South African-inspired seafood

Peri-Peri Prawn Linguine

Prawns, lemon, garlic and restrained peri-peri coat linguine in a bright butter-and-tomato pan sauce.

Prep12 min
Cook13 min
Serves4
ConfidenceComfortable Cook
Linguine with seared prawns red peri-peri sauce lemon and parsleySouth African-inspired
Jump to recipe ↓Metric · °C · South African kitchen
Why it works

01Dry prawns sear instead of steaming.

02Removing them protects their texture.

03Butter and pasta water round out chilli without cream.

How to make Peri-Peri Prawn Linguine

Cook it calmly.

  1. 01

    Dry the prawns

    Pat prawns dry, season lightly and coat with half the peri-peri.

  2. 02

    Sear quickly

    Cook in a hot wide pan for about a minute per side, then remove.

  3. 03

    Build the pan sauce

    Lower heat, soften garlic, add tomato and remaining peri-peri, then reduce briefly.

  4. 04

    Finish

    Toss in linguine with pasta water and butter, returning prawns for the final minute with lemon.

Common mistakes

  • Cooking wet prawns in a crowded pan.
  • Reducing all the peri-peri until painfully hot.
  • Returning seafood too early.
Technique

The detail that changes the dish.

Prawns continue cooking after they leave the pan. Pull them while the centres are only just opaque.

About the dish

Dry prawns sear instead of steaming.

Prawns, lemon, garlic and restrained peri-peri coat linguine in a bright butter-and-tomato pan sauce.

Removing them protects their texture. Butter and pasta water round out chilli without cream.

Ingredient guide

How the ingredients carry Peri-Peri Prawn Linguine

Prawns continue cooking after they leave the pan. Pull them while the centres are only just opaque.

Peri-peri sauces differ radically. Taste yours before using both tablespoons, and check whether it already contains plenty of salt and lemon.

Serve

At the table

Serve Peri-Peri Prawn Linguine when the sauce and pasta are still properly joined. Taste before adding more salt, cheese or chilli at the table.

Store and reheat

Later, if needed

Refrigerate for 1 day and reheat only gently. Do not freeze assembled pasta.

Freeze

Be realistic

Refrigerate for 1 day and reheat only gently. Do not freeze assembled pasta.

Useful answers

Frequently asked questions

What is the key technique for Peri-Peri Prawn Linguine?+

Prawns continue cooking after they leave the pan. Pull them while the centres are only just opaque.

What should I know before substituting ingredients?+

Peri-peri sauces differ radically. Taste yours before using both tablespoons, and check whether it already contains plenty of salt and lemon.

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