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Baked Prawns

Oven-baked prawns are not only a delightful main course for regular dinners but also an excellent choice for festive occasions or a sophisticated dinner party. Pair with a crisp white wine and enjoy the flavors of the sea!
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Baked Prawns
  • Difficulty Easy
  • Prep 5 minutes
  • Cook 10 minutes
  • Servings 4 people

Oven-baked prawns are the perfect solution when you’re looking for a dish that’s both elegant and easy to prepare. Within just 15 minutes, you can serve a seafood main course that’s not only fresh and light but sure to impress.

Our recommended method for this dish retains the prawn’s natural carapace during baking. This not only ensures that the flesh stays tender and succulent but also adds a touch of finesse to the presentation. If you’re inclined to serve them without the shell, simply cover the prawns with baking paper to prevent them from drying out, preserving their rich and succulent texture.

Preparing baked frozen prawns? Ensure they’re thoroughly thawed before baking. Cooking prawns directly from frozen is not advisable as it can affect their texture and flavor. To elevate the baked prawns in this recipe, we’ve incorporated lemon zest and fresh parsley – two pantry staples that beautifully complement seafood. For those wanting to add a gourmet twist, a splash of brandy or cognac before baking will infuse the prawns with a rich, aromatic flavor.

A note on color: If your baked prawns have a white carapace post-cooking, it’s likely due to the variety you’ve chosen. For a vibrant red hue even after cooking, opt for Argentine Red Prawns. These prawns not only maintain their stunning color but are also known for their substantial size and exceptional taste.

Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. To prepare the Baked Prawns put the coarsely chopped parsley, finely chopped clove of garlic, lemon juice, oil, salt and pepper in a small bowl and mix well. Wash the prawns well under running water and arrange them on a baking sheet.

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  2. Thoroughly brush all the prawns with the parsley sauce, add a lemon cut into quarters to the baking dish and bake in a preheated oven at 400°F (200°C) for about 5-10 minutes.

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  3. Once ready, take them out of the oven and serve your Baked Prawns piping hot accompanied by a few lemon slices.

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Alternatives

If you prefer you can clean the Prawns completely by removing the carapace and intestines, but you will have to do a more gentle cooking perhaps covering the pan with the prawns with baking paper on the surface so they do not dry out too much. If you do not want to use the oven you can prepare the Pan-cooked prawns.

Tips

For perfect Baked Prawns we recommend using large prawns the best type, which retains a nice reddish color even after cooking is the Argentine Red Prawn.

Storage

Baked Prawns can be stored in the refrigerator sealed in an airtight container for up to one day.