Sizzling prawns in chilli butter with orzo, herb and tomato salad

Name: Sizzling prawns in chilli butter with orzo, herb and tomato salad
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 200g of prawns, raw and peeled; 30g of butter; 2 red chillies, in oil, thinly sliced (or 1 chilli if you prefer a milder heat); 1 garlic clove, thinly sliced; 1 pinch of smoked paprika; salt; pepper; 1 tbsp of flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped; 150g of orzo; 14 baby plum tomatoes, halved; 1 tbsp of olive oil; 1/4 tsp salt; 2 tbsp of flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped; 1 tbsp of thyme leaves; 1 tbsp of dill, finely chopped; 2 tbsp of basil leaves, torn; 1/2 lemon, zested; 1 tbsp of lemon juice

by Elly McCausland

Item 1 of 1

Main
easy
2
30 minutes

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Not yet rated

This dazzling chilli prawn pasta salad recipe is a riot of colour and flavour, and can be on the table in 30 minutes flat. Use one chilli for a gentle heat, or two for a more fiery finish to this sizzling dish. If you can't find orzo pasta, use another small pasta shape of your choice.

First published in 2016

discover more:

This is a fast and flavoursome way to serve prawns, and ideal for a quick and satisfying supper. Simply pan-fried in butter infused with chilli and garlic, they stay juicy and delicious, caramelising slightly on the outside. Preserved red chillies are perfect for this dish – they’re just fiery enough to add a real kick to the prawns, but enhance rather than drown out the delicate sweetness of the seafood. They also have a slight tang that is perfect with the richness of the prawns. You can add as much chilli as you like – one chilli gives a more conservative warmth, while two makes everything pleasantly mouth-tingling!

The buttery, spicy prawns are fabulous spooned over a hearty mix of orzo (rice-shaped) pasta, fresh herbs, cherry tomatoes, olive oil and lemon. The tomatoes give a pleasant pop of acidity, while the orzo soaks up all the buttery juices from the prawns, peppered with aromatic herbs. It’s a healthy, vibrant bowlful, tangy and rich and spicy, and can easily be thrown together on a busy weeknight.

Ingredients

Metric

Imperial

Sizzling prawns in chilli butter

200g of prawns, raw and peeled
30g of butter
2 red chillies, in oil, thinly sliced (or 1 chilli if you prefer a milder heat)
1 garlic clove, thinly sliced
1 pinch of smoked paprika
salt
pepper
1 tbsp of flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped

Pasta salad

150g of orzo
14 baby plum tomatoes, halved
1 tbsp of olive oil
1/4 tsp salt
2 tbsp of flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped
1 tbsp of thyme leaves
1 tbsp of dill, finely chopped
2 tbsp of basil leaves, torn
1/2 lemon, zested
1 tbsp of lemon juice

SAVE RECIPE

PRINT RECIPE

SHOPPING LIST

Method

First, prepare the orzo salad. Bring a large pan of salted water to the boil and cook the orzo until just al dente (around 7–8 minutes)

Meanwhile, mix together the olive oil, salt, herbs, lemon juice and zest

Drain the pasta, then toss with the olive oil and herb mixture. Stir through the tomatoes and set aside

For the prawns, heat the butter on a medium heat in a saucepan. Add the chillies and garlic and cook for a minute until fragrant and the garlic has softened slightly

Turn the heat up slightly, throw in the prawns and smoked paprika and cook for a couple of minutes on each side, or until just pink. Season and scatter with the parsley