarch
- ¾ cup Shallots, diced
- 1 cup Cherry tomatoes, halved - cut in half
- 2 cups baby spinach
- ½ teaspoon Salt and pepper
- 2 cups Jasmine rice
Instructions
- In a large pan on medium high heat, add the oil, onion and garlic. Cook for 1 minute, until onion becomes translucent.
- Add the prawns to the pan and cook for few minutes, until prawns start to change colour and turn pinky/orange.
- Add shallots and spinach and stir through until spinach just begins to wilt.
- Add the Dijon mustard to the Cream and whisk together in a jug, then add to pan, along with salt and pepper. Stir gently through until combined.
- Add the cornflour to the chicken stock/broth and whisk together. Pour into pan and stir through. Gently fold through sliced cherry tomatoes.
- Serve immediately with your favourite side. (Suggestions included in notes)
Notes
- Prawns: Make sure to use the best quality prawns you can get – even if its frozen, which I used in this recipe because they’re easy and convenient. Frozen prawns worked great and the work is already done in terms of removing shells and heads so you don’t have to worry about discarding them. If you are using frozen prawns, thaw completely, drain excess moisture by straining them in a colander, then roughly pat dry before adding to pan.
- Cream: Full fat cream, or thickened cream is whats needed for this recipe to cream that nice full robust creamy flavour. However, this recipe will still work if you choose a light or low fat version of cream.
- Chicken Stock/Broth: This adds flavour and depth to the sauce. I like to use a low salt one so it doesn’t end up to salty.
- Garlic: Nothing beats fresh garlic, but minced garlic in the jar will work too!
- Cornflour: this is to thicken the sauce slightly.
- Steak Topper: If using this recipe as a steak topper, it would be suitable for 6 to 7 people.
- Serving Suggestions
- Steamed Jasmine Rice or Brown Rice
- Your favourite Pasta: spaghetti, fettucine
- Cous Cous: pearl cous cous, or instant cous cous
- Mashed Sweet Potato
Nutrition
Note: Sugars contained in this recipe are from naturally occurring sugars in fruits, vegetables or other natural sweeteners. Calories have been calculated for your convenience using My Fitness Pal and are based on the ingredients listed in the recipe card.
Andrea Coreschi
Hi Kim! My diet is dairy free. Im wondering if substituting coconut milk / cream for the regular cream in the Creamy Garlic Prawns recipe will significantly change the taste / texture?
Kim
Hi Andrea,
I've never made this with coconut milk or coconut cream but I suspect it might give a bit of a coconut flavour and not sure how that would go with the garlic flavour of this dish. For a dairy free version, you could try something like Unsweetened Almond Milk, or other similar unsweetened nut milk.
Cheers,
Kim