Silky seafood supper

Creamy Garlic Prawn Pasta

Juicy prawns and fettuccine meet a restrained garlic cream sauce sharpened with lemon and parsley.

Prep10 min
Cook20 min
Serves4
ConfidenceEasy
Fettuccine in creamy garlic sauce with pink prawns parsley and lemonModern
Jump to recipe ↓Metric · °C · South African kitchen
Why it works

01Dry prawns sear instead of steaming.

02Pasta water keeps the cream sauce light.

03Returning seafood last prevents rubbery prawns.

How to make Creamy Garlic Prawn Pasta

Cook it calmly.

  1. 01

    Dry and sear

    Pat prawns dry, season lightly and sear in hot oil for 60 to 90 seconds per side. Remove immediately.

  2. 02

    Soften the garlic

    Lower the heat and cook garlic for 30 seconds without browning. Add cream and lemon zest.

  3. 03

    Emulsify

    Add al dente fettuccine and 150 ml pasta water. Toss until the sauce lightly coats the ribbons.

  4. 04

    Return the prawns

    Fold prawns through only until hot. Finish with parsley, lemon juice and optional Parmesan.

Common mistakes

  • Adding wet prawns to the pan.
  • Browning the garlic.
  • Boiling the prawns in cream.
Technique

The detail that changes the dish.

Judge prawns by shape and texture, not a long timer. They should curl into a loose C and turn opaque; a tight O often signals overcooking.

About the dish

What makes Creamy Garlic Prawn Pasta work

Juicy prawns and fettuccine meet a restrained garlic cream sauce sharpened with lemon and parsley.

The method is structured around three useful decisions: Dry prawns sear instead of steaming. Pasta water keeps the cream sauce light. Returning seafood last prevents rubbery prawns. The result keeps its own identity instead of borrowing a generic sauce template.

Ingredient guide

How to handle raw peeled prawns, thawed

Frozen prawns are practical, but thaw them fully in the fridge and dry them well. If using pre-cooked prawns, warm them only for the final minute.

Judge prawns by shape and texture, not a long timer. They should curl into a loose C and turn opaque; a tight O often signals overcooking.

Serve

At the table

Serve Creamy Garlic Prawn Pasta once the sauce has settled around the pasta. For the intended texture, avoid letting it stand uncovered for long.

Store and reheat

Later, if needed

Refrigerate promptly for up to 2 days. Reheat gently once until hot. Do not freeze the assembled pasta.

Freeze

Be realistic

Refrigerate promptly for up to 2 days. Reheat gently once until hot. Do not freeze the assembled pasta.

Useful answers

Frequently asked questions

What is the key technique for Creamy Garlic Prawn Pasta?+

Judge prawns by shape and texture, not a long timer. They should curl into a loose C and turn opaque; a tight O often signals overcooking.

Which mistakes should I avoid?+

The most common problems are adding wet prawns to the pan.; browning the garlic.; boiling the prawns in cream.

How should I store Creamy Garlic Prawn Pasta?+

Refrigerate promptly for up to 2 days. Reheat gently once until hot. Do not freeze the assembled pasta.

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