Garlic prawns are a delicious meal with various options for what to serve them. For example, you can have garlic prawns as the main dish or put it on pasta and make it into more of an appetizer.
Here are what to serve with garlic prawns:
- Rice: butter rice, fried rice, white rice, etc.
- Bread: crusty bread, white rolls, garlic bread, etc.
- Vegetables: such as salad, stir-fried vegetables, creamy cauliflower mash, etc.
- And many more.
What are they? And how to prepare them? However you decide to enjoy your garlic prawns, there’s something for everyone!
What is Garlic Prawn?

About
Garlic prawns are a kind of Thai seafood marinated and seasoned with garlic.
It is also known as “Kai Pla” in the Thai language. Kai means “garlic,” and pla means “prawn.”
This dish can be found all over Thailand. You will find it at restaurants, street food stalls, and even on menus at local grocery stores.
It is one of the most popular appetizers in Thailand.
Are garlic prawns good for you?
Garlic prawns are delicious and nutritious, making them a perfect addition to your diet. They’re high in vitamins A, C, and B6, folic acid, calcium, iron, zinc, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, copper, manganese, and fiber.
The best part about eating garlic prawns is that they do not contain any cholesterol.
They are rich in omega-3 fatty acids (vital for heart health), high in protein, and low in calories.
This makes them perfect for people who want to lose weight.
What is the difference between shrimp and prawns and Scampi?
Some people claim that there is a difference between the two, with some claiming that it comes down to size.
In various country regions, small and medium shrimp are referred to as simply shrimp, whereas big, extra-large, and jumbo shrimp are known as prawns.
On the other hand, Scampi is an Italian dish made by cooking prawns in olive oil. This is similar to how we cook garlic prawns.
Why is eating prawns bad?
Prawns and shellfish are frequent allergies. Talk to your doctor if you have any concerning symptoms, such as a tickly throat or cough, sneezing, or an itchy tongue after eating prawns.
Less commonly, a severe allergic reaction can occur, known as anaphylaxis.
What to Serve with Garlic Prawns?

Here are some ideas for what to serve with garlicky prawns:
Fried Rice
Fried rice is a simple but delicious meal. But, of course, you can always add prawns into the mix if you love this dish.
Butter Rice
If you like buttery rice, try adding garlic prawns to your plate. It will give you that same creamy taste without using much butter.
Pasta
You can pair garlic prawns with pasta dishes. For example, if you’re serving spaghetti bolognese, you can toss the noodles with garlic prawns before serving.
You can prepare spaghetti, linguine, penne, or macaroni.
Noodles
If you prefer noodles, you can make noodles using rice flour instead of wheat flour.
You can either use fresh noodles or dried ones.
Crusty Bread
Bread is another great option. Try making crusty bread topped with butter and garlic prawns. You can also top it with cheese.
Soft White Rolls
White rolls are soft and sweet. These rolls are perfect for mopping and dipping in sauces.
Garlic Bread
Another option is to make garlic bread. Just spread butter on toast and sprinkle it with crushed garlic to make garlic bread.
Soups
A soup is another beautiful way to enjoy garlic prawns. There are so many different types of soups available. You can choose from chicken noodles, mushrooms, tomato basil, or vegetable.
Pizza
Garlic prawns are also great for pizza topping. You can either bake it or grill it.
Sauces
There are various sauces that you can choose from. Some include chili sauce, sweet chili sauce, soy sauce, oyster sauce, fish sauce, and coconut milk.

