The Best Gambas Pil Pil

This garlicky spicy prawn dish is simply delectable. Here is my take on the classic Spanish tapa, my best gambas pil pil recipe.

Since moving to Spain my go to tapa is always the gambas pil pil, I really love the spicy garlic sauce infused with the olive oil. I think my wife agrees, a plate of gambas pil pil is almost certainly ordered when we go to a beach bar for some tapas and drinks.

This recipe is really simple. The most time consuming bit is cleaning the prawns. If you have a good fishmonger you can ask him/her to clean them for you.

Traditionally gambas pil pil is cooked directly in a terracotta casserole like this one but a pan will work perfectly well. Make sure you have all the ingredients ready because the cooking goes very quickly and you want everything on hand including some rustic bread or baguette to dunk into the wonderful sauce this dish creates.

The Best Gambas Pil Pil

(142 votes, average: 3.55 out of 5)
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3.6 from 142 reviews

This garlicky spicy prawn dish is simply delectable. Here is my take on the classic Spanish tapa, my best gambas pil pil recipe.

• Author: Daryl
• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 10 minutes
• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 4 servings
• Category: starter, snack
• Method: frying
• Cuisine: Spanish

Ingredients

500g cleaned, shelled prawns

60ml olive oil (not extra virgin)

5 garlic cloves, peeled and thinly sliced

5–10ml chili flakes (depending on spiciness)

5ml smoked paprika (sweet or hot)

salt

parsley chopped

Instructions

Heat the oil in a terracotta dish or normal pan over high heat

When oil starts shimmering add the garlic and chili flakes

Cook for 30 seconds to soften garlic (be careful not to burn the garlic)

Add the prawns and stir to coat

Cook until prawns just turn pink. The prawns will continue cooking in the dish

Sprinkle with salt and paprika and lots of parsley

Serve immediately with crusty bread and a bottle of chilled white wine 

Keywords: gambas pil pil, gambas, spicy garlic prawns, garlic prawns, the best gambas pil pil

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