Steamed shell-on prawns with garlic and dill
Serves 4 as a starter · 15 minutes · Frying pan with glass lid
Raw shell-on prawns steam in minutes in a hot pan under a glass lid. The shells flavour the juices, and through the glass you can see exactly when the prawns turn pink.
Steamed shell-on prawns are raw prawns cooked in the steam from a splash of beer or white wine with garlic and dill under a lid. They are best when the pan is hot from the start, the lid goes on straight away and the prawns come off the heat as soon as they are pink all the way through.
Ingredients
Serves 4 as a starter
- 600 g raw shell-on prawns, defrosted
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 3 garlic cloves
- 100 ml lager or dry white wine
- 1 bunch dill
- 30 g butter
- Flaky sea salt
- 1 lemon
- Aioli and bread, to serve
Method
- Defrost frozen prawns in the fridge overnight and drain them well. Slice the garlic, set aside a few whole dill sprigs and chop the rest of the dill.
- Heat the pan with the oil over a medium heat. Fry the garlic for 30 seconds without letting it colour.
- Turn up the heat, add the prawns and the whole dill sprigs and pour in the beer or wine. Put the glass lid on straight away.
- Steam the prawns for 3–4 minutes, shaking the pan once halfway. They are done when they are pink all over and the flesh is white all the way through.
- Remove the lid, add the butter, chopped dill and a little flaky salt and toss until the butter has melted into the juices. Serve straight from the pan with lemon wedges, aioli and bread for dipping.
Why it works
Carbon steel heats up quickly, so the liquid starts steaming the moment it goes in. The glass lid traps the steam and lets you watch the colour change, so the prawns never have time to turn rubbery.
FAQ
Can I use cooked prawns?
No, ready-cooked prawns turn rubbery when reheated. Use raw shell-on prawns, such as tiger or king prawns.
How do I know when the prawns are cooked?
When the shells are pink all over and the flesh has turned from translucent to white. Large prawns may need an extra minute.
Is it fine to use wine in a carbon steel pan?
Yes, a few minutes of steaming is no problem. Wash the pan straight afterwards, dry it on the hob and wipe it with a thin layer of oil.
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