Salad
Salads are great because they provide variety. To create a healthy salad, you can combine different vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, and herbs.
Vegetable Stir Fry
A stir fry is another easy way to prepare a tasty meal. First, you must cut veggies and put them in a wok. Next, add soy sauce, sesame oil, and spices. Then, let it simmer until everything is cooked.
Grilled Chicken
Grilling is a quick way to get rid of excess fat. Grill a whole chicken and enjoy.
Steamed Fish
Steaming is a healthier alternative to boiling. Just steam a piece of fish and eat it right away.
Curry
Curry is a versatile dish. You can use it as a side dish or main course.
Coconut Shrimp
Shrimp is a favorite among kids. To make coconut shrimp, coat shrimp with breadcrumbs, then dip them in egg wash and roll them in shredded coconut.
Thai Green Papaya Salad
Green papaya salad is a refreshing dish. It’s also very nutritious. The ingredients include green papaya, bean sprouts, cucumber, carrot, cilantro, mint, onion, peanuts, and lime juice.
Creamy Mashed Sweet Potato
Sweet potatoes are a good source of vitamin A. They are also rich in fiber, potassium, magnesium, and iron. Mash them up and season with salt and pepper. Top it off with cream cheese and sour cream.
Creamy Cauliflower Mash
Cauliflower is also a good source of vitamin K. It’s high in folate and low in calories. Simply mash cauliflower florets and season with salt and black pepper. Top it off by adding cream cheese for a creamy sauce.
Spicy Tuna Roll
Tuna rolls are one of my favorites. They are easy to make and taste amazing.
Scallops
Scallops are popular seafood. They are usually served raw on top of pasta dishes.
Crab Cake
The crab cake is a classic American food. It’s filled with crab meat, mayonnaise, and other seasonings.
Salmon
Salmon is rich in nutrients. It has lots of vitamins and minerals that help keep our bodies strong.
Eggplant
Eggplants are often used in Asian cuisine.
Sushi
Sushi is a Japanese dish. It consists of sushi rice, topped with various ingredients like salmon, tuna, eel, avocado, pickled ginger, and more.
Mango Ice Cream
Mango ice cream is sweet and creamy. It tastes good when eaten alone but even better when paired with mangoes.
How to Make Garlic Prawns?
Grilled Lemon Garlic Butter Prawns Recipe
Juicy prawns are delicious plain. So simple is best!
Ingredients
Garlic marinade for prawns:
- 500g / 1lb fresh prawns (shrimp), peeled and deveined, tail on (unpeeled weight 1kg/2lb)
- 4 garlic cloves, finely chopped (don’t use crusher/mincer)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (extra virgin olive oil)
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Cooking:
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1.5 tbsp olive oil
- 50g / 3.5 tbsp unsalted butter, cut into 1.5cm / 1/2″ cubes
- 1/4 cup dry white wine
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
Serving:
- 2 tbsp parsley, finely chopped (garnish)
- Lemon wedges
- Bread for mopping!
Instructions
- Marinade: Place the prawns, garlic, olive oil, and pepper in a bowl. Gently toss, then set aside for 20 minutes.
- Salt: Add salt into prawns just before cooking and toss.
Cooking
- Melt 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter in a large, heavy-based pan over medium-high heat. When the butter is melted, add half of the prawns, but do not overcrowd the pan.
- Place the prawns in a frying pan and sauté for 1 minute on each side, or until golden. Remove from the pan with tongs and set aside. Also, cook the remaining prawns for 1 minute on each side.
- Return the first batch of prawns into the pan.
- Add wine, and it will sizzle and steam away. Stir until the bottom of the pan is mostly clear – around 30 seconds.
- Add the remaining butter to the pan, followed by the lemon juice. Stir for 30 seconds after the butter has melted, then remove from the heat.
Garlic and Chilli Prawns Recipe
This recipe is from Jamie Oliver’s recipe collection. It is a spicy, flavorful garlic and chili prawns recipe with garlicky sauce that is delicious and perfect for a dinner party.
Ingredients
- 8 large raw shell-on king prawns from sustainable sources
- 3 cloves of garlic
- 1 fresh red chili
- a few sprigs of fresh flat-leaf parsley
- 50 ml olive oil, ideally Spanish
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 lemon
Method
- Remove the heads from the prawns and leave the tails on. After running a knife down the backs of peeled prawns, pull them out and discard the dark vein.
- Remove the outer leaves from the garlic, then finely chop with the chilli. Finally, pick and finely dice the parsley leaves.
- In a small saucepan over low heat, combine the oil and garlic, and chili, then cook for 30 seconds more to flavor the oil. Finally, stir in the paprika once everything is thoroughly combined.
- Add the prawns and fry for 2 minutes on each side, or until they’re cooked through. Add all of the parsley when you turn the prawns.
- Drizzle in half of the lemon juice, then remove from the heat and add the remaining parsley and a sprinkle of sea salt.
- Serve with warm crusty bread, the remaining lemon cut wedges for squeezing over, and a glass of excellent Spanish wine for a lovely supper.
Tips for Cooking Prawns
Prawns are one of my favorite seafood. They’re so versatile and can be used in many different ways.
I love them grilled, fried, steamed, boiled, roasted… they have no limits.
Here are some tips for how to cook your prawns perfectly every time.
- When buying prawns, look for ones that are bright orange. The darker they are, the older they are. If they’re very pale, they may not be as fresh.
- When purchasing shrimp, make sure they’re firm and plump. Avoid any that are slimy or feel rubbery.
- Place them in a colander and rinse under cold running water to clean shrimp. Remove the shells by gently pulling off the tail section. Discard the shells.
- To devein shrimp, use a paring knife to slice along the inside curve of the shrimp where the head meets the body. Then, pull away the black vein using your fingers.
- If you want to grill prawns, preheat an outdoor gas or charcoal grill to high. Place the prawns on the hot grate skin-side down. Grill 3 to 5 minutes, depending on size, turning once halfway through cooking.
- If you’d rather deep-fry prawns, first coat them in flour seasoned with salt and pepper. Heat vegetable oil in a deep heavy pot to 350 degrees F. Fry about 4 prawns at a time, occasionally turning, until golden brown, about 8 minutes total. Drain on paper towels.
FAQs
What is good to eat with prawns?
Anything goes! I love serving this with lots of crunchy vegetables such as celery sticks, cucumber slices, carrot ribbons, baby corn, zucchini noodles, radishes, endive, fennel fronds, spring onions, green beans, and peas.
How do I keep prawns from curling up while grilling?
This happens because the meat cooks faster than the shell. To prevent it, place the prawns on a baking sheet lined with foil, cover loosely with more foil, and bake them at 400°F for 10 minutes. Then, turn the prawns over and continue baking for another 5 to 10 minutes, or until done.
Can I freeze prawns?
Yes, but only if the frozen prawns are raw. Cooked prawns should never be frozen.
What should I serve with shrimp scampi?
Try something like sautéed spinach, pasta, polenta, mashed potatoes, or risotto. Or go wild and throw whatever’s left in the fridge into the mix!
How does Gordon Ramsay make garlic prawns?
Gordon’s prawn recipe uses a unique technique called “piping” to infuse his prawns with flavor.
He starts by frying off the prawns’ heads, tails, and legs. Then he removes the heads and shells and mashes the flesh with a fork.
Next, he adds chopped garlic and parsley to the mixture.
Finally, he mixes the extra sauce ingredients—olives, capers, white wine, butter, and cream—and stirs everything into the prawn mixture.