Air fryer garlic prawns
Juicy prawns in butter, garlic and lemon — the classic Spanish gambas al ajillo in a lightning-fast air fryer version, ready to serve in under 20 minutes.
Equipment
- 1 Air fryer
- 1 Cutting board
- 1 Knife
- 1 Small bowl For the garlic butter
- 1 Bagepapir (til airfryer) Optional, for easy cleaning
Ingredients
Garlic butter
- 50 g butter
- 6 clove garlic Finely chopped
- 2 tbsp olive oil Extra virgin
- 1 tsp chilli flakes
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
1 tsp salt- 0.5 tsp freshly ground black pepper
Prawns and topping
- 400 g peeled prawns Raw or fully thawed
- 1 pcs lemon Juice and finely grated zest
- 3 tbsp fresh parsley Finely chopped
To serve
- 1 pcs baguette Toasted, for dipping
Instructions
Preparation
- Preheat the air fryer to 200 °C.
- Melt 50 g butter gently in a small bowl in the microwave or in a small saucepan. Mix with 6 clove garlic and 2 tbsp olive oil.
- Add 1 tsp chilli flakes, 1 tsp smoked paprika, 1 tsp salt and 0.5 tsp freshly ground black pepper to the garlic butter and stir everything together well.
- Pat 400 g peeled prawns dry with kitchen paper and toss them thoroughly in the spiced garlic butter so they are coated on all sides.
Cooking in the air fryer
- Place the prawns in a single layer in the air fryer basket and pour the remaining garlic butter over the top.
- Cook at 200 °C for 5-6 minutes until the prawns are pink and firm. Gently shake the basket halfway through so they cook evenly.
Serving
- Squeeze the juice from 1 pcs lemon over the hot prawns, and sprinkle with 3 tbsp fresh parsley and finely grated lemon zest.
- Serve immediately with toasted 1 pcs baguette for dipping in the aromatic garlic butter. Remember small bowls or deep plates so you can scoop up all the juices.
Notes
Tips for perfect results:
Avoid overcooking the prawns — they're done as soon as they turn pink and firm. Overcooked prawns become rubbery and lose their juiciness. If you're using pre-cooked prawns, simply heat them through for 2-3 minutes at 180 °C. Variation:
Add a small splash of dry sherry or white wine to the garlic butter for an even more authentic Spanish twist. You can also swap the chilli flakes for a finely chopped fresh red chilli for extra freshness and depth. Serving:
Serve as tapas with toasted baguette, a fresh green salad and a glass of chilled albariño or manzanilla sherry. Also delicious as part of a bigger tapas spread with olives, manchego and serrano ham. Portion size:
If your air fryer is small, it's a good idea to cook the prawns in two batches so they sit in a single layer and cook evenly.
Avoid overcooking the prawns — they're done as soon as they turn pink and firm. Overcooked prawns become rubbery and lose their juiciness. If you're using pre-cooked prawns, simply heat them through for 2-3 minutes at 180 °C. Variation:
Add a small splash of dry sherry or white wine to the garlic butter for an even more authentic Spanish twist. You can also swap the chilli flakes for a finely chopped fresh red chilli for extra freshness and depth. Serving:
Serve as tapas with toasted baguette, a fresh green salad and a glass of chilled albariño or manzanilla sherry. Also delicious as part of a bigger tapas spread with olives, manchego and serrano ham. Portion size:
If your air fryer is small, it's a good idea to cook the prawns in two batches so they sit in a single layer and cook evenly.
Nutrition
Calories: 380kcalCarbohydrates: 28gProtein: 24gFat: 19gSaturated fat: 8gPolyunsaturated fat: 2gMonounsaturated fat: 8gCholesterol: 175mgSodium: 920mgPotassium: 280mgFiber: 2gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 550IUVitamin C: 12mgCalcium: 110mgIron: 2.5mgNet carbohydrates: 26g
