garlicky spot prawn pasta
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garlicky spot prawn pasta

Garlicky Pasta with Spot Prawns, Lemon and Herbs

February 11th, 2021

Big, Bright and Bold Flavors Come Alive Simply

This simple and snappy weeknight seafood pasta recipe, developed by the talented Yewande Komolafe, features spot prawns, the sweet and umami-rich crustacean that is so decadent that its sometimes referred to as the "lobster of Alaska." The ingredients in this garlic pasta recipe are quite simple — lemon, herbs, and lots of garlic — but when combined with spot prawns, it's a meal that sets itself apart from typical shrimp pasta recipes.

Helpful Notes and Substitutions:

Your favorite long pasta — linguine, fettuccine or spaghetti — will all work well here. If you have different onions, you can sub these in for shallots. You can also add slivered snap peas or asparagus at the tail end of the cooking process — any tender vegetables that you have on hand will do!

Make sure to reserve some pasta water to finish the dish. Don't worry about measuring out how much pasta water to save — simply reserve a ladle or so of it to add back to the sauté pan, as this starchy water is going to give you a nice creaminess to the pasta. It will also help marry the flavors, influsing them throughout the dish.

Peeling the spot prawns ahead will work fine, but we recommend keeping the spot prawn shells on as they will lend a lot of flavor to the dish. For shells on, you’ll need to sear at a slightly higher heat than you would with peeled prawns, so the shells break down and become delightfully crisp.

Print Recipe

Garlicky Spot Prawns, Lemon & Herbs with Pasta

By Wild Alaskan Company

This is a simple, snappy, weeknight pasta dish — developed by the talented Yewande Komolafe — that highlights the complementary qualities of our spot prawns — sweetness and umami-richness. To give them the proper stage on which to shine, this recipe keeps it light — fresh garlic, lemon zest and juice, finely chopped herbs and a dash of red pepper flakes.

Prep time

15 minutes

Cook Time

25 minutes

Total time

40 minutes

Yield

4 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 pound spaghetti
  • Salt and black pepper
  • ¼ cup dill chopped
  • ¼ cup parsley, chopped
  • 2 lemons, zested
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 pound spot prawns, defrosted
  • 2 small shallots, peeled and minced
  • 4 garlic cloves, peeled and sliced
  • 1 teaspoon chili flakes
  • ¾ cup white wine
  • 4 tablespoons butter, softened

Instructions

1. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook according to the instructions on the packet until just al dente. Drain the cooked pasta, reserving 1 cup of the cooking liquid to use later.

2. In a small bowl, combine the chopped parsley, dill and lemon zest, set aside.

3. In a large saucepan or dutch oven over high heat, heat up 2 tablespoons olive oil until shimmering.

4. Add in the spot prawns and cook without moving for 2 minutes. Move prawns to a plate and reduce heat to medium-high.

5. Add in the remaining olive oil, shallots and garlic. Cook until just softened, about 2-3 minutes.

6. Add in the chili flakes and white wine. Simmer until the sauce is reduced in volume and alcohol is cooked off, about 3 minutes.

7. Return the spot prawns to the pan plus any juices. Add in the cooked pasta and about ½ cup of the reserved cooking liquid. Toss the pasta and prawns in the sauce until fully coated, adding more reserved cooking liquid if necessary.

8. Season to taste with salt and cracked black pepper. Add in several squeezes of juice from the zested lemon, add in the butter, and toss to coat.

9. Divide pasta and prawns among bowls. Serve topped with the lemon-parsley garnish and additional wedges of lemon for squeezing.

Consuming raw or undercooked meats, poultry, seafood, shellfish, or eggs may increase your risk of food-borne illness, especially if you have a certain medical condition. The FDA recommends an internal temperature of 145°F for cooked fish.