Best Barbecue Prawn Recipes

GRILLED GARLIC BUTTER PRAWNS

Steps:

• If your prawns haven't been deveined, use a sharp pair of kitchen scissors and make a long incision down the length of the back then remove the vein.
• Place the prawns in a large bowl. Pour over the oil and season with the cajun spice, lemon pepper and salt. Mix well to ensure all the prawns are evenly coated.
• To make the sauce, melt the butter in a large pot (the pot needs to be big enough to toss all the prawns in once they are cooked) and add the garlic, lemon juice and spices.
• Allow to cook for a minute until fragrant then pour in the cream. Bring to a simmer and allow to cook for 5 minutes then remove from the heat.
• Taste and adjust seasoning accordingly. The sauce needs to be a little too lemony and very well seasoned. Once the prawns are added, the sauce will mellow a bit.
• Preheat the grill for 10-15 minutes. I prefer using an outdoor grill/braai/barbecue as the smoke adds incredible flavor to the shrimp once cooked but you can use a griddle pan too.
• Add the prawns and cook for 2-3 minutes per side until they are coral/orange in color. As the prawns cook, add them to the pot with the sauce.
• Once all the prawns have been added, toss to coat the prawns in the sauce.
• Serve over rice or with crusty bread and extra lemon wedges.

NEW ORLEANS-STYLE BARBECUED SHRIMP

Steps:

• Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil, shallot and garlic. Cook, stirring often with a wooden spoon, until the shallots are soft and fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add the lemon slices and cook until they begin to brown, about 1 minute longer, then stir in the shrimp, paprika, thyme, black pepper and salt. Add the Worcestershire sauce and 3 tablespoons water and bring the liquid to a simmer.
• Cook, stirring often, until the shrimp are beginning to turn pink, about 2 minutes. Add the butter cubes and swirl the pan to combine. Allow the sauce to simmer until the shrimp are pink and just opaque all the way through, another 3 to 4 minutes. Serve with lots of napkins and some crusty bread for sopping up the sauce.

CAJUN BBQ PRAWNS

Steps:

• Preheat the grill to medium-high.
• For the Cajun dry rub: Combine the salt, black pepper, chili powder, cumin, granulated onion, paprika and cayenne pepper in a small bowl.
• For the spicy peach bbq sauce: Drizzle the Anaheim chile with canola oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill until charred on all side, about 5 minutes total. Cool briefly, and then remove the stem and chop.
• Put the bacon, onion and garlic in a small saucepan over medium-high heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is translucent and the bacon is slightly caramelized, about 5 minutes. Stir in the peach preserves and Anaheim chile, then stir in the barbecue sauce, molasses, rum, cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, 1 teaspoon salt and 1 teaspoon black pepper. Bring the sauce to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer until the sauce is slightly reduced and thickened, about 10 minutes. Cool; put the sauce into a blender and puree until smooth. Divide the sauce among 2 bowls, reserve one for serving.
• For the prawns: Line a serving platter with the arugula. Drizzle the prawns with the oil and dust with the Cajun dry rub on all sides. Grill until charred on the first side, about 3 minutes. Flip the prawns, baste with some of the spicy peach bbq sauce, and cook until the prawns are charred on the second side, about 2 more minutes. Baste, flip, baste again, and pull off the grill.
• Put the shrimp on top of the arugula and serve immediately with the reserved bowl of spicy peach bbq sauce on the side.