This genuine Thai grilled shrimp recipe is made with recent shrimp and a pinch of sea salt grilled proper in a sizzling grill pan. It’s a smoky street-food favourite made in simply quarter-hour and tastes similar to the road markets in Thailand.

Thai Grilled Prawns

After I head to the road markets in Thailand, I all the time search for these smoky grilled prawns. Recognized historically as goong yang, Thai grilled prawns are one in every of my street-food favorites particularly when dipped in Thai Seafood Sauce. For this recipe, I exploit a grill pan in order that those that don’t have an out of doors grill could make it at dwelling too, however in case you have a grill, you possibly can simply use that as a substitute.

I do know there are some shelled and closely marinated variations on the market, however I personally keep away from them, despite the fact that it might sound easier to prep at first. In the case of this basic, much less is extra as a result of the genuine road fashion depends on the pure sweetness of the seafood quite than thick coatings. Skipping the heavy marinades and conserving the shells on protects the prawns whereas they cook dinner, stopping them from turning dry and rubbery so that you get a superbly plump, juicy chunk. It’s a easy facet dish that takes lower than quarter-hour, and it goes extremely nicely with my Thai Hen Curry, Crab Fried Rice, or a sizzling bowl of steaming white rice.

Freshwater Prawns vs. Common Shrimp

In Thailand they often use freshwater prawns for this dish, so after I make this recipe at dwelling, I ensure to search for recent river prawns to seize that true native taste, similar to those I had after I traveled to Thailand. You may simply discover these freshwater prawns within the frozen part of most Asian grocery shops within the US. They’re extremely prized in Thai delicacies due to the wealthy head tomalley. After grilling, this creamy tomalley oozes out and creates an extremely wealthy chunk.

Should you can’t supply freshwater prawns, common shrimp or tiger prawns work simply as fantastically for a weeknight dinner. Simply ensure to decide on medium to giant sizes, and all the time purchase them shell-on with the tails intact. Tiger prawns are a superb selection right here as a result of their thick shells deal with the excessive warmth of a grill pan extremely nicely, conserving the meat candy and snappy. Whichever selection you select, keep away from shopping for pre-peeled choices as a result of cooking them with out the shell fully misses the purpose of this fast recipe.

Professional Tip For Frozen Prawns: In case you are shopping for frozen freshwater prawns, by no means thaw them in heat water or microwave them, as this ruins their delicate texture. Place them in a bowl of chilly water for about 20 minutes proper earlier than cooking so that they defrost fully and cook dinner evenly on the pan.

Components You’ll Want

• Oil
• Shrimp
• Sea salt flakes
• Lime wedges
• Thai Seafood Sauce – Should you haven’t checked out my Thai seafood sauce recipe but, ensure to learn that publish first as a result of it’s the final pairing for these charred prawns!

See the recipe card under for all of the ingredient particulars and precise measurements.

Professional Tip #1: Why Shell-On Prawns/Shrimp Are Important
I all the time maintain the shells and tails fully intact for this recipe. The outer shell acts as a pure warmth defend towards the recent pan, sealing in all of the pure juices so my prawns keep plump and tender as a substitute of turning dry or rubbery.

Professional Tip #2: Why Sea Salt Flakes Win
I really like utilizing flaky sea salt as a result of it sticks to the shells and attracts out moisture for an ideal char. Should you don’t have flakes, coarse salt is your subsequent most suitable choice. Common salt works nice too.

Professional Tip #3: Selecting A Excessive Smoke Level Oil
I exploit a impartial oil like canola, vegetable, or peanut oil to evenly slick my grill pan. These oils deal with intense warmth completely with out smoking or altering the recent taste of the seafood. Keep away from olive oil because it burns too shortly.

Steadily Requested Questions

What To Serve With This Recipe

For a straightforward and healthful Thai weeknight dinner, I like to recommend the next recipes:

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