Cooking Green Banana Prawns: The Perfect Bbq Treat

Green banana prawns are a delicious and healthy treat that can be cooked on the BBQ in a variety of ways. Whether you like them spicy, chilled, or with garlic, there is a recipe to suit your taste buds. In this article, we will explore the different methods for cooking green banana prawns on the BBQ, including preparation tips and serving suggestions, so that you can impress your family and friends at your next backyard cookout.

Prawn preparation: how to butterfly prawns

Butterflying prawns is a simple process that makes for an aesthetically beautiful dish. Here is a step-by-step guide to preparing your green banana prawns for the barbecue:

Step 1: Using kitchen scissors, remove all the sharp edges from the prawns. Start by snipping off the antennae, then the front legs, swimming legs, and the sharp ends of the tail. You can also remove the head, or just the eyes, if you prefer.

Step 2: Devein the prawns. Make a slit across the back of the prawn, from the head to the end of the tail. Remove the black veins, being sure to check the head and the underside of the prawn, as there is often a smaller vein there. You can use a sharp knife or kitchen scissors for this step.

Step 3: Create a cavity. Make a deeper cut to partially butterfly the prawns, being careful not to cut them in half. This will help the prawns cook faster and allow you to add small amounts of stuffing, like minced garlic.

Step 4: Full butterfly. Holding the prawn flat on the chopping board, use your fingers to gently spread out and flatten the body. This step is ideal for larger prawns and when you want the topping to be the star of the dish. It will also reduce cooking time.

Once your prawns are prepared, coat them in olive oil and place them on the barbecue for 3 minutes on each side. Serve with a garlic chilli sauce, a fresh salad, and caramelised lemon halves.

Marinade ingredients: garlic, lemon, chilli, ginger

To make a delicious marinade for your green banana prawns, you'll need garlic, lemon, chilli, and ginger, along with some other ingredients. Here's a step-by-step guide:

Ingredients:

• 2 teaspoons of rapeseed or sesame oil
• 1 large clove of garlic, peeled and chopped
• 1/2-1 green chilli, deseeded and finely sliced (adjust the amount to your spice preference)
• 1 teaspoon of grated fresh ginger
• 16 green king prawns, in shell
• 2 tablespoons of flat-leaf parsley, chopped
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Olive oil

Instructions:

• Heat the rapeseed or sesame oil in a frying pan over medium heat.
• Add the chopped garlic, sliced chilli, and grated ginger to the pan. Fry for about a minute, stirring occasionally.
• For extra flavour, you can add the zest and juice of a lemon to the pan and cook gently. Be careful not to overcook the garlic, as it can become bitter.
• In a separate bowl, coat the green prawns with olive oil.
• Preheat your barbecue to a high heat.
• Place the prawns on the barbecue and cook for 3 minutes.
• Turn the prawns and cook for an additional 3 minutes, or until they turn pink, indicating they are cooked through.
• While the prawns are cooking, halve a lemon and place it on the grill, cut side down, to caramelise.
• Place the cooked prawns on a serving plate and drizzle the garlic-chilli sauce over them.
• Serve with the caramelised lemon halves and a fresh salad or crusty bread.

Cooking method: grill for 2 minutes each side

Grilling green banana prawns on the barbecue is a quick and easy way to cook them. Before grilling, you will need to prepare the prawns and preheat your barbecue.

Firstly, you will need to butterfly the prawns. To do this, remove the head and lay the prawn on a chopping board. Place your hand flat on top of the prawn to hold it in place, then use a sharp, serrated knife to cut horizontally along the back of the shell. Cut through the flesh from top to tail, but leave the opposite side of the outer shell intact. Open up the prawn and use the tip of your knife to remove the vein. Repeat this process for each prawn.

Next, drizzle olive oil over the flesh side of the prawns. You can also add other ingredients to flavour the prawns, such as garlic, lemon zest, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper.

Once your prawns are prepared and your barbecue is preheated to a high heat, you can start grilling. Place the prawns on the grill and cook for 2 minutes on each side. This cooking time will ensure that the prawns are slightly charred on the outside but still juicy on the inside.

After grilling, you can serve the prawns with various sides, such as lemon wedges, fresh salad, or crusty bread. Enjoy your delicious and perfectly grilled green banana prawns!

Prawn colour: when cooked, they turn pink

When it comes to cooking green banana prawns on the barbecue, there are a few key steps to ensure they turn out perfectly pink and juicy. Firstly, it's important to prepare the prawns properly. This includes removing the heads and butterflying the prawns by cutting through the shell and flesh from top to tail, leaving the opposite side of the shell intact. This technique not only makes it easier to peel the prawns but also increases the surface area for beautiful charring and reduces cooking time.

Once the prawns are prepared, it's time to fire up the barbecue. Make sure the grill is set to medium-high or high heat and well-oiled to prevent sticking. While the grill is heating up, you can coat the prawns in a flavourful mixture of olive oil, garlic, lemon zest, and spices like smoked paprika. This not only adds taste but also helps the prawns cook evenly.

Now, it's time to cook the prawns. Place them on the barbecue, flesh-side down, and grill for about 2 minutes on each side. Keep a close eye on them, as the cooking time can vary depending on the heat of your barbecue. You'll know they're done when the flesh turns a lovely pink colour and is slightly charred. Overcooking the prawns will make them rubbery, so it's important to take them off the heat as soon as they're ready.

Finally, serve the prawns hot off the barbecue. You can drizzle them with a garlicky sauce, a squeeze of lemon, or a zesty dressing to enhance their flavour. Pair them with simple sides like a fresh salad, crusty bread, or grilled vegetables, and you've got yourself a delicious and impressive meal. Enjoy your perfectly cooked, pink banana prawns!

Serving suggestions: fresh salad, crusty bread, lemon wedges

When serving green banana prawns cooked on a BBQ, fresh salad, crusty bread, and lemon wedges are classic accompaniments. Here are some ideas for how to prepare and serve these sides.

Fresh Salad

A fresh, green salad is a great way to balance out the rich flavours of the BBQ prawns. You could include a mix of leafy greens such as lettuce, spinach, or rocket, and add in some herbs like basil or mint for extra freshness. Chopped tomatoes, cucumbers, and avocados also pair well with prawns and will add a nice juicy element to the salad. You could also include some red onions or spring onions for a bit of sharpness and crunch.

Crusty Bread

Crusty bread is perfect for mopping up the juices from the prawns and any sauce or butter you might be serving with them. A country-style loaf or ciabatta would be an excellent choice, or you could go for a Portuguese Bolo de caco for something a little different. If you want to get fancy, you could even grill or toast the bread to add some extra texture.

Lemon Wedges

Lemon is a classic pairing with seafood, and for good reason. The bright, acidic citrus juice will enhance the natural sweetness of the prawns and balance out the richness. You can serve the lemon wedges on the side, or squeeze the juice over the prawns before serving. If you want to get really fancy, you can even grill the lemon wedges to add a bit of char and a subtle smoky flavour.

Putting it all together

Now that you have your sides prepared, it's time to plate everything up. You could arrange the prawns on a bed of the fresh salad, with the crusty bread and lemon wedges on the side. Or, for a more informal setting, you could serve everything family-style on separate platters or bowls and let everyone help themselves. Don't forget to provide some napkins or wet wipes, as this meal can get a little messy!

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