Spicy Prawns Recipe
Cajun cream sauce, bacon, tomatoes, scallions, Parmesan + rustic bread
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Ingredients
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Prawns & Toppings
Cajun Cream Sauce
To Serve
Method
Prawns & Toppings
- 1
Prepare prawns
Pat the prawns dry with paper towels and season lightly with 1/4 tsp salt and a pinch of pepper. Set aside at room temperature while you prepare other components.
- 2
Cook bacon
In a large skillet over medium heat, add the diced bacon and cook until crisp, about 6–8 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer bacon to a paper-towel-lined plate, leaving about 1 tablespoon of bacon fat in the skillet (discard any excess fat or reserve for another use).
- 3
Sear prawns
Increase heat to medium-high, add 1 tablespoon olive oil to the skillet with the reserved bacon fat. Add prawns in a single layer and sear 1–2 minutes per side until pink and just cooked through (they will curl and become opaque). Remove prawns to a plate — they will finish cooking in the sauce. Keep any browned bits in the pan.
- 4
Prep tomatoes & scallions
While prawns cook, halve the cherry tomatoes (or dice Roma), and thinly slice the scallions, keeping whites and greens separate. Set aside both for the sauce and garnish.
Cajun Cream Sauce
- 5
- 6
Build roux and spices
Sprinkle 1 teaspoon flour over the aromatics and stir for 30 seconds to remove raw flour taste. Add 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning, 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika, and 1 teaspoon hot sauce; stir to coat and bloom the spices for 20–30 seconds.
- 7
Deglaze
Pour in 1/4 cup dry white wine or chicken broth to deglaze the pan, scraping up browned bits from the bottom with a wooden spoon. Allow the liquid to reduce by about half, 1–2 minutes.
- 8
Finish cream sauce
Reduce heat to medium-low and pour in 1 cup heavy cream, stirring to combine. Simmer gently until sauce thickens slightly, about 3–5 minutes. Stir in 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper. Taste and adjust seasoning or heat with more Cajun seasoning or hot sauce if desired.
- 9
Add tomatoes and cheese
Add the halved tomatoes and about 3/4 cup of the grated Parmesan to the sauce, stirring until the cheese melts and the tomatoes warm through, about 1–2 minutes. The sauce should be creamy and slightly thickened.
- 10
Return prawns & bacon to pan
Return the seared prawns and cooked bacon to the skillet, stirring gently to coat with the sauce. Simmer for 1–2 minutes more so prawns finish cooking and flavors meld. Do not overcook prawns.
To Serve
- 11
- 12
Plate and garnish
Spoon the spicy prawns and plenty of Cajun cream sauce onto a serving plate or shallow bowl. Sprinkle with remaining Parmesan cheese, the green parts of the sliced scallions, and chopped parsley if using. Serve immediately with toasted rustic bread to mop up the sauce.
- 13