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Garlic and Fennel Pan-Fried Prawns with Lemon Zest

Pan-fried king prawns are one of my favourite tapas-style dishes: quick to prepare, healthy, and full of flavour.

If you’re planning a tapas spread this weekend, add a bowl of these prawns — they’re simple, impressive and ready in minutes.

Pan Fried King Prawn Ingredients

  • 1 teaspoon fennel seeds
  • Splash of olive oil
  • 2 cloves garlic – minced
  • 400g raw king prawns
  • Zest of a lemon
  • Juice of a lemon
  • Small handful of basil
  • Sea salt and cracked black pepper, to taste
Delicious tapas prawns with garlic and fennel

How to Make Pan Fried King Prawns

  • Toast the fennel seeds — briefly dry-toast them in a frying pan until aromatic, then grind finely with a pestle and mortar.
  • Flavour the oil — add a splash of olive oil to the pan, add the minced garlic and gently cook for about a minute to release its aroma.
  • Cook the prawns — add the raw king prawns, sprinkle in the ground fennel and lemon zest, then squeeze over the lemon juice.
  • Fry on high heat — cook for around 4 minutes until the prawns turn pink and are heated through.
  • Finish and season — transfer to a serving dish, scatter over the basil and season with sea salt and cracked black pepper to taste.

These prawns work beautifully among a selection of tapas dishes — simple, fresh and ready in minutes.

Make Pan Fried King Prawns Your Own Way

  • Swap the fennel for chilli if you want a spicy kick.
  • Replace basil with flat-leaf parsley for a herbier finish.

Serve suggestions: place the prawns on the table with other tapas, add salads and crusty bread, and enjoy with red wine.

How to Serve Pan Fried King Prawns

  • As part of a tapas spread — combine with dishes such as chorizo in red wine and patatas bravas, along with salads and fresh bread.
  • Quick midweek meal — serve the prawns with a pouch of flavoured microwave rice and a green salad for an easy, healthy dinner.
Tapas prawns with garlic and fennel

Need Some Family Meal Ideas?

Try meal planning to take the stress out of weeknights — a little planning delivers a variety of recipes and easy-to-follow plans your family will enjoy.

If you enjoy prawns, experiment with other simple prawn recipes for more quick, tasty meals.

bowlful of pan fried prawns with garlic and fennel

Pan Fried King Prawns

Yield:
Serves 3-4 as part of tapas
Prep Time:
5 minutes
Cook Time:
5 minutes
Total Time:
5 minutes

Pan fried prawns with garlic and fennel — a delicious seafood tapas option.

Ingredients

  • 1 teaspoon fennel seeds
  • Splash of olive oil
  • 2 cloves garlic – minced
  • 400g raw king prawns
  • Zest of a lemon
  • Juice of a lemon
  • Small handful of basil
  • Sea salt and cracked black pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Toast the fennel seeds in a dry frying pan until fragrant, then grind them finely.
  2. Add olive oil and garlic to the pan and gently cook for a minute to flavour the oil.
  3. Add the prawns, the ground fennel and lemon zest, and squeeze over the lemon juice.
  4. Fry over high heat for about 4 minutes until the prawns are pink and cooked through.
  5. Transfer to a serving dish, scatter with basil and season with sea salt and cracked black pepper.
Nutrition Information:

Yield: 4
Serving Size: 1

Amount Per Serving:
Calories: 163
Total Fat: 5g
Saturated Fat: 1g
Trans Fat: 0g
Unsaturated Fat: 4g
Cholesterol: 211mg
Sodium: 1094mg
Carbohydrates: 5g
Fiber: 1g
Sugar: 1g
Protein: 23g

© wendy

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For more meal ideas and easy recipes, look through your favourite recipe collections and try variations to suit your taste.