Getting a brother who is a non-vegetable fan to eat veggies seems impossible. But this dish actually makes him ask for it! A creamy, spicy, garlicy tomato sauce that is packed with flavor and deliciousness with soft cooked prawns soaking in it and some bread to dip in – how could someone possibly not ask for this dish? Bonus: it really is not difficult to prepare, meaning anyone could make it and it takes very little time to make.
The claim with my brother is no joke: whenever he gets to choose something I cook for him, he asks for this. And yes, technically tomatoes are fruits and not veggies, but this is such a great way to sneak in some extra vitamins for non-veggie fans!
What is special about this dish?
It is not your regular chili-garlic prawns but a bit fancier. Like a crossover of dish and a a creamy tomato sauce that you‘d add onto pasta. And this is not only what makes this recipe unique but it accounts for the delicious, creamy flavor.
What else is quite special about this dish is that it is really versatile. Depending on season and pantry/ fridge stocking, you can adjust it. For example, if you do not have fresh cherry tomatoes, you could also use large tomatoes or canned ones. That even enables you to cook this in winter, when tomatoes are not in season. Another switch would be substituting the bread. In case of not having bread at home, to go along with it, it can be switched for rice, quinoa or even pasta. Also, the prawns can vary from time to time. If you can only find smaller ones, use those – it‘ll be delicious anyway! If you happen to find large ones though – great! Even better!
Is this dish healthy?
It can definitely be claimed that this dish is nutrient dense. It comes with a bunch of nutrients from all different sources! First of all, the tomatoes account for a solid base of fibre and vitamins. The chili and garlic add even more. The prawns provide a large serving of protein, iron and calcium. Also, they come with a range of vitamins and minerals to keep your immune system strong and stable.
The olive oil and greek yoghurt found in the sauce make sure you have a healthy amount of unsaturated fats and even more protein. The wine we add to the dish mainly is a source of flavor, and no worries, the alcohol cooks down anyway. When serving with some sort of grain (such as bread, rice, quinoa or pasta), we also make sure that we consume enough carbs to stay energized. Make it wholegrain for even more fibre and nutrients! As you can see, this dish indeed is packed with nutrients that will keep you happy and healthy!
Can really anyone make this?
I‘d definitely argue so! It is so easy! The first thing that needs to be done is to thaw the prawns. The probably easiest way to do so is placing the frozen prawns in a bowl with warm water. By changing the water every now and then, as soon as it gets cold, and refilling it with warm water, lets the prawns defrost slowly. Once they are free of ice, they can be drained and laid out on a kitchen towel to let them dry. It is important that they are really dry and do not let any water for several reasons: first, they won‘t turn as crispy if they are still wet and secondly, the water will splash in the hot oil. And this can hurt when touching your skin.
That already was the most challenging part. All that is left to do now is to finely slice or mince the garlic and chili and to half or quarter the tomatoes. Or to chop them into bite sized pieces if using larger ones. First the spices and then the tomatoes and prawns are fried in a little olive oil and then deglazed with white wine. Just before serving we still stir in a little ricotta or greek yoghurt and tomato sauce and voilà, it is ready to be served! Easy right?
To be honest, it is impossible to imagine our staple recipes without this one, I can only suggest you try it out!
If you have any questions or comments on remakes, I would be more than happy to see and answer them! Just comment below here or text me on instagram (@uneptcuisiniere)!
Creamy Tomato Chili Garlic Prawns (How to Get Your Family to Eat Veggies)
Imagining out Mealplan without this recipe is impossible – spicy prawns drowning in a creamy, delicious tomato sauce packed with flavor. Some fresh bread to accompany it? Plus, it is ready in 25 minutes (at max!!)! Who could even say no to that?
What you will need
- 1 kg prawns (thawed if they had been frozen before)
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1-2 fresh chili (depending on how spicy you like it)
- 3-4 cloves of garlic
- 500 g (cherry) tomatoes (you can also use canned tomatoes if not in season)
- 100 g greek yoghurt or ricotta
- a splash of white wine
- 100 ml tomato sauce
- salt, pepper, oregano
How to
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Finely slice the garlic and mince the chili. Half the cherry tomatoes or cut them into bite sized pieces, if using larger ones.
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Pat the thawed prawns dry. To a pan add the olive oil, garlic and chili and heat up all together. Once hot, let them fry for about 1-2 minutes before adding the prawns and tomatoes (in case of using canned tomatoes, let the prawns fry for a 2-4 minutes before adding them in).
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Generously salt, pepper and season with dried oregano. After about 4 minutes of frying, add a splash or white wine, turn the heat down to medium heat and let it simmer for about 4-5 minutes. You may need to add a little more wine.
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Generously salt, pepper and season with dried oregano. After about 4 minutes of frying, add a splash or white wine, turn the heat down to medium heat and let it simmer for about 4-5 minutes. You may need to add a little more wine.
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In the meantime prepare a side to accompany it. Just before serving, stir in the tomato sauce and greek yoghurt or ricotta and let cook for another minute. Serve and enjoy!
And now I do not want to hold you back from cooking for too long – so bon appétit!
Enjoy,
Katie // Une Petite Cuisinière
