Garlic Prawns in the Thermomix
Make on FrescoThe most delicious little recipe around from Thermomix. Make sure you put this on your must do list. SO easy, so garlicky and totally hits that spot!
Garlic prawns are a classic favorite, and it’s easy to see why—they’re flavorful, versatile, and cook quickly. While a high heat is often the go-to for many home cooks to get that beautiful golden-brown sear on prawns, cooking them at a lower heat can actually offer several benefits, especially when combined with a kitchen tool like the Thermomix.
Why Cook Prawns at a Lower Heat?
More Control Over the Cooking Process
Cooking prawns on a lower heat gives you more control over their texture and flavour. High heat can easily lead to overcooking, which turns prawns rubbery. By cooking at a gentler temperature, you give the prawns time to cook through evenly without the risk of them drying out or becoming tough.
Prevents Bitter Garlic
The challenge with garlic is that if it’s cooked too quickly or at too high a temperature, it can burn and develop a bitter taste. A lower heat ensures that the garlic can infuse the oil gently, enhancing the prawns with a rich, aromatic flavor without the unwanted bitterness. This is where the precision of the Thermomix really shines—it allows you to maintain a consistent, lower temperature for perfect garlic-infused oil.
Better Flavors
When prawns cook at a moderate temperature, they can better absorb the flavours of the garlic, lemon, and any herbs or spices you’re using. Instead of just browning quickly and locking in the outside flavours, cooking them gently allows the prawns to take on the full richness of the sauce, whether it’s from butter, olive oil, or a more complex marinade.
Healthier Cooking
Cooking at a lower heat can also be a healthier option. High heat can break down some of the beneficial compounds in olive oil or other oils, while a slower cook can preserve those nutrients. You’ll get a delicious dish without overdoing the fat or risking the formation of any harmful compounds from overheated oil.
Improved Texture
Cooking prawns on lower heat lets you gently coax them to perfection, keeping them tender and succulent. If you’re cooking with a Thermomix, the device ensures the prawns cook evenly without the need for constant stirring or worrying about hotspots that could lead to uneven cooking.
The Role of the Thermomix
The Thermomix is an ideal tool for this type of cooking because it provides precision, even heat distribution, and versatility all in one. When you’re cooking garlic prawns at a lower heat, the Thermomix ensures that the prawns are evenly coated in your cooking fat, while the garlic is gently sautéed to enhance its flavor without the risk of burning.
Additionally, Thermomix can help you make a complementary dish, like the light lemon risotto mentioned. The slow-cooked risotto, with its creamy consistency and zesty lemon, pairs beautifully with the succulent prawns, and the Thermomix takes care of the stirring and monitoring, leaving you free to focus on the prawns.
The Garlic Prawns and Light Lemon Risotto Recipe
This recipe, with its combination of garlic prawns and a light lemon risotto, is not only quick and easy but also an absolute treat for the senses. The prawns, cooked gently to perfection, release their natural sweetness, enhanced by the infusion of garlic, and when paired with the zesty, citrusy risotto, you get a dish that feels indulgent yet light at the same time.
By cooking the prawns at a lower heat, you ensure that both the delicate seafood and the garlic are perfectly balanced. The risotto provides a smooth and creamy base, with the lemon lifting the entire dish, creating a harmony of flavors that are both comforting and refreshing.
In Conclusion
While high heat may have its place in cooking prawns for a crispy, seared exterior, cooking at a lower heat ensures a more controlled, flavourful, and healthier dish. Whether you’re using the Thermomix to help maintain that low, steady heat or simply cooking with a mindful approach, the result is a deliciously tender prawn with perfectly balanced garlic, offering a fantastic combination when paired with a light, zesty lemon risotto.
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Need
- 1 Handful Italian parsley
- 6 - 8 cloves garlic
- 20 Grams Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) BUY
- 700 Grams green prawns, shelled
- 30 Grams brandy
- pink salt flakes and black pepper to taste BUY
- 30 Grams cream
- 1 Lemon or lime juice and zest to taste
- flat leaf parsley chopped to serve
Do
- 1
Place parsley into Thermomix bowl and chop 3 sec/speed 6. Remove from bowl and set aside.
- 2
Place garlic and EVOO into Thermomix bowl and chop 4 sec/speed 5. Scrape down sides of bowl and saute 5 min/Varoma/speed 1.
- 3
Add prawns and cook 5 min/Varoma/Reverse/speed 1 with MC off.
- 4
Add brandy, seasoning and cream and cook 2 min/Varoma/Reverse/speed 1 with MC off.
- 5
Add parsley through hole in lid in the last 20 sec of cooking time, just to incorporate or stir through after.
- 6
Serve with lime wedges and more pink salt flakes if serving without the risotto.
More
Serve over Light Lemon Risotto with lashings of fresh lemon juice, and finely grated zest over; or on simply their own with fresh crusty bread if desired.
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Tenina Holder is a wife, mother of five and grandmother of eight, who started cooking in the olden days before Thermomix was even a thing.
Tenina has become the premium go to source for all Thermomix expertise and of course fresh and easy recipes that work. Her cooking classes and foodie trips are sold out in literally hours, her cookbooks appear on the Australian best seller lists and her social reach is in the millions. Her Insider Club is the most fun you can have with a Thermomix and you really should join her! She believes chocolate, butter and salt are health foods. Her food positivity mantra is, eat everything, just not all at once!