Pil Pil Prawns – Gambas Pil Pil – Spanish Tapas

Pil Pil Prawns – Gambas Pil Pil – Spanish Tapas

Pil Pil Prawns – Gambas Pil Pil – Spanish Tapas

WHAT'S SPECIAL!

Tasty garlic and chilli prawns cooked in extra virgin olive oil!

Pil Pil Prawns is a spicy garliky delight! A simple easy and very tasty Spanish tapas that will make you feel like you are sitting in a Spanish tapas bar enjoying an ice cold glass of sangria and watching the sunset! Transport yourself to Spain with this authentic delicious tapas recipe. Juicy prawns cooked in olive oil, chilli and lots of garlic!

pil pil prawns

Spanish Tapas – Mini Series!

Welcome to the Chilli & Life Spanish Tapas mini series! I have been craving all sorts of delicious delicacies from all over Europe but especially those along the Mediterranean coast! I would usually have travelled to Sicily and France this summer but have been unable to this year!

To cheer myself up and cook some different and new dishes in my kitchen, I made 3 of my favourite tapas this weekend as much as for myself but also to share with you all and anyone else missing the Spanish sun and food this year. Or maybe you just want to know how to make these yummy Spanish tapas at home – why not!

Check out my Padron Pepper recipe; and

Spicy Patatas Bravas with homemade Bravas sauce and Aioli to complete your Spanish Tapas feast!

pil pil prawns with bread

Pil Pil Prawns – Spanish Tapas

Gambas Pil Pil is a famous Spanish tapas dish of garlic, chilli and prawns and lemon. These prawns are traditionally cooked in olive oil with lots of garlic and mild chilli peppers. The oil is mopped up with crusty bread and the floating garlic pieces.

This simple recipe is simply delicious! It has great ingredient combinations and a fail proof technique. Be as generous as you like with the garlic and chilli. Cooking is all about having fun, experimenting and adjusting certain ingredients to your taste.

What do i need?

This very simple recipe requires very few and simple classic ingredients. Many if not all of these items will be in your kitchen cupboard already, and if they are not they can be found at any supermarket.

  • King Prawns Shelled and Deveined. You can use as many prawns as you like, just adjust the seasoning accordingly;
  • Salt and Pepper;
  • 65 ml Extra Virgin Olive Oil;
  • 5 – 7 medium cloves Garlic Sliced to medium thickness;
  • dried Red Chillies Sliced finely;
  • 1 heaped tsp Paprika;
  • ½ tsp dry Parsley;
  • Few Leaves Fresh Parsley Chopped finely; and
  • fresh Lemon juice.

Cook the prawns in a pre-heated oven at 200°C. Alternatively, you can fry them in oil on the hob for a completely different flavour.

In a bowl simply add the prepped prawns and all the seasoning and chopped garlic and chillies. Mix everything together until well combined and then pour into an oven dish. Feel free to add a splash of extra virgin olive oil. Leave to bake for 7 minutes and serve with crusty bread and Padron Peppers! Don’t forget to mop up all that lovely oil!

Serving Suggestions –

Pil Pil Prawns are a very popular Spanish tapas and are best enjoyed amongst other delicious tapas dishes. Many of us can’t make it abroad this summer and I for one am missing the Mediterranean flavours. This week I have been making lots of my favourite tapas at home and just had to share these recipes with you all.

Try these with Spicy Patatas Bravas!; or

Give these Blistered Padron Peppers a try! I highly suggest you make all three and enjoy an authentic Spanish tapas feast!

Love Prawn recipes check out my all time favourite prawn recipe:

Garlic, Chilli and Coriander Butter King Prawns!

Pil Pil Prawns – Gambas Pil Pil

Spanish Tapas favourite delicious chilli and garlic prawns cooked in extra virgin olive oil!
Servings 2 people
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes

Equipment

  • Oven dish/pyrex
  • Chopping board
  • Sharp knife

Ingredients

  • 10 king prawns deveined and de-shelled
  • 80 ml extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice half a lemon
  • 4-6 garlic cloves
  • 4 dried red chillies
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp dried parsley
  • 1 tsp fresh parsley

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 200°C. Devein and de-shell the prawns. Slice the garlic and chop the chilli in half.
  • In a bowl add the olive oil, lemon juice, chillies and all the seasoning. Add the prawns and mix to coat well.
  • Add the prawns a pyrex dish and pour the olive oil mix in the dish.
  • Cook the prawns in the oven for 6-8 minutes.

Notes

TIPS –
  • Be sure to slice the garlic instead of mincing. Minced garlic can become too bitter. Slice the garlic into medium slices.
  • De seed the chilli if you don’t want the prawns to be too spicy. I like to leave mine in because these chillies especially are extremely mild.
  • Make sure the oven is pre heated and keep an eye on the prawns. 
  • Be sure to serve with some delicious crusty bread for dipping!
COOKING ON THE HOB – 
  1. Heat the olive oil in a frying pan before frying the prawns for 1 minute each side. 
  2. Add the lemon juice, sliced garlic, chilli and seasoning and mix together with the prawns and allow to fry off for 1-2 more minutes before removing from the fire.
Author: Daniel Devereux
Cost: £7
Course: Lunch, Side Dish, Snack, Starter
Cuisine: Spanish
Keyword: Quick & Easy, Savoury, Spicy, Summer, Tapas

Did you make these Pil Pil Prawns?

Please let me know how it turned out for you! Leave a comment below and tag @chilliandlife on Instagram and hashtag it #chilliandlife

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