Cajun Prawns
Cajun Prawns are a quick and easy recipe perfect for dinner any night of the week! With a homemade spice mix and succulent juicy prawns.
Servings: 4
Calories: 279kcal
Ingredients
Cajun seasoning
- 2 tbs garlic powder Note 1
- 2 tbs smoked paprika Note 2
- 1 tbs onion powder Note 3
- 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper Note 4
- 1 tablespoon dried thyme Note 5
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano Note 6
- ½ tsp salt Note 7
- ½ teaspoon black pepper Note 8
Prawns (Shrimp)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil Note 9
- 1 kg/2 pounds prawns (shrimp) Note 10
Instructions
- Cajun spice mix: gather the ingredients to make the seasoning. Then combine the garlic powder, paprika, onion powder, dried thyme, dried oregano, cayenne pepper, salt and pepper on a plate (or small bowl) and use a mini whisk to stir until consistently mixed.
- Prawns: use a cutting board and start by twisting the heads off the prawns. Then peel the shell from the body and remove it and the legs, leaving the tail and end section intact. Next use a sharp knife and cut down the backbone of each prawn then remove the digestive tract and discard. Once done rinse the prawns and use paper towel to pat dry, then place the peeled prawns into a large bowl.
- Cook: place a large frying pan onto to stove top, turn the heat to high and drizzle in the olive oil. When the oil is hot use tongs to place 8-10 prawns into the pan and cook them for 2-3 mins per side. Flip and rotate to the other side them use the tongs to remove them from the pan once cooked and place them into a bowl with paper towel. Add additional oil as needed and continue to cook the prawn until they are all done.
- To serve: pair the Cajun prawns with lemon wedges and flat leaf parsley for garnish. Serve with rice (optional) to make them a complete meal.
Notes
- Note 1 - Garlic powder: a fantastic pantry staple and excellent ingredient to use in dry rubs.
- Note 2 - Paprika: you can use either smoked paprika or ground paprika. I usually use ground paprika when making these prawns.
- Note 3 - Onion Powder: as above. We use a little bit less of the onion powder compared to the garlic powder as a means for the best flavored prawns.
- Note 4 - Dried thyme: easy and convenient to use when kept in the pantry. This dried herb gives the Cajun seasoning a little of its own texture and aroma.
- Note 5 - Dried oregano: another great go to dried herb to have at home. This gives a complimentary pairing to the dried thyme.
- Note 6 - Cayenne pepper: this is a hot spice! A little of it goes a long way. Omit or reduce the amount to make the prawns less spicy.
- Note 7 - Salt: cooking salt (kosher salt) is the best type to use.
- Note 8 - Pepper: we use a small amount of black pepper in the recipe for seasoning.
- Note 9- Olive oil: we use olive oil to cook the prawns in a hot pan on the stove top.
- Note 10 - Prawns: or shrimp depending on what country you are in. This fantastic protein cooks quick and is full of flavor.
Nutrition
Calories: 279kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 36g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.02g | Cholesterol: 315mg | Sodium: 1713mg | Potassium: 480mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 2755IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 195mg | Iron: 3mg