Name: Spicy Buttered Prawn Pasta
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 100g or 1 serving cooked pasta (spaghetti, linguine, or fettuccine); 2-3 tbsps pasta water; 100g or 4-5 fresh prawns, deveined; 1 tbsp cooking oil; 2 tbsps unsalted butter, divided; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 1 tbsp onion, minced; 1 tsp chili flakes (adjust to taste); 1/2 tsp dried thyme or herb of choice (optional); Salt and Pepper, to taste; Fresh parsley or basil, for garnish

Succulent prawns over pasta in a luscious buttery, spicy sauce… This Spicy Buttered Prawn Pasta is a 20-minute delight to set your tastebuds alight!

I usually peel and devein my prawns, but when I’ve scored huge prawns from the market, I don’t! Not only does it look more impressive in a dish, you’re going to get a lot more prawn head tomalley, which means an extra boost of briny, prawny flavours for this Spicy Buttered Prawn Pasta!

This takes just 20-minutes to prepare, and is utterly satisfying whenever those pasta cravings hit.

Why You Will Love This!

Quick and Flavorful: This dish embodies the best of both worlds – lightning-fast to prepare while delivering punchy flavours.
Succulent Prawns: Fresh prawns take centre stage, cooked to perfection and complemented by the spicy, buttery sauce.
Versatile Delight: Whether it’s a speedy weeknight dinner or an impressive dish for guests, this pasta fits the bill!
Easy and Accessible: With simple ingredients and minimal cooking time, it’s a go-to recipe for those seeking convenience without sacrificing taste.

Key Ingredients for Spicy Buttered Prawns Pasta

Prawns/Shrimp: Opt for fresh, if available, or thawed if using frozen. In this recipe, I kept my prawns with the shell on, for maximum flavour. Devein by running scissors along the spine, and removing the vein. This will keep the shells intact. If you want to use peeled prawns, that’s perfectly fine too!
Pasta: Choose your favorite type – spaghetti, linguine, or fettuccine. I used linguine in this recipe.
Butter: The base of this pasta dish is delicious butter! Unsalted butter is preferable to control the salt content, but you can use butter if that’s all you have.
Garlic: Adds a rich aromatic base to the dish.
Onions (optional): Onions are optional, but they add an extra layer of aromatic flavour to the dish.
Chili Flakes: The main spice to turn this into a spicy buttered sauce! Any chilli flakes you have will work, I’m using gochugaru here or Korean chilli pepper flakes for a smoky, spicy note. Adjust according to your heat preference.
Dried Thyme (optional): A dash of dried herbs will give this dish an extra layer of sophisticated flavour. Any dried herbs you have on hand will work; even premixed Italian herbs. I also enjoy this with dried rosemary.
Salt & Pepper (to taste): Enhances the flavors.
Fresh Parsley or Basil (for garnish): Adds a touch of freshness and colour.

How to Make Spicy Buttered Prawn Pasta

1. Prepare the Pasta

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.

Cook the pasta according to package instructions until it’s al dente. With linguine, this would be 10 minutes, but follow the instructions on the pasta packet.

Before draining, ladle out some pasta water for use later. Keep this to one side.

Drain the pasta and set aside.

2. Sauté the Prawns

Prepare prawns by deveining. Run a scissors along the spine, and remove the vein. This will keep the shell intact. Alternatively, if you want to complete deshell the prawns, this is ok too. Pat prawns dry with a paper towel.

In a large skillet, add oil and melt 1/2 of the butter over medium-high heat. Oil is added to prevent the butter from browning too quickly. Burnt butter over high heat will leave a bitter aftertaste.

Add the prawns, and season with salt and pepper. Pan fry on one side for 1-2 minutes, before flipping it over to the other side to cook evenly. Season the other side with salt and pepper as well. Once prawns turn pink and opaque, remove from the pan and set them aside.

3. Create the Spicy Butter Sauce

In the same skillet, add the remaining butter.

Add onions, garlic, chilli flakes and dried herbs. Continuously stir, so the spices and herbs can fully flavour the butter without burning.

4. Combine and Serve

Add cooked pasta to the skillet, and a splash of the pasta water. Give a toss to combine, and season with salt and pepper, if needed. Note that pasta water is lightly salted as well, so you may not need to season it further.

Return the cooked prawns to the skillet, gently tossing them with the pasta. Give a final sprinkle of fresh parsley or basil. Serve immediately!

